All SAS students are required to complete a major and a minor.
Exceptions to the Minor requirement
- The requirement for a minor will be waived for students completing multiple majors, for second degree candidates, and for students completing the 5-year education program through the Graduate School of Education.
Credit Intensive Majors
The requirement for a minor may be waived for students completing credit-intensive majors. Credit intensive majors are indicated on the List of Majors and Minors for SAS students. Students in credit intensive majors are encouraged to complete a minor, even though they are not required to do so.
When to Declare a Major and Minor
Full-time students normally declare their major in the second semester of their second year, although some majors encourage students to declare even earlier in order to facilitate the planning needed for an appropriate sequence of the courses required to complete the major within four years. Part-time students normally declare their major by the time they have completed 60 credits. Declaration is done by submitting a major/minor declaration form, available online at mymajor.sas.rutgers.edu. Some academic departments may have prerequisites and/or require approval by an advisor.
Students who have not declared their major and minor by the second semester of their third year may not be able to complete all requirements and, thus, not graduate on time.
Major and Minor Declaration and Change: myMajor
List of Majors and Minors
Students are strongly urged to consult with an academic advisor and the specific departments offering the majors they are considering during their first year at the SAS. Some majors, including many in the sciences and the world languages, require that courses be sequenced in a particular way, making planning during the first year crucial to timely completion of the major.
Bachelor of Arts (BA) vs. Bachelor of Science (BS)
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is conferred for all majors except the following, for which a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree is awarded:
- Astrophysics
- Biochemistry (SEBS)
- Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources
- Evolutionary Anthropology
- Exercise Science
- Sport Management
- Geological Sciences
- Health Administration
- Marine Sciences
- Microbiology
- Public Health
- Public Policy
- Urban Planning & Design
Either a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree is available in the following subjects:
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Physics.
For subjects offering both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree, students may not graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree, then return to complete the courses necessary for a bachelor of science degree. All courses required for the desired degree must be completed at the time of graduation.
Restrictions
The major and the minor may not be selected from the same academic program. In general there are no SAS restrictions on selection of available majors and minors; however, some combinations are prohibited. Please see Major/Minor Restrictions.
Please check the requirements of the specific majors and minors you are considering.
Overlap between Major and Minor
Any credits satisfying major requirements may also satisfy minor requirements and vice versa unless specifically prohibited by the particular major or minor program.
Overlap between Major/Minor and SAS Core Curriculum
Any credits satisfying major or minor requirements may be used to satisfy the SAS Core Curriculum unless prohibited by the major or minor. Any credits satisfying the SAS Core Curriculum may count toward a major or minor unless prohibited by the major or minor.
Admission to the Major
Certain majors offered by Professional Schools at Rutgers University New Brunswick may require separate admission; these schools include:
- Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
- Mason Gross School of the Arts
- School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
- School of Communication and Information
- School of Management and Labor Relations
- School of Social Work
For these majors, students should refer to the online catalog, departmental web sites, or myMajor for specific application guidelines and a listing of the courses to be completed prior to application. SAS students completing these majors will receive a single Bachelor's degree conferred by SAS in conjunction with the cognate professional school.
Professional School Applications - School to School Transfer
Prospective applicants intending to transfer to any of the professional schools at Rutgers University, including
- Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
- Mason Gross School of the Arts
- Rutgers Business School-Newark and New Brunswick
- School of Engineering
- School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
- College of Nursing
need to refer to the section of the School to School Transfer website for the school of interest for specific application guidelines and a listing of the courses to be completed prior to application. All students should meet with an academic advisor to determine how the sequence of courses to be completed for application will affect their graduation from SAS if their application to the professional school is unsuccessful.