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Majors and Minors Defined
Major Courses
Required or designated optional courses sharing either the same disciplinary prefix(s) (for disciplinary majors) or sharing the same focus from a multidisciplinary perspective (for interdisciplinary majors).
Minor Courses
Required or designated optional courses sharing either the same disciplinary prefix(s) (for disciplinary minors) or sharing the same focus from a multidisciplinary perspective (for interdisciplinary minors).
Correlate Courses
Courses outside the programmatic discipline that are supportive of and integral to the specified disciplinary study.
Capstone
Course designated by the program as being the culminating experience or product of the specified disciplinary or interdisciplinary study.
Disciplinary Major
A disciplinary major normally consists of not fewer than eight and not more than 15 full courses sharing the same departmental course prefix(s) (or an approved cross-list prefix) with a maximum of five correlate courses, exclusive of any departmental requirements that also satisfy liberal learning requirements. Pre-requisite courses or proficiencies must be clearly stated and are counted as correlate courses. Each disciplinary major will have a designated capstone experience.
Interdisciplinary Major
An interdisciplinary major normally consists of not fewer than eight and not more than 15 full courses combined from multiple disciplines in such a way as to allow students to focus on an area of interest from multiple disciplinary perspectives. A maximum of five correlate courses (not in any of the identified disciplines that comprise the major), exclusive of any departmental requirements that also satisfy liberal learning requirements may be required. Pre-requisite courses or proficiencies must be clearly stated and are counted as correlate courses. Each interdisciplinary major will have a designated capstone experience. If an Interdisciplinary Major represents course work from at least two of the broad sectors of the Arts and Humanities, History and Social Science, and Natural Science and Quantitative Reasoning, it may be approved as a means of meeting the Liberal Learning requirements so long as the student completes the required number of courses from any absent sector.
Double Majors
A student may double major by completing all the requirements of each major. Correlate courses and liberal learning requirements may be applied to each major. A maximum of three full courses may be applied to both majors. Unless the capstone requirement carries the weight of two full courses and is approved by both major advisors, a capstone cannot apply to more than one major. A currently enrolled student who has completed the requirements for a double major will receive one degree, according to which major the student considers to be his or her first major. Double majors will be noted on transcripts.
Declaration of Major
Students may declare majors at any time prior to the completion of 16 course units if they have reached a decision and program entrance requirements are met. However, after earning 16 course units, students are required to declare a major by registering with the chair of the chosen department or program area. Upon declaration the chair gives written notice to the Office of Records and Registration and assigns the student an advisor within the major. Students proceed according to the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of their formal declaration. If changing majors, students must meet any new requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of the change, subject to such exceptions in favor of the earlier catalog as the chair of the major program and the appropriate Dean may approve. Only enrolled degree-seeking students may declare majors. At least fifty per cent of the major must be completed at The College of New Jersey or through a prior approved course exchange program. If a major is changed, the new major(s) must be officially declared before the deadline for applying for graduation in a given term.
Optional Minor
Minors are optional. Minors may consist of five full courses (or four full courses plus an approved experience). Minor requirements and options will be specifically designated and shall require a minimum of two courses at the 300-400 level. Only one course taken as a part of the student’s major may also be counted toward the student’s minor; however, correlate courses to the major may be applied freely to the minor. Multiple minors may overlap by only one course. One-half of the courses required for the minor must be completed at TCNJ or through a prior approved course exchange program. Minors will be recorded along with majors on the student's transcript.
Declaration of Optional Minor
Students eligible to declare majors may also declare minors in those disciplines where minors have been established. Students declare minors by registering with the
chair of the chosen department or program area. The chair gives written notice to the Office of Records and Registration. Students proceed according to the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of their formal declaration. Students are responsible for knowing their minor requirements and for completing them. Minors not complete at the time of the student’s graduation will be dropped from the student’s record. Minors must be officially declared before the deadline for applying for graduation in a given term.
Recommended by CAP; approved by Provost: 2004
