What is a Major & Minor
Majors and Minors are focused areas of study that require students to take a specific set of courses that lead to a comprehensive understanding of a particular subject matter.
Completion of a major is a graduation requirement; where as a minor does not require as many units, and is not a graduation requirment (however, at SF State, only the Journalism major requires a minor to earn a bachelor's degree).
At SF State there are over 100 undergraduate majors and minors. Choosing a major involves declaring this choice at the time of admission or consulting with faculty advisors and then submitting a request through your Student center. Choosing a minor is not necessary for admissions, and is optional (paper requests are available for plans that are not online).
Impacted Majors
Impacted majors have more students than can be accommodated declare these areas of study as their majors. Both lower and upper division students requesting a change of major to an impacted program must meet the supplemental requirements required for that major. For more details visit SF State's Bulletin.
Lower-Division Students | Non-Impacted Majors
Department must accept changes of major for continuing lower-division students who have a minimum 2.0 GPA, and a minimum grade of C in specified pre-requisite courses.
Upper-Division Students | Non-Impacted Majors
Department may determine the number of units that must be completed with a minimum grade of C for the upper-division student to declare their major or a department may specify (normally lower division) courses that must be completed with minimum grades of C for the upper-division student to declared. The department may not limit enrollment in such courses to majors only.
Undeclared Majors
Typically, students declare their major during their sophomore year after completing most of their lower-division General Education requirements. Lower-division students who are undecided about their major may identify themselves as undeclared.
Students who are uncertain of their major choice should identify themselves as undeclared. Advising and tools are offered specifically to target undeclared students to help them explore and decide on a major. Students should declare as early as possible to stay on track for graduation. Students who enter as a freshman must declare a major by the time they complete 70 units.
Second Majors
Students can add a second major or minor, but only one request can be reviewed at a time.
General Policy
For more details on the below Change of Major & Minor policy please visit the SF State's Bulletin.
- Double Major
- Duplicate Use of Credit Between Majors
- Duplicate Use of Credit Between the Major and GE
- Change of Major (cont.)
- Residence Units
- Grade Point Average (as related to major requirements)
- Time Limit to Complete Requirements for Undergraduate Degree
- Duplicate Use of Credit Between Major and MinorDuplicate Use of Credit Between Minor and GE
- Upper-Division/Residence Units
- Minimum Units
- No Minor in Major
- Grade Point Average (as related to minor requirements)