Prospective Students
In the Undeclared Advising Program, our goal is to help you declare a major within the first year. In your first year, you will start:
Self-Assessment
- Learn about your personal strengths and values
- Develop a supportive academic network
- Work with a Success Coach on goals and campus resources
Choosing a Major
- Work with Undeclared Advisor to plan classes and explore possible majors
- Learn about major declaration requirements
- Complete GE math and English in your first year
- Explore co-curricular opportunities
Career Exploration
- Work with a Career Center Counselor
- Learn about university career resources
- Develop a resume and cover letter
Longterm Academic Planning
- Participate in one-on-one and group advising
- Learn about your academic planning tools
- Identify and use university support services
- Start a plan towards graduation
The Undeclared Program may be right for you if:
- You are uncertain about what major to pursue
- You are uncertain about which major is ideal for the career of your interest
- You need support to navigate and explore the different majors offered at Cal Poly Pomona and potential careers
Prospective Student Resources
Prospective Undeclared Student FAQs
The Undeclared program is specifically designed for students who are interested in exploring majors before selecting the one that is the best fit for them. We do not recommend that students select Undeclared as a “back-up” to their first choice major. Apply to be an Undeclared student if it is truly your first and second major of choice.
The Undeclared program is specifically designed for students who are interested in exploring majors before selecting the one that is the best fit for them. As a student in the Undeclared Advising Program, you will benefit from proactive advising, one-on-one academic coaching, and workshops with academic departments, the University Library, and the Career Center. You will also develop strategies that will help you identify your interests, values, and skills. Your Undeclared Advisor will explain and discuss all requirements needed to declare your major of interest by the end of your first year.
University processes indicate that undeclared students must declare their major by the end of their first year. Declaring your major by the end of the first year will allow you to stay on track to graduate in a timely manner.
The earliest you can declare into some majors is after the completion of your first semester. However, other majors have additional requirements that may take students more time to complete. Each major has different major declaration requirements, which you can review in our Change of Major Tool.
Yes. You are required to meet once per semester with your Undeclared Advisor to ensure you have selected appropriate classes and are on the right track to declare your major.
Yes. During your advisor meetings, your Undeclared Advisor will discuss all of the majors available at CPP. You can also learn more about various major options by attending Change of Major workshops or viewing the Change of Major Tool.
No. Lower division students are not able to declare the Architecture major. Students interested in Architecture are recommended to pursue an alternate major, such as Landscape Architecture or Urban and Regional Planning. After completing one of these bachelor's degrees, you could apply to the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) degree program.
Yes. For example, the Animal Health Science major is a cohort program. This means that students are only able to begin this program in the fall term. Please consult with your Undeclared Advisor for further information on this and other majors.
Impacted majors may have additional requirements for admission compared to non-impacted majors. Please consult the Admissions website for more details and a list of impacted majors. The change of major requirements for all majors can be found in the Change of Major Tool.
Yes. You will have the opportunity to take career assessments and discuss your results with advisors and career counselors to ensure you are able to explore majors and careers that fit your interests, values, and skills.
All incoming students will meet their Undeclared Advisors during summer orientation. During orientation, students will explore first-year courses, register for classes, and learn more about the major exploration and declaration process. Be sure to check your CPP email for information on how to register for orientation, and visit the Orientation Services website for more information.
Because we are finalizing the tools and resources you will need to guide you through your course registration process, you should wait until orientation to meet with an advisor. However, if you have general questions, email us at advising@cpp.edu.