Changing Your Major

How to sign up for a change of major workshop

1. Log onto your Cal Poly Portal. Click on the ACADEMICS tab. Click on the "change of major" link on the bottom right of the page.

2. Select box labeled "I want to attend a change of major workshop". Select ONE major from the drop down menu and click "submit".

3. Select the workshop you want to attend.

4. Click "sign up" to confirm the workshop you want to attend.

• If you try to sign up for a workshop and it says it is full, we suggest that you still show up. We will try our best to accommodate all students that show up for a workshop.
• If there are not any more workshops available for this term, or you have any follow up questions about change of major, please contact the Mustang Success Center in building 52 or call at 805-756-6211.
• Further details on changing your major to a specific major can be found on the advising website within that respective college. We encourage students to look at these requirements and bring their questions to the workshop. The workshop will provide a path for the next steps.

Biological Sciences

If a student is granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:

• A grade of C or higher in two of these classes: BIO 150, BIO 161, BIO 162
• A grade of C or higher in one of these classes: CHEM 124, CHEM 125, CHEM 127, CHEM 128, CHEM 129
• A GPA of at least 2.4 in each of the last two quarters before changing majors

The completion of coursework without prior consultation with the intended major department does not guarantee the student eligibility to switch into the intended major.

Biochemistry/Chemistry

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department has not set specific criteria for an ICMA, but will work with each student to determine the appropriate courses and grade requirements. Proceed to step 3 or contact BCSM Advising for questions.

The completion of coursework without prior consultation with the intended major department does not guarantee the student eligibility to switch into the intended major.

Kinesiology

• Kinesiology is an impacted major and may limit the number of change of major students. Change of major applications are accepted in Fall and Winter terms. 
• The Kinesiology and Public Health Department holds informational sessions about change of major during weeks 3, 4, and 5 of the quarter. To receive an invitation to one of these sessions, please submit a Change of Major Inquiry on the Change of Major Portlet. 
• To apply to change your major to Kinesiology you must have an overall Cal Poly GPA of at least 2.6 or a GPA of 2.6 in last two quarters, with no more than 100 units completed. 
• Submit your completed application to the Kinesiology Department Office (43A-458) via email at: kph@calpoly.edu by 4pm on Friday of the fifth week of Fall or Winter quarter.
  • Students who apply by the deadline will be notified by the end of the seventh week of the quarter if they will or will not be put on an ICMA to change their major. 
  • Students who are not put on an ICMA will be able to apply at a later time.

The completion of coursework without prior consultation with the intended major department does not guarantee the student eligibility to switch into the intended major.

Liberal Studies

The Liberal Studies Department has not set specific criteria for an ICMA, but will work with each student to determine the appropriate courses and grade requirements. Proceed to step 3 or contact BCSM Advising for questions.

The completion of coursework without prior consultation with the intended major department does not guarantee the student eligibility to switch into the intended major.

Marine Sciences

If a student is granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:

• A grade of C or higher in two of these classes: BIO 160, BIO 161, BIO 162
• A grade of C or higher in one of these classes: CHEM 124, CHEM 125, CHEM 127, CHEM 128, CHEM 129;
• A GPA of at least 2.4 in each of the last two quarters before changing majors

The completion of coursework without prior consultation with the intended major department does not guarantee the student eligibility to switch into the intended major.

Mathematics

The Mathematics Department has not set specific criteria for an ICMA, but will work with each student to determine the appropriate courses and grade requirements. Proceed to step 3 or contact BCSM Advising for questions.

Microbiology

If a student is granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:

• A grade of C or higher in one of these classes: BIO 160, BIO 161, BIO 162
• A grade of C or higher in one of these classes: MCRO 221, MCRO 224
• A grade of C or higher in one of these classes: CHEM 124, CHEM 125, CHEM 127, CHEM 128, CHEM 129
• A GPA of at least 2.4 in each of the last two quarters before changing majors

The completion of coursework without prior consultation with the intended major department does not guarantee the student eligibility to switch into the intended major.

Physics

The Physics Department of has not set specific criteria for an ICMA, but will work with each student to determine the appropriate courses and grade requirements. Proceed to step 3 or contact BCSM Advising for questions.

The completion of coursework without prior consultation with the intended major department does not guarantee the student eligibility to switch into the intended major.

Public Health

• Public Health is an impacted major and may limit the number of change of major students. Change of major applications are accepted in Fall and Winter terms. 
• The Kinesiology and Public Health Department holds informational sessions about change of major during weeks 3, 4, and 5 of the quarter. To receive an invitation to one of these sessions, please submit a Change of Major Inquiry on the Change of Major Portlet. 
• To apply to change your major to Public Health, you must have an overall Cal Poly GPA of at least 2.6 or a GPA of 2.6 in the last two quarters.
• Submit your completed application to the Kinesiology and Public Health Department Office (43A-457) via email at kph@calpoly.edu by the Friday of the 5^th week of the quarter at 4 pm.
• Public Health is impacted and will limit the number of change of major students. Students with 100 or more units are not eligible to apply.
• Students approved for an ICMA should expect to have the courses they are currently enrolled in used as terms of their ICMA. For example, if you apply during Fall Quarter, your Fall Quarter classes may be part of the ICMA.
• Students who apply by the deadline will be notified by the end of the seventh week of the quarter if they will or will not be put on an ICMA to change their major. Students who are not put on an ICMA will be able to apply at a later time.

The completion of coursework without prior consultation with the intended major department does not guarantee the student eligibility to switch into the intended major.

Statistics

The Statistics Department has not set specific criteria for an ICMA, but will work with each student to determine the appropriate courses and grade requirements. Proceed to step 3 or contact BCSM Advising for questions.

The completion of coursework without prior consultation with the intended major department does not guarantee the student eligibility to switch into the intended major.

How to submit an eligibility inquiry form for the first time

1. Log onto your Cal Poly Portal. Click on the ACADEMICS tab. Click on the "change of major" link on the bottom right of the page.

2. Select box labeled "I want to submit a change of major inquiry form". Select ONE major from the drop down menu and click submit box.

3. Complete the eligibility inquiry form.

• Each response has a 2000 character limit, including whitespace. Exceeding the character limit will result in the inability to submit your inquiry.

Once you have submitted an inquiry form, you will receive a confirmation email from success@calpoly.edu. The subject line of the confirmation email will read, “Change of Major Inquiry Form Received”.

The change of major coordinator for your desired major will evaluate your eligibility and inform you of your status within 10 academic business days.

After submitting an eligibility inquiry form

View/Edit the status of your inquiry:

Log onto your Cal Poly Portal. Click on the Academics tab. Click on the "change of major" link.

You can view the status of your inquiry under the Change of Major Inquiry Form Details portlet. The default status of a new inquiry is “Requires Attention”. This status indicates that an inquiry form has been submitted.

The Change of Major Coordinator will evaluate your eligibility and update your status within 10 academic business days to one of the following:

• Eligible: Student meets initial change of major requirements to proceed to next steps of developing an Individualized Change of Major Agreement (ICMA) as outlined in the email from the Change of Major Coordinator.
• Not Eligible: Student does not meet initial change of major requirements to proceed to next steps for developing an ICMA. An advisors from the Mustang Success Center will reach out to the student to help determine next steps.
• Pending Further Action: Student eligibility for an ICMA is dependent on additional information. Student must proceed with next steps as outlined in the email from the Change of Major Coordinator.

You will be notified by your Cal Poly email account within 10 academic business days of updated status and the next steps you will need to take. Follow the directions outlined in the email.

A student can only have one (1) active inquiry form. In order to submit a new inquiry form for a different major, the student will either need to a.) withdraw their current inquiry form through their portlet or b.) be deemed “not eligible” by the Change of Major Coordinator.

You can withdraw your inquiry at any time during the inquiry process by clicking the “Withdraw” button under the Change of Major Inquiry Form Details portlet.

To confirm the withdrawal of your inquiry, click the “Yes, Withdraw” button in the pop-up window.

Once an inquiry has been withdrawn, the status of that inquiry will be listed as “WITHDRAWN_BY_STUDENT”.

To submit a new inquiry, click the “Start New Inquiry” button under the Change of Major Inquiry Form Details portlet.