Declaring a Major
In this section:
While School of Arts and Sciences students typically declare a major by the end of their sophomore year, timing varies according to each student's need. Therefore, you should discuss the appropriate timing for declaring your major with your academic advisor. Some majors have specific requirements (prerequisites) that must be fulfilled before you declare that major. The appropriate forms for declaring a major are available in the Arts and Sciences Advising Center. Your advisor will assist you with the steps of declaring a major. Students may declare more than one major, either at the time of declaring or by adding another major at a later time. If students declare more than one major, they may choose the major from which they will receive academic advising and where they will register for courses. If students add a major after they have already declared their first major, they must register that second major with Student Records in person in 140 Thackeray Hall.
Major Fields of Study (24–60 credits)
A "major" comprises in-depth coursework in a field of disciplinary or interdisciplinary study, selected from the programs devised, offered, and supervised by one of our departments or interdisciplinary programs. Requirements vary, and some majors require certain courses in other departments, called co-requirements. In addition to the individual majors, School of Arts and Sciences undergraduates may pursue a variety of academic programs leading to multiple majors, majors within more than one department, or majors that either prepare students for, or offer advanced admission to, graduate or professional programs at the University of Pittsburgh.
The School of Arts and Sciences does not offer undergraduate majors in pre-dental science, pre-medicine, pre-law, or education. Students prepare for these graduate or professional programs by taking the prerequisites through an Arts and Sciences undergraduate degree program of choice, for example, majoring in biology with the intent to apply for medical school. Arts and Sciences also provides the foundation of study for the first two years of school prior to the following upper-level undergraduate schools: the School of Education, the School of Social Work, the School of Information Sciences, the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the School of Pharmacy. Arts and Sciences students in certain disciplines may also apply for a fifth year in the School of Education after completing their senior year, to earn a professional teaching degree in their discipline. If you are interested in any of these programs, please speak with your academic advisor.
Following is a complete listing of all Arts and Sciences majors. See the University of Pittsburgh Undergraduate Bulletin for specifics on all major course requirements and other program details.
- Actuarial Mathematics
- Arts and Sciences/Business Dual Major
- Africana Studies
- Africana Studies and English
- Anthropology
- Applied Mathematics
- Architectural Studies
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry
- Chinese
- Classics
- Communication: Rhetoric and Communication
- Computer Science
- Ecology and Evolution
- Economics
- Economics and Statistics
- English Literature
- English Writing
- Environmental Geology
- Environmental Studies
- Film Studies
- French
- Geology
- German
- History
- History and Philosophy of Science
- History of Art and Architecture
- Italian Language and Literature
- Italian Studies
- Japanese
- Linguistics
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Economics
- Mathematics and Philosophy
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Music
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Physics and Astronomy
- Polish
- Political Science
- Politics and Philosophy
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Russian
- Scientific Computing
- Slavic Studies
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Statistics
- Studio Arts
- Theatre Arts
- Urban Studies
Minors (minimum 15 credits)
A minor is composed of a specific group of courses and can replace the related area requirement. Students must complete all courses with a 2.0 GPA to earn a minor. A related area is a minimum of 12 credits in any field of study that introduce students to that field. The related area may represent a thematic cluster, geographic grouping, or some other combination. Approved Arts and Sciences minors are:
- Africana Studies
- Applied Statistics
- Chemistry
- Chinese
- Classics
- Computer Science
- Economics
- English Literature
- Film Studies
- French
- German Studies
- History
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Linguistics
- Mathematics
- Music
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Portuguese and Luso-Brazilian Culture
- Religious Studies
- Slovak Studies
- Sociology
- Studio Arts
- Theatre Arts
Certificate Programs
Certificate programs allow students to complete a concentrated area of study in addition to their major. Certificates typically require 18 –24 credits, are noted on your transcript upon graduation, and can be used to fulfill the related area requirement. Students may fulfill more than one certificate in addition to a minor, as well as their major.
Arts and Sciences students may complement their major with a certificate from the University Center for International Studies (UCIS). Please see more about UCIS in the International Learning section of this handbook.
School of Arts and Sciences Certificates
- American Sign Language
- Children's Literature
- Civil Engineering (for Architectural Studies majors only, offered through the School of Engineering)
- Conceptual Foundations of Medicine
- Film Studies
- Geographic Information Systems
- German Language
- Historic Preservation
- Jewish Studies
- Leadership
- Medieval and Renaissance Studies
- Photonics
- Public and Professional Writing
- Women's Studies
Certificates from the University Center for International Studies (UCIS)
- African Studies
- Asian Studies
- East Asian Studies
- East European Studies
- European Union Studies
- Global Studies
- Latin American Studies
- Russian and East European Studies
- Russian Studies
- Soviet Studies
- West European Studies