There isn’t a UW change of major form you download and submit yourself. The University of Washington handles major changes through an internal online system called the Major or Minor Update (MMU), and only academic advisors and departmental staff can enter requests into it.1University of Washington. Forms for Staff and Faculty To change your major, you schedule a meeting with an advisor, confirm you meet the new major’s requirements, and the advisor submits the MMU request to the Office of the University Registrar for you.
How quickly that happens, and whether it happens at all, depends on which major you’re moving into.
Check Which Type of Major You’re Switching Into
Every UW major falls into one of three admission categories, and the category decides what you have to do before an advisor can process the change.
- Open admission. Any student in good academic standing can declare an open major at any time. No prerequisites, no GPA threshold. Your advisor submits the MMU request and the change goes through.2University of Washington. Admission to Majors
- Minimum requirements. You finish a defined set of prerequisite courses at a minimum GPA, and admission follows. It isn’t competitive, but you can’t declare until the coursework is on your transcript.3University of Washington. UW Undergraduate Advising – Majors
- Capacity-constrained. Space is limited and meeting the prerequisites doesn’t guarantee a spot. Many of these programs have their own application forms, deadlines, tests, recommendation letters, or interviews.3University of Washington. UW Undergraduate Advising – Majors
Several of UW’s most popular programs sit on the capacity-constrained list, including Computer Science, Business Administration, Nursing, Psychology, Biology, Mechanical Engineering, Informatics, Communication, and Economics.4University of Washington. Majors – Office of Admissions If your new major is on that list, check the department’s own admission page early. Application windows and required materials vary, and a missed deadline usually means waiting a full cycle.
How to Change Your Major, Step by Step
The College of Arts and Sciences states the first move plainly: if you want to change your major, speak with your advisor, because there are forms and steps the advisor has to walk you through.5University of Washington College of Arts & Sciences. Declaring a Major You never log into the MMU yourself.
From your side, a typical change looks like this:
- Schedule an advising appointment. Meet with the advisor for your prospective department. If you’re moving between colleges, say from Arts and Sciences into Engineering, you’ll usually need to speak with both.
- Confirm eligibility. Good academic standing covers you for an open major. For minimum-requirements or capacity-constrained majors, bring documentation that the prerequisites are done or that the department has offered you admission.
- Let the advisor submit the MMU. The advisor enters your student number, selects the new major, and sends the request to the Registrar.1University of Washington. Forms for Staff and Faculty
- Verify the update. Once the Registrar processes it, the new major appears on your student record. Check your degree audit (DARS) or student profile to confirm.
When the Change Takes Effect
Timing drives everything downstream. A major declared before Census Day, the second Friday of the quarter, takes effect for that current quarter. Submit it after Census Day and the change applies to the following quarter instead.6University of Washington Tacoma. Change of Major/Minor Request Majors generally aren’t declared during summer quarter unless you specifically ask. If you’re trying to register for courses that are restricted to a particular major, get the change processed well before registration opens.
Minors run on a different clock. A minor declaration can be submitted at any point in the quarter and takes effect as soon as it’s processed.6University of Washington Tacoma. Change of Major/Minor Request It goes through the same advisor-initiated MMU system.
If You’re Past 105 Credits Without a Major
UW’s Satisfactory Progress Policy requires you to declare a major once you’ve earned 105 credits and completed five academic-year quarters. Both have to be true. Hitting 105 credits after four quarters won’t trigger the rule, and finishing five quarters at 90 credits won’t either. Transfer students who arrive with 105 or more credits need to declare before registering for their second UW quarter.7University of Washington. Satisfactory Progress Policy and Pre-Major Extension
When both thresholds pass without a declared major, a registration hold goes on your account. You can’t enroll for the next quarter until you either declare or receive a pre-major extension.8University of Washington. Registration Restrictions
A pre-major extension (PME) buys one additional quarter and is granted at your advisor’s discretion. To request one, book a 30-minute in-person appointment and bring a written statement that covers which major you’re pursuing and why, what you’ve done at UW to explore it, when you plan to apply or declare, and, if the major is capacity-constrained, which open or minimum-requirements alternatives you’re also considering.7University of Washington. Satisfactory Progress Policy and Pre-Major Extension A PME can be denied if your plan isn’t realistic or you haven’t thought through a backup for a competitive program. When one expires without a declared major, the hold returns and you’ll need an updated statement for the next meeting.
If you’re already past the 105-credit mark and trying to switch, an advisor is more likely to approve a PME when you’re a quarter or two from being able to declare the new major, and when you’ve identified a non-capacity-constrained backup.8University of Washington. Registration Restrictions
What Else to Check Before You Change
Financial Aid
Changing majors can quietly cut into your aid eligibility. UW’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy for financial aid sets a maximum timeframe of 225 attempted credits. Once your UW transcript hits that number, you’re generally no longer eligible for aid.9University of Washington. Undergraduate SAP Policy Every credit you’ve attempted counts, whether it applied to your old major or the new one, so a late switch can push you close to the cap.
Students who exceed 225 credits without graduating can file an appeal, demonstrating unusual circumstances beyond their control and explaining what has changed.9University of Washington. Undergraduate SAP Policy Some federal programs have their own lifetime limits on top of UW’s; Pell Grants are limited to roughly six years of funding.10University of Washington. Satisfactory Academic Progress Before committing, meet with a financial aid counselor and compare attempted credits against what the new program will still require.
GI Bill Benefits
If you use GI Bill benefits, a UW major change triggers a separate step with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Submit VA Form 22-1995, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training, so the VA can update your Certificate of Eligibility. You can file it online through the VA education benefits portal, mail a paper copy to your regional processing office, or get help from a Veterans Service Organization representative. You’ll need your Social Security number, and your bank routing information if you’re also updating direct deposit.11Veterans Affairs. Change Your GI Bill School or Program A mismatch between your UW major and your VA records can delay or interrupt payments.
Graduation Application
Your declared major has to be correct before you apply to graduate. UW requires graduation applications no later than the third Friday of the quarter you plan to graduate, and you can file up to three quarters in advance.12University of Washington. Graduation Application and Resources If a major change is in progress, finalize it first. A mismatch between your declared major and your degree audit causes problems that are much easier to prevent than untangle.