Click on http://www.wesleyan.edu/deans/major_declaration/2011openhouse.html for the Open House schedule for potential majors that begins today, Monday, February 7 and runs through Friday, February 25. Open Houses are a great opportunity to meet faculty in a department or program and to ask questions about major requirements, study abroad, research possibilities, and so on. Check out the schedule and check out the Open Houses! You need to declare a major by Friday, March 4.
Majors
MDST Major Open House Today — 2/7
Open House: Medieval Studies
Check out the MDST major at their open house today from 2:45-4 p.m. in the Downey House Lounge!
Major Declaration & Open Houses
MAJOR DECLARATION opens on Thursday, February 3. You’ve done all the hard work already; the actual declaration process is simple. Find “Major Declaration” in the Wes Career bucket located in your student portfolio, 
and submit your electronic request to your prospective major department or program. A pre-major advisor survey will then pop up that asks you for feedback on your current faculty advisor.
Once you have submitted your major request and the survey, you will get an automated e-mail response from your prospective major with instructions for next steps. Make sure you check your e-mail for this message. You may declare a second major at this time as well or any time in the future (within the department/program’s regulations). When the department or program approves your request, it will appear in the “Major Declaration” application in your portfolio. You’ve got a major!
All sophomores must declare a major by Friday, March 4.
Departmental and Program OPEN HOUSES begin on Monday, February 7 and extend through Friday, February 25. The schedule will be posted by the end of the week on the class blog and on the Major Declaration website, www.wesleyan.edu/deans/major_declaration . These open houses are informal and provide the occasion for you to meet the faculty in your prospective major and ask questions. Take advantage of this opportunity!
Choosing a Major Workshop — Feb. 15
Still undecided about your choice of major? Wondering how your choice of major might impact your career direction after graduation? If so, join Jim Kubat, Sophomore class liaison at the Career Resource Center, and Shadia Goldstein, graduate intern at the Career Resource Center, for a discussion of the CRC’s point-of-view on the process of choosing an undergraduate college major from 12-1 p.m. Location TBA.
Note from Dean Brown: J-transfers, Major Declaration, Oversubscription, Study Abroad & Musical Madness
Hey Class of 2013–Welcome back! I hope that you all are looking forward to a great spring semester! With the snow and sleet today, I’m sure you’re looking forward to sunny warm weather as well!
J-TRANSFERS: There are 14 January transfers joining the Wes community, 11 of whom are in the Class of 2013. They are coming from places as diverse as Bowdoin, USC, the University of Iowa, Bunker Hill Community College, and Washington University. Please WELCOME THEM and make them feel at home as part of your incredible, smart, talented and capable class (really, truly).
DROP/ADD: This period begins with the start of classes on Thursday, January 20 and concludes on Wednesday, February 2. Make sure your grading mode selection is correct!
MAJOR DECLARATION: As you look at your course schedule for the spring, make sure that you have the courses and pre-requisites needed to declare your major between Thursday, February 3 and Friday, March 4. Departments and programs will sponsor Open Houses between February 7 -25. I will send you the schedule once that has been confirmed. The Open Houses are a great opportunity to check out a major, meet the faculty, and ask questions. Also, Jim Kubat of the Career Resource Center will be doing another workshop on “Choosing Your Major” on February 2 at 7 p.m . in Usdan 108. Check out as well http://www.wesleyan.edu/deans/major_declaration/ .
OVERSUBSCRIPTION: One thing to keep in mind is the University’s regulation about oversubscription. In order to promote a liberal arts education, the faculty put into place a regulation that limits the number of credits in each department that can be counted towards graduation. The maximum number of credits is 16.00. If you have over 16.00 credits in any one department, you will be “oversubscribed” in that department and those additional credits (not necessarily those particular courses) will not count towards graduation. If courses are cross-listed, i.e., listed in more than one department or program, they will count towards oversubscription in all departments in which they are listed. This means that if you enroll in an AMST course that is also cross-listed as a HIST course, it will count in the HIST department as a credit for purposes of oversubscription. See the academic regulations at http://www.wesleyan.edu/registrar/AR.html . As long as you have as many credits over 32.00 as you are oversubscribed in a department, you are okay. However, you need to remain alert to where you are vis a vis the 16.00 credit limit in a department. Any questions? Come see me, and you will be hearing more about this from me as time goes on.
STUDY ABROAD: Check NOW for programs and deadlines that you have the slightest interest in. Due dates for apps are sooner than you think and it takes TIME to investigate all your options for the fall and/or spring of next year. Think about how where you go and how the courses offered may play into your potential major.
MUSICAL MADNESS: Yes, 2013 rocks and will prevail over all others at the third annual musical competition 
between the classes on Thursday, February 24 at 7 p.m. The entry forms are on the class blog–http://classof2013.blogs.wesleyan.edu/. Enter solo or as an ensemble for an acoustic, electric or a capella set with an original or cover of any musical genre—from jazz to opera, from rock to hip hop. A faculty/staff/student panel of judges will award prizes for Best in Class and Best in Show. Get your act together and feel the love! Entry deadline is February 17.
COME SEE ME!: As always, don’t hesitate to come see me with any questions or concerns you may have—or just to chat—as you move forward into your fourth semester—or fifth semester for those of you who are December Completions 2012. I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to and what you have been thinking about.
Glad you are back! Best, Dean Brown
Q&A Session with your class dean, peer advisors, OIS & CRC — Thurs., 11/9
Thinking about going abroad? Declaring three majors? Wondering about life after Wes (already)? Come to Sophomore Savvy: Gathering Information, Making Informed Choices, a Q&A especially for second year students. Dean Louise Brown as well as representatives from the CRC, the SARN Peer Advisors, and Office of International Studies will be there to answer your questions about the next steps at Wesleyan and looking to the future–majors, study abroad, internships. This a very informal time to come ask questions and learn a little bit more about what’s coming up. Come when you can, and leave when you need to. Bring your dinner, your questions, and your friends!
The Planning Period and Majors
The planning period for the Spring 2011 semester runs from Tues., Nov. 2 through Tues., Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. Because you will be declaring your major next semester, you want to think carefully about the courses you choose (and do not forget there is drop/add in case you change your mind by then!). Talk with your advisor or professors in whose department/program syou have some interest to get a better idea of the major and what courses you might take. And definitely check out on Wesmaps descriptions of the major and courses offered, including in the “Archives.”
- If you are still exploring major possibilities, try out the gateway courses so you get a taste of what the discipline is about and have the prerequisite for advanced courses.
- If you are deciding between two majors, consider taking a course in each department/program to help you decide and to move you forward at the same time.
- If you know exactly what you want, well then, go for it.
If you’re still uncertain, you should know that students change majors even after the major declaration period, which runs from Feb. 3 to Mar. 5, 2011. Depending on the major and your own academic history, you may have some flexibility to drop or add a major after March 5. In other words, you still have time to explore next semester.
Also, remember that your major does not necessarily determine what you will do with the rest of your life. To get some perspective on this, talk with a CRC staff member and check out what Wes alums have done with their majors—see the amazing range of jobs that you wouldn’t even think of—by accessing MyCRC.
If you have questions, concerns or angst, please do not hesitate to talk with your faculty advisor and/or me . We want to help you make the decision that is right for you.
2013 rocks, Dean Brown (x2758, lsbrown@wesleyan.edu)
For Prospective History Majors — Wed.,10/27
“Why study the past? Because it paves the way to your fabulous future!”
Meet Katherine D’Ambrosio (’06) and Mike James (’07) and hear about what they’re up to now, and how the major in History helped them figure out who they want to be.
Oct 27, Wednesday, 4:15 p.m.
PAC 001
[Iguanas Ranas will be there too]
