Change of Major
The Change of Major Portlet is closed for summer and will open on the first day of classes of fall semester on August 24, 2026.
At Cal Poly, we understand that your academic interests and career goals may evolve, leading you to consider changing your major. We are committed to supporting you through this process and empowering you to make informed decisions.
Incoming first-year and transfer students may begin exploring change of major during their first term and may submit a change of major inquiry form. However, students must complete at least one term at Cal Poly in order to receive a Cal Poly GPA, which is used in determining eligibility for an Individualized Change of Major Agreement (ICMA).
Continuing students interested in beginning the change of major process during the summer term may contact the department of their intended major to inquire about their options.
Please note that Cal Poly students may only change into majors offered at their admitted campus.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo majors with limited availability (updated as of 6/17/2026):
- Architecture will only accept inquiries during spring 2027 (except for currently enrolled first-year ARCE students)
- Business Administration
- City and Regional Planning
- Construction Management will only accept inquiries for currently enrolled CAED students
- Graphic Communication
- Landscape Architecture
- Nutrition will accept inquiries during fall 2026 ONLY for the 2026-2027 academic year (only continuing students and Food Science first-years will be considered)
- Public Health and Kinesiology will accept inquiries for fall 2026 during August 24-October 7, 2026
Things You Should Know about Changing Your Major
Changing your major at Cal Poly is a multi-step process, and the requirements are unique to each major. Before submitting an inquiry form, you are expected to explore your major options and make sure your prospective major is a good fit for your interests and goals.
- To begin the formal change of major process, you must submit a Change of Major Inquiry form to your intended major in your Cal Poly portal.
- Your prospective major department will evaluate basic criteria to determine your eligibility to enter into an Individualized Change of Major Agreement (ICMA). Departments may consider:
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Academic records including Term GPA, Cal Poly GPA, or Higher Ed GPA.
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Ability to complete degree requirements in the new major within 150% of the program’s published length, determined from the start of your undergraduate enrollment.
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Admissions eligibility for the proposed major.
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Ability of the department to accommodate change of major students into a program.
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Completion of a health waiver for licensed Cal Poly Maritime Academy majors.
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- If you are eligible to enter an ICMA, successful completion of the ICMA will result in a change of major.
- You are allowed one ICMA per major. If the requirements of your ICMA are not successfully met, another ICMA for that major will not be issued.
Refer to Cal Poly’s general Change of Major policy.
Change of Major Process
Terminology
- Proposed major: The major you plan to change into. You may also find this referred to as your target major, intended major, or desired major.
- Change of major portlet: The online platform used to access and submit the eligibility inquiry form.
- Eligibility inquiry form: A form used to determine whether you meet the basic eligibility requirements to move forward with an Individualized Change of Major Agreement (ICMA).
- Individualized Change of Major Agreement (ICMA): An agreement between you and the department that outlines the specific requirements you must complete to change your major.
- Change of major coordinator: A department representative who reviews eligibility inquiries and updates student statuses, typically within 10 academic business days.
Step 1: Research Campus Processes
If you are a Cal Poly Maritime Academy student, you may only inquire about changing to another major offered at Cal Poly Maritime Academy. You are encouraged to connect with academic advisors by emailing maritimeadvising@calpoly.edu to request an informational meeting to learn more about the change of major process.
If you are a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student, you are welcome to attend a University Wide Change of Major Info Session hosted by the Mustang Success Center and Career Services. While the content will be tailored to the first-year experience, all year levels are welcome to attend to learn about Cal Poly’s change of major policy and process.
To sign up for an info session:
In your Cal Poly Portal -> Academics tab -> Advising & Help Links --> Change of Major. Click on "Sign up for an Info Session" to confirm the session you can attend.
If you are unable to sign up after trying these steps, you are welcome to attend your desired info session without registering.
Step 2: Research Academic and Career Interests
Conducting research before submitting a change of major eligibility inquiry form can help you confirm whether a new major aligns with your interests, strengths, and academic/career goals. The recommendations below are intended to support your exploration and help you decide whether a change of major is the best path for you.
- Review major curriculum in the Cal Poly Catalog, including course descriptions, to better understand program requirements and expectations.
- Meet with academic advisors in your prospective major or college to discuss your academic plan, eligibility considerations, and opportunities to connect with faculty in the discipline.
- Connect with a career counselor at Career Services to get support with exploring how your intended major aligns with potential career paths and how to utilize major/career exploration resources.
- Take a career assessment, such as PathwayU, to help you identify careers and majors that align with your interests, values, personality, and workplace preferences. Meet with a career counselor to discuss your results.
- Conduct an informational interview with a professional in a career field you’re interested in. Not sure who to contact? Connect with Cal Poly alumni on Cal Poly Career Connections, Cal Poly's online networking platform.
- Cal Poly Maritime Academy access coming soon!
Step 3: Check Major-Specific Criteria
Before submitting a change of major eligibility inquiry form, review the major-specific eligibility criteria to understand whether changing into your proposed major may be possible. Eligibility may depend on several factors, including minimum Cal Poly GPA requirements, the number of units you have completed, whether you can complete a new major within a reasonable timeframe, space available in the major, and Student Health Center clearance for licensed Cal Poly Maritime Academy majors.
Note that taking courses in your prospective major without first consulting the prospective college advising center/department does not guarantee eligibility to change into that major.
Click on your prospective college below to view major-specific requirements:
Step 4: Complete or Edit the Change of Major Eligibility Inquiry Form
Once you have decided on a proposed major, submit an eligibility inquiry form to check if you meet the basic criteria to move forward with an ICMA for that major.
If you experience technical issues when submitting an inquiry form, try clearing your browser cache and cookies in your settings. Using Google chrome or Firefox is recommended.
How to submit an eligibility inquiry form for the first time (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo)
In your Cal Poly portal -> Academics Tab -> Change of Major -> Submit an Inquiry Form
Choose your intended major.
Complete the required questions. Each response has a 2,000 character limit (including spaces). Save your responses in a separate document in case you need to resubmit an inquiry form in the future.
After submitting, you will receive a confirmation email from retention@calpoly.edu with the subject line “Change of Major Inquiry Form Received.” Within 10 academic business days your eligibility status will be updated in the Change of Major portlet and you will receive an email notification to your Cal Poly email.
Note that you can only have 1 active eligibility inquiry form at a time. If you need to submit a new inquiry form for a different major, refer to the information below.
How to submit an eligibility inquiry form for the first time (Cal Poly Maritime Academy)
In your Cal Poly portal -> Academics Tab -> Change of Major -> Submit an Inquiry Form
Choose your intended major. Note that inquiry forms for licensed Cal Poly Maritime majors must include the required Health Clearance Form from the Student Health Center. Please follow the instructions provided in the portlet.
Complete the required questions. Each response has a 2,000 character limit (including spaces). Save your responses in a separate document in case you need to resubmit an inquiry form in the future.
After submitting, you will receive a confirmation email from maritimeadvising@calpoly.edu with the subject line “Change of Major Inquiry Form Received.” Within 10 academic business days your eligibility status will be updated in the Change of Major portlet and you will receive an email notification to your Cal Poly email.
Note that you can only have 1 active eligibility inquiry form at a time. If you need to submit a new inquiry form for a different major, refer to the information below.
How to check the status of your eligibility inquiry form
In your Cal Poly portal -> Academics Tab -> Change of Major -> view the status of your inquiry under the "Change of Major Inquiry Form Details."
The default status of a new change of major inquiry is “Requires Attention.” This status will be updated within 10 academic business days after your eligibility has been determined by the Change of Major Coordinator. You may receive an email with additional instructions to follow, depending on your prospective major.
How to withdraw an eligibility inquiry form
To withdraw your inquiry form, go to your Cal Poly portal -> Academics tab -> Change of Major.
In the Change of Major portlet, click the “Withdraw” button at the bottom of the inquiry form details and select “Yes, Withdraw” in the pop-up window to confirm.
Once your form has been withdrawn, your status will change to “WITHDRAWN_BY_STUDENT.”
How to submit a new eligibility inquiry form
After you have withdrawn a change of major inquiry in the Change of Major portlet, click on the “Start New Inquiry" button at the bottom of the page.
Step 5: Determine Your Next Steps Based on Eligibility Status
Your eligibility status will be updated in the Change of Major portlet and you will receive an email notification to your Cal Poly email within 10 academic business days. You can also check your change of major portlet for detailed information about your request and/or instructions to follow.
Note that weekends, academic holidays, and academic breaks are not counted as academic days. If you have not received an update within 10 academic business days, contact retention@calpoly.edu or maritimeadvising@calpoly.edu, depending on your attending campus.
Inquiry Status Updates
- Eligible: You meet the basic criteria to initiate an ICMA. The Change of Major Coordinator will email you with instructions to follow.
- Not Eligible: You do not meet the criteria to move forward at this time. The Change of Major Coordinator will explain why and if you may become eligible in a future term. You may consider reviewing Step 2 above to further research major options.
- Pending Further Action: Your prospective department may need more information from you before determining your eligibility (e.g. submit a portfolio, participate in auditions, updated grades, a faculty meeting). Refer to the instructions provided in the email you received from the Change of Major Coordinator.
Step 6: Complete an Individualized Change of Major Agreement (ICMA)
If your change of major inquiry is marked eligible, you may work with the department to create an Individualized Change of Major Agreement (ICMA). This agreement outlines the specific requirements you must complete to officially change your major.
An ICMA may include:
- Up to 2 courses (or up to 3 if one course counts toward both your current and proposed major)
- GPA requirements set by the department (term GPA, Cal Poly GPA, and/or Higher Ed GPA)
- Completion within one semester
Once an ICMA is created and accepted by you and your prospective department, changes are limited and only made at the department’s discretion in situations outside of your control (e.g. taking time off, canceled courses, scheduling conflicts).
Extensions and Changes
You may request one extension in your ICMA, if needed. Approval is not guaranteed and is based on circumstances such as:
- Unexpected circumstances outside your control
- Withdrawing from a course/term or requesting an incomplete grade for serious and compelling reasons
- Taking informal time off or approved for a leave of absence
- Your ICMA may be extended for the length of the absence
- Courses taken at another institution while you are on an approved ICMA extension will not be considered in the completion of your ICMA, unless approved by the department prior to your leave
- You must resume or cancel your ICMA upon your return to Cal Poly
Final Outcome
Your major will be officially changed once you complete all your ICMA requirements. If you do not complete your ICMA, you cannot request another ICMA for the same major again.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
I have not received a response on my change of major eligibility inquiry and more than 10 academic business days have passed. Who can I contact?
Log in to your Cal Poly Portal and click on the Academics tab. Click on the "Change of Major" link to view the status of your inquiry, which will include the contact information to the Change of Major Coordinator, who is responsible for updating your inquiry. You may contact them for an update on your status.
You can also email retention@calpoly.edu to request support on your inquiry status update. A Retention Specialist will reach out to the department on your behalf.
I am struggling to meet the grades and/or GPA requirements of my ICMA. What should I do?
You are encouraged to connect with the ICMA Initiator who assisted in the creation of your ICMA to discuss any alternative options. Modifications are at the discretion of each department.
If your academic challenges lead to withdrawing from a class for extenuating circumstances, needing to request a grade of an incomplete, or taking time off, the department may agree to extend your ICMA.
I am not eligible or have failed to meet the requirements of an ICMA for my desired major. What should I do?
While this may be difficult news to receive, there are a variety of paths available.
- Consider switching to an alternative major. Get support with major/career exploration from a career counselor at Career Services.
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Meet with an academic advisor to identify courses that may be applicable with other majors of interest.
Less common options include taking time off to explore alternative majors via community college coursework, re-applying to Cal Poly as a transfer student under your desired major, or transferring to a different institution. These options require thorough consideration and planning. You are encouraged to meet with a college academic advisor, department chair from your desired major, or your retention specialist to explore these possibilities.
Under certain circumstances, ICMA-related decisions can be appealed. Students are expected to discuss their concerns and inquire about the appeal process with the department and/or college of their intended major as well as with their advising center. The right to an appeal is not guaranteed. For more information about the change of major appeals process, please review section VIII. of the Change of Major policy.
I have been taking classes for my prospective major, but I am not in an ICMA. What happens if I am not eligible for my prospective major?
Taking classes in your prospective major before starting a formal agreement does not guarantee that you will be eligible to enter an ICMA for that major. Deviating from your current major without the certainty of switching to your desired major may have implications on receiving financial aid, if applicable to you, and timeline to graduation.
You are encouraged to meet with your college advising center for guidance on future course planning to ensure that you will be making progress towards a degree program.
Will changing my major impact my financial aid?
In most circumstances, changing your major should not impact your financial aid. However, you can connect with the Financial Aid Office to confirm if any scholarships or grants you receive are tied to a specific major.
How do I determine if I can complete a new major within the 150% published program timeline?
Coming soon!
I am an international student and have specific Visa requirements to follow. What should I consider and can I switch to any major?
Connect with the International Center to check if your prospective major is an approved major.
A major I am interested in is currently closed or not accepting new inquiries. What should I do?
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Reach out to the department of your desired major to find out when they plan on accepting new inquiries and to discuss your options.
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Consider exploring an alternative major and get support with major/career exploration from a career counselor at Career Services.
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Meet with an academic advisor.
What if I am accepted in an ICMA but need to take time away from Cal Poly?
If you find you need to take time off after accepting an ICMA, you may request to have your agreement paused. Approvals and conditions are up to the discretion of each department.
You are encouraged to meet with your retention specialist to discuss your options for time off.
If I attend Cal Poly Maritime Academy, is there an opportunity to change my major to one that is offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (or vice versa)?
You cannot change to a major that is not offered at your attending campus at this time.