Changing Your Major

• Attend a Career 101 Workshop
• Review the “How To” video and complete the Career Coach Assessment
• Review the “How To” video and complete the Career Cluster Inventory on MassHire 360
• Check out the Program Map for each possible major to see what classes are required and for information about career and transfer pathways
  • Do any of the degrees you are interested in have the same general education requirements?
• Use the “View New Program” feature on your My Progress page in Self-Service to how completed and current classes fit into the new program
  • Courses in the “Other Courses” section of your My Progress page do not meet graduation requirements
• Use the questions below to guide you as you reflect on what the right program is for you
• Meet with your assigned advisor, or schedule a virtual career advising appointment to discuss options

• Check out the Program Map to see what classes are required for the degree and get information about career and transfer pathways
  • If you are trying to decide between programs- can you take any classes that count for both programs?
• Use the “View New Program” feature on your My Progress page in Self-Service to see how completed and current classes fit into the new program
  • Courses in the “Other Courses” section of your My Progress page do not meet graduation requirements
• Review the related career options on Career Coach
• Watch the video about how to use the Education tab in MassHire 360 to learn more about the potential program and where it can lead, see similar majors, and start looking at potential 4-year schools in MA and beyond
• Check out BHCC’s Transfer Partnerships page and the MassTransfer website to see if there are transfer pathways for the degree you’re interested in
• Use the questions below to guide you as you finalize your new program
• Meet with your assigned advisor, or schedule a virtual advising appointment to discuss options, complete a Change of Program form and create a course plan for the upcoming semester based on the new degree

At BHCC, students are allowed to be enrolled in two degree programs at once.  If students want to enroll in two associate degrees, there must be a minimum of 15 credits of different coursework between the two degrees.  Students must complete all required courses for any and all degrees on their account to graduate.

• Why do I want to add a second program?
• What do I gain from adding this as a second program?
  • How does this help me achieve my goals?
  • What skills am I gaining by adding this program?
• Does adding a second program extend my graduation timeline?
  • If yes, am I willing to stay an extra semester or two?
  • Is it better to stay at BHCC and complete these extra requirements, or is it better to work on this after I transfer?

• Students cannot complete a Change of Program form to change to selective admission programs such as Nursing, Medical Assistant, Sonography, or Medical Laboratory Technician. Students must submit an application.  
• Students must complete specific courses and/or meet other requirements before applying to these programs.
• Only students who are directly accepted into these programs will have their program changed.
• Students who are interested in selective health programs, but haven’t completed the admissions requirements should enroll in the Health Sciences Program of Study.
• For selective programs such as Electric Power Utility Technology and Paramedic Studies students should start in Liberal Arts.
• Be sure to review the admissions requirements for the program you are interested in and attend an information session to learn about how to apply and be a successful student in the program

• After submitting a form, the International Center will need to review and approve the form, which may take additional time.
• International Center approval is required for a new I-20.

It is almost never too late to change your major, but there are some times where it may not be the right move.  To graduate- students must complete a certain amount of credits and all of the required classes for their degree.  If you are only a couple of classes away from completing a degree, it may not be the best time to change.

Sometimes changing your major means taking an extra summer course but sometimes it means staying an extra year.  Think about the pros/cons of that extra time.  What are the academic, transfer, and career benefits of staying?  What is the financial impact of staying longer? 

If you are transferring to a four-year school- consider how many credits they will accept, if you can change your major at that school, or if you can major and minor in something.  You may even be able to double major!

• Why do I want to change from my current program?
• Is there a specific program I want to change to? Why or why not?
• What do I know about this program?
• What are the pros and cons of changing my major?
• What information do I need to know about this major to make me confident in my decision?
• What types of classes will I need to take if I change my program?
  • Am I interested in those classes, why or why not?
• How do my academic strengths and weaknesses fit with this degree?
• How many credits have I already completed? Will changing extend my timeline to graduation? 
  • If yes, am I willing to stay an extra semester or two?
  • What is the benefit of me staying- better transfer options, higher level of successful completion, improved career options?
• What are the potential career paths related to this degree?
• How does this degree help me achieve my goals?
• Is there one specific major I need to be in to achieve my academic and career goals, or do I have more than one option?
• Who, at BHCC, can I talk with to learn more about this degree path?
• What BHCC resources can I use to explore new programs and careers related to them?