Majors and Major Declaration

SEAS Major declaration for the class of 2027 will take place online in late October. During the month of October, SEAS departments will hold information sessions and open houses. If you cannot attend an information session, you may reach out to the adviser (a faculty member or student affairs representative) who represents each department.

Keep checking back as open house information will be posted in the coming weeks!

Major Requirements

Columbia Engineering students must complete the requirements for a major. Major requirements can be found on the web site of the Columbia Engineering Bulletin, listed under each department. You will declare your major online during the first semester of your sophomore year. You will then be assigned a faculty adviser within your selected academic department who will serve as a resource for course selection and major requirements. Students who are undecided should talk to their Advising Dean about ways to assess their options and narrow the choices.

A few reminders from the SEAS Bulletin:

• Double Minors/Double Majors: Students may declare more than one minor, but the same courses may not be used to satisfy the requirements of more than one minor. To double major, students are required to have approval from both departments, with a signed plan to complete all requirements within eight semesters. This plan must be approved by the Vice Dean of Columbia Engineering.
• Minor Course Substitutions: With regard to the requirements for a minor, no substitutions or changes of any kind are permitted. Appeals for changes will not be granted. Departments outside SEAS have no responsibility for advising SEAS students about the minors. See your advising dean if you have questions.
• Requirements Guidelines: SEAS requires students to fulfill all degree requirements (including those in the first-year sophomore program) as outlined in the bulletin published in your first year of matriculation. Requirements for the major or minor are those stated in the bulletin published during the year the student declares the major.

Additional Ways to Explore Majors/Careers

• Review the SEAS Bulletin for course descriptions and requirements for majors, minors, and special programs.
• Schedule an individual meeting with your Advising Dean
• Attend Quick Questions sessions at the Center for Career Education or schedule a career counseling appointment. See CCE’s web site for career information.
• Check an engineering department’s website to learn about programs, lectures, and events hosted throughout the school year.
• Visit the office of Undergraduate Global Engagement to learn about study abroad options and fellowships
• Look into a pre-professional student organizations on campus.

Suggested Questions for Faculty and Upperclassmen

Suggested Questions for Faculty

• What makes this major unique at Columbia?
• What are the skills and experience I can expect to build in this major?
• What kinds of hands-on work will I have access to?
• What are the different career paths that might be available with this major?
• What opportunities are available through the department to help students learn about career paths?
• Where have alumni of the department gone on to work?
• Where have alumni gone on to do graduate studies?
• What are some of the more unusual career opportunities a major from this department has gone on to?
• How do the classes and tracks in this major link to things going on in industry?
• What kind of research opportunities are available to undergraduate students in this major?
• How does departmental advising work?
• Can you tell me more about the senior design projects?

Suggested Questions for Upperclassmen

• Which majors did you consider and how did you choose yours?
• Which courses should I take soon after declaring a major?
• What have been your favorite courses in this major to date?
• What are extracurricular activities, research opportunities, and internships that I should look into for this major?
• What do you like best and least about your major?
• Does your department send out a listserv to share events and research positions?
• Do you feel like you chose well and why?
• Does the department promote/encourage interaction between graduate and undergraduate students outside of the classroom, and if so, how?