Changing Majors

Brian Nguyen

New Member
Joined
May 6, 2015
Messages
4
Hey,

So the applications for 2020 just opened and I had a quick question. Is it difficult to change majors at the Coast Guard Academy? Though I might feel sure about my interested major right now, but what happens when I want to change my major. Will it be hard or easy to do so?
 
While you can declare when you enter, you do not have to declare until you enter your third year (end of second year). Since CGA is primarily an engineering school, everyone takes the same basic courses first and much of second year. Even government majors. After your second year, you better have a good reason to change.
 
Auxnoob is correct. Some clarification though, with respect to changing. Making changes in one direction are easier than making changes in another. If you go Engineering, you will begin taking your major-focused classes as a third class (Sophomore), so you better be declared by then. After Sophomore year, you can certainly change from Engineering to Government or Management, but going the other way is extremely difficult.
 
Correct. To answer your question, it is very easy to change anytime during your Freshman (4/C) year. From anything and to anything, as 4/C classes are all the same. After that, there can be some issues depending on what you are changing from and to. So, don't be too concerned about what you are putting on your application as a major choice. No one expects you to stick with that as many incoming Freshman aren't sure what they want. It is not uncommon for changes to occur, especially at the end of the 4/C year.
 
Agree with all of the above. Your selection of major as you enter 4/c year will basically only get you assigned to an academic advisor from that particular major. Although all advisors have a general understanding of every major at the academy, they may not have specific details about certain courses in other major specific areas. For example, I couldn't tell you the first thing about what topics are covered in Physics II because I don't work in Smith Hall. This really is a minor point, but one worth noting.
 
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