Changes to your Major/Program

Please Read First

This page contains information for F-1 and J-1 students who wish to change their major or program.

All international undergraduate students who have changed or added a major or minor, or graduate students who changed or added a program of study, are required to notify the Office of International Student and Study Abroad Services (ISSAS) immediately so that we may update SEVIS and issue you an updated I-20 (for F-1 students) or DS-2019 (for J-1 students).

Please review the information below on how to change your area of study. The process for approval may differ for J-1 students, depending on your situation (see below).

Process

Type of StudentImportant Steps
Undergraduate (Degree-Seeking)

If you must change your Major:

First, talk to your assigned academic advisor to discuss this with them. If approved, then they will submit the Major Change Request form for you.

If you must change your Minor program: 

You can full out the Minor Change form linked here: Student Forms 

Second, After your record has been updated with the change, notify your international student advisor in the ISSAS Dept.

  • According to your major, your advisor is listed on the following page:
  • When emailing your international advisor, you must include the following information:
    • Your full name
    • Your Student ID
    • Major/minor/program that you have changed or added
Graduate Students

If you are a graduate student who is requesting a program change, you should discuss this with your department, and the Graduate School if necessary, and also complete the request form found on the Graduate School website:
https://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/current_students/forms/

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR ALL J-1 STUDENTS

All international undergraduate students who have changed or added a major or minor, or graduate students who changed or added a program of study, are required to notify the Office of International Student and Study Abroad Services (ISSAS) immediately so that we may update SEVIS and issue you an updated DS-2019.

As a J-1 student, you must get prior approval for changing your major, or degree objective. Your J-1 sponsor is required keep documentation on file that the change was justified.

  • If your DS-2019 is issued by NDSU, please contact your international student advisor for more information on updating your major/program.
  • If your DS-2019 is issued by another organization, you must first contact your sponsor to ensure they can allow such a change under the guidelines of your program.
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