Declaring Your Major
Academic Advising and Planning Center Major Declaration Policy
Declaring your major is instrumental to your academic success at the College of Charleston and will help you plan the most efficient and beneficial path to your degree. Currently enrolled, degree-seeking undergraduate students must declare a major via Program of Study Management (POSM) no later than the second semester of their sophomore year (45-60 credit hours).
The deadline to declare a major for the Spring 2023 semester will be Friday, March 17 for students meeting the following criteria:
- You have earned 45 or more credit hours in residence at the College of Charleston
OR
- You are a transfer student who has a total of 45 or more overall earned credit hours
AND
- You are in progress toward junior rank (approaching 60 credit hours) this semester.
What If I Miss the Deadline?
A "Missing Major Declaration" registration hold will be placed on your account prior to the registration period for next semester's courses, prohibiting you from registering. In order to release this hold, you must either:
- Declare your major in POSM, if you are decided
- Meet with your academic advisor
If you receive the "Missing Major Declaration" registration hold more than once in subsequent terms, you must complete the entire major declaration process. This means that the registration hold will only be lifted after your major has been approved by the department and has been recorded in the system. If there are extenuating circumstances, contact the Academic Advising and Planning Center.
How Do I Declare?
The Program of Study Management (POSM) system is an electronic workflow that allows students to manage their degree program(s) online in MyCharleston. Click POSM for more information on how to use this system.
What Should I do? I'm still undecided!
Your academic advisor can help you explore appropriate academic programs of study and prepare for the declaration of major in your chosen discipline. Schedule an advising appointment with the Academic Advising and Planning Center using Appointment Manager online or contact our office if you are unable to schedule online: 843.953.5981.
Attend the Choosing a Major Workshop offered by the Career Center and the Academic Advising and Planning Center. Students can register for the workshops through Handshake on the Career Center web site. Register through the Handshake page for the session of interest, accessible through the Career Center's website here.
Attend the Majors and Minors Fair in Fall. Visit the Majors and Minors Fair page for details.
If you have a problem accessing our website or any information on it, please contact our main office at 843-953-5981 or advising@cofc.edu and we'll provide you with the information you need, as well as attempt to address the accessibility problem you bring to our attention.