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Biological Sciences - Change of Major Requirements

General Change of Major Guidelines

  • Review Cal Poly's General Change of Major in full.
  • Students must complete at least one quarter at Cal Poly before entering into an Individualized Change of Major Agreement.
  • Students who enter into a change of major agreement and do not complete the agreement's requirements, either by failing to complete the terms or by opting out due to a change of plan or interest, will not be eligible to request that same major later in their career at Cal Poly.
  • Students must be able to graduate in a timely manner. A realistic quarter-by-quarter graduation plan may be required to demonstrate whether this is feasible.

Step 1: Research

Students are expected to research their options and make a well-informed decision before entering into an ICMA. Choose at least two of the following research opportunities:

Step 2: Complete the Change of Major Inquiry Form

  • Complete the Change of Major Inquiry Form through your Cal Poly Portal
  • You will receive an email response from the Change of Major Coordinator within 10 business days with details regarding next steps.
    • If you have been notified that you are eligible to enter into an ICMA, proceed to Step 3.
    • If you have been notified that you are not eligible to enter into an ICMA, contact the Mustang Success Center to review alternatives.

Step 3: Meet with Department Contact

  • If you have been notified that you are eligible to enter into an ICMA, you will need to schedule an appointment to meet with the Change of Major coordinator to plan your transition:
    • Dr. Jason Blank
      Phone: 805-756-5629
      Email: jmblank@calpoly.edu
      Office: 33-377
  • If a student is granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
    • A grade of C or higher in two of these classes: BIO 160, BIO 161, BIO 162
    • A grade of C or higher in one of these classes: CHEM 124, CHEM 125, CHEM 127, CHEM 128, CHEM 129
    • A GPA of at least 2.4 in each of the last two quarters before changing majors
    • Note: The completion of coursework without prior consultation with the intended major department does not guarantee the student eligibility to switch into the intended major.

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