Changing Academic Program or Curriculum Year
You can change your academic program — including declaring or updating a minor, concentration, or emphasis area — using the iROAR Change of Program form. Program requests include:
- Major
- Minor
- Concentration
- Emphasis
- Second Degree
- Curriculum Year
Once your Change of Program form has been submitted, you can return to it later to check the status of your request. You will be notified by email whether your request has been approved.
Change to your Academic Program/Major at Clemson
New First-Year and Transfer Students
When new first-year and transfer students enroll at Clemson, most are accepted into a particular academic program. Two notable exceptions are engineering students who must enroll in General Engineering their first year and business students who must enroll in Pre-Business their first year. See section 3 below for related comments on these two groups. In addition, approximately 200 students are accepted in an undeclared academic program status. The Admissions Office processes acceptable changes of academic programs for new first-year and transfer students at the time of orientation. Once classes begin, new students can submit an Undergraduate Change of Program request in iROAR 〉 Student Self-Service 〉 Student Records 〉 Undergraduate Change of Program.
Enrolled Students
Enrolled students who wish to change their academic program must submit an Undergraduate Change of Program request in the Student Records tab in iROAR. The request must be approved by both the current and new academic departments. Students wishing to change majors should talk with an advisor in both departments. Students should gain the acceptance of the new academic program prior to disengaging from the current one*. Many academic departments have established one or more conditions, such as a minimum grade-point ratio requirement, an application process, etc. that must be satisfied before approving a student Request to Change Academic Program. Students are usually put into the curriculum year in force at the time of the academic program change.
Please note that Colleges differ in their guidelines and requirements for changing academic programs.
General Engineering and Pre-Business
All engineering students must complete the first-year General Engineering curriculum before being admitted into a specific engineering degree program (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, etc.). All new business students must complete the first-year Pre-Business curriculum before being admitted into a specific business degree program (Accounting, Economics, Management, etc.). Both first-year curricula have minimum grade point ratio requirements that must be satisfied before students can advance to a specific degree-granting major. Advisors in both programs assist students in selecting a specific major and choosing a specific curriculum year.
Withdrawing
If students withdraw from the University or do not remain continuously enrolled (summer terms excluded), they are readmitted into the major they were in when they were last enrolled.
Questions regarding the Undergraduate Change of Program request in iROAR should be directed to Enrolled Student Services at 864-656-2174. General change of program questions should be directed to your advisor.
Requirements to Change Academic Program at Clemson
Unless otherwise stated, for a student to change his/her major, they must meet the following requirements:
- Any academically eligible undergraduate student may submit an Undergraduate Change of Program in iROAR
- Requests must be approved by both the current and new academic departments
- Any college or department that seeks an exception to the policy must have approval of the Academic Council
- Reference Change of Academic Program Guidelines by College for departmental restrictions and enrollment guidelines
- Candidates for graduation must be officially accepted into the new major prior to applying for graduation
Refer to the Change of Academic Program policy in the Academic Regulations section of the Undergraduate Announcements.
Changing Concentration, Emphasis, Minor or Second Degree
In order to add, drop, or make a change to a field of study (concentration, emphasis and/or minor) or change a second major or second-degree program, students must submit an Undergraduate Change of Program request in the Student Records tab in iROAR.
Questions regarding the Undergraduate Change of Program request in iROAR should be directed to Enrolled Student Services at 864-656-2174. General change of program questions should be directed to your advisor.
Changing Curriculum Year at Clemson
New Students
When students initially enroll at Clemson, the curriculum requirements for the degree in their major are those outlined in the Undergraduate catalog in effect at the time of their enrollment. The Undergraduate Catalog is published annually and is in effect for one academic year. Each academic year consists of 12 months, begins with the fall semester and goes through the following summer.
Returning Students
If a student withdraws from the University and subsequently returns or does not remain continuously enrolled (summers excluded), the student´s curriculum year is changed to the one in effect at the time of return for students with less than 90 credits. The curriculum year remains the same as when they were last enrolled for seniors (90 credits and more). The student´s major department can approve an exception. An Undergraduate Change of Program should be submitted in the Student Records tab in iROAR requesting the approval.
Transfer Students
Transfer students are assigned the curriculum year based on the Undergraduate Catalog in effect at the time they enroll at Clemson. As an alternative, transfer students may select the curriculum that was outlined in the Clemson catalog at the time they entered the previous college(s), provided they have been in continuous enrollment since initially entering college. Further, transfer students may select any curriculum at Clemson subsequent to their initial college enrollment. New transfer students should meet with an advisor in their major department to determine which curriculum year is best for them. New transfer students wanting a curriculum year different from the one in effect when they transfer to Clemson should talk with their advisor and submit an Undergraduate Change of Program request in the Student Records tab in iROAR.
Enrolled Students
Enrolled students who wish to change curriculum year within their current major (or who have been pursuing a major curriculum in order to complete requirements to change their major) should first meet with their academic advisor to discuss the advantages, disadvantages, availability of required courses that must be taken, and earned courses that can be used in the new curriculum. Students must receive approval to change their curriculum year requirements. Begin the process by completing an Undergraduate Change of Program request in the Student Records tab in iROAR.
Questions regarding the Undergraduate Change of Program request in iROAR should be directed to Enrolled Student Services, 864-656-2174. General change of program questions should be directed to your advisor.
