Choosing a Major

The Core Curriculum requirements allow students to explore a broad range of subjects, while the major and minor provide in-depth study of one or more fields. A major may require as few as 30 units and as many as 84 units. The exact number varies and is set by the academic department.

All students must declare a major or be in a pre-major by the time they complete 60 units. Students needing assistance with selecting a major may contact the Academic Advising, Retention, and Completion Office. In order to add or change a major or minor, students must complete the Change of Major/Minor Form available online. 

Please note that some terminology used in PeopleSoft and the catalog are interchangeable. For example: majors and minors are referred to as Academic Plans in PeopleSoft; concentrations and tracks are referred to as Academic Sub-Plans. Credits are also referred to as units.

Major

A major consists of courses required of a particular discipline that may include both lower-level (100–200) and upper-level (300–400) courses within and outside the discipline. All students must complete a major in order to graduate. A grade equivalent of 2.00 or higher is required in all courses taken for the major. Majors are also called academic plans or programs.

Concentration (MHEC Approved)

A concentration is a group of courses representing a specialized area of study within a program. A concentration requires a minimum of 24 units and should have enough unique units to distinguish it from another concentration or a track. A concentration will appear on the student’s transcript as a Sub-Plan upon graduation.

Track (Towson University Approved)

A track is a group of courses representing a specialized area of study within a program. A track requires between 18 and 23 units; two-thirds of the units should have enough unique units to distinguish it from another concentration or a track. A track will appear on the student’s transcript as a Sub-Plan upon graduation.

Minor

A minor is an institutionally-approved set of courses within a major area of study, or a separate, distinct thematic area of study. A minor must have at least 18 and no more than 30 units. At least 30% of the units in the minor must be upper-level (300-400) and no more than 12 units can be outside of the minor or thematic discipline. A grade equivalent of 2.00 or higher is required in all courses completed toward the minor.

Double Major 

A double major requires the completion of all requirements for each of two majors.

Screened/ Competitive Majors

Some programs of study are screened. Students must meet certain academic and/or curricular criteria, such as completing prerequisite courses or attaining a specific grade point average, before they are admitted to these programs.

Other programs of study, while not officially approved screened majors, are competitive. Students must either submit a portfolio of work or audition before they are admitted to these programs. Examples of competitive majors include Art, Music and Dance.

The criteria are published in the applicable sections of this catalog. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to screened or competitive programs.