Major Exceptions
Each department lists its major requirements clearly in the University catalog, and all students complete a Major Requirement Checklist when they declare their majors. There will be numerous occasions, however, when an individual student will not be able to complete the major requirements as originally planned or required and may appeal to the chair to for an exception to the major requirements. The department chair has the authority to grant major exceptions as appropriate. A chair may allow a student to substitute a course not normally considered in the major for a major course, for example, or waive a specific course to enable a student to participate in a term internship or study away. Depending on the nature of the request, a chair may choose to solicit faculty votes or faculty opinions prior to granting the exception.
The chair does NOT have the authority to waive university requirements or core/global awareness requirements. The chair should grant exceptions in writing to the student, copy the student’s academic advisor, and keep a record on file. When the chair is asked to review degree candidate’s major requirements checklist, the chair will need to recall which waivers have been granted.