This section includes a summary of key points from the Majors and Minors Policy. To gain a deeper understanding, we recommend that you review the full policy. Read the Majors and Minors Policy.

You are expected to declare a major field(s) of study by the end of your sophomore year. The College offers academic advising and career counseling to help you identify an appropriate major to support your interests and goals.

Minors are optional except for those majoring in elementary education or broad field education. You may complete a minor, or minors, in regular or directed studies programs. If you are wishing to declare more than two majors, minors, or emphases, you must secure approval from the dean of academic affairs.

Education Majors
Indicating your major does not admit you to the Teacher Education Program. Admittance is based on specific requirements. See the education department chair for details.

Double Majors
Students may declare two majors and two minors. Students wishing to declare more than two majors, minors, or emphases must secure approval from the associate dean of academic affairs.

NOTE: Graduation automatically occurs once a student earns 124 credits, completes all requirements for one major, and fulfills all liberal education requirements. Students should plan accordingly if double-majoring, as degree completion will have an effect on eligibility for federal financial aid.

There are exceptions for education students; students should inquire with the Office of the Registrar to see if this exception applies to their program.

Declare Your Major or Minor

You are assigned to the catalog that is active at the time of your first entry into Northland College. If you entering in fall 2024, you are assigned to the 2024–25 catalog.

If you wish to declare a major or minor in a catalog newer than the one to which you are assigned, you will indicate this on the Major/Minor Declaration Form.

Once you are assigned to a new catalog, all rules and policies in the newer catalog go into effect for you. You are not allowed to move backward into a catalog older than the one to which you were originally assigned.

Also note, you are not allowed to declare one major in one catalog and another major in another catalog. For example, you cannot declare a biology major in the fall 2024–25 catalog and a business major in the 2023–24 catalog.

Review Course Catalog

The following credit limits apply:

• No more than 65 credits earned from a two-year community or junior college may be applied toward requirements for the baccalaureate degree.
• No more than 12 internship, field experience, or teaching assistantship credits may be applied toward requirements for the baccalaureate degree.
• No more than 12 correspondence credits may be applied toward requirements for the baccalaureate degree.
• No more than 30 credits may be applied through testing options such as Advanced Placement, CLEP, or International Baccalaureate.

Though the Office of the Registrar tracks every student’s progress toward meeting degree requirements, each student is ultimately responsible for determining and completing their academic credits.

You may request a course substitution to fulfill a major or minor requirement identified in the College catalog when one or more of the following conditions apply:

• Transfer Equivalency
  Upon further review of an initial transfer evaluation, a department chair may propose to change an equivalency or to accept a transfer course in lieu of the current requirement.
• Course Canceled and Replacement Non-specified
  Substitutions may become necessary when a course is canceled.
• Time Conflict
  Sometimes, time conflicts occur and courses cannot be arranged or taken in a subsequent session.
• Teacher Education Program Requirements
  The education program coordinator may substitute all elementary education requirements, all secondary education licensure requirements (not including courses within teaching majors/minors), and any of the general education courses specified for teacher education majors to fulfill licensure requirements.
• Other
  The course is approved by the program coordinator, ensuring the substituted course fulfills major outcomes.

Substitutions are not allowed for any other reason. Under rare and unusual circumstances, an appropriate substitution may not be available. When this occurs, you may seek a requirement waiver by submitting a petition of academic policy form to the Academic Standings Committee.

Request a Course Substitution

A second baccalaureate degree may be earned by Northland College graduates. The following provisions apply:

• A 30-credit minimum is earned at Northland beyond all of the credits and degree requirements for the first baccalaureate degree, and any repeated courses do not count toward the 30 credits (for students who earned their first degree at Northland, this means that a minimum of 154 credits must be earned to qualify for a second degree.);
• A student may not earn two of the same degrees (e.g. two BA or two BS degrees) from Northland College, and double majors within the same degree category lead to one degree with two majors listed, regardless of how many credits are earned;
• Students should complete all requirements for the second degree within four semesters of attendance at Northland, and exceptions to this policy must be cleared with the Office of the Registrar prior to the first semester of enrollment.