Information for Current Students

Choosing a Major

Whether you are thinking about changing your major or are currently undeclared, the CLAS Advising Center is here to help you! The University of Maine and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has dedicated faculty and staff to assist you through this process.

During your first academic year at the University of Maine, you will be encouraged to complete courses that not only fulfill General Education categories, but that also go towards a major of interest. Through various Group Advising Sessions, one-on-one advising meetings and joint programs with campus resources like the Career Center, students will receive guidance and support while selecting a major.

Prior to making an appointment with an Academic Advisor in the CLAS Advising Center, take time and review the available majors offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. There are numerous majors and minors for CLAS student to choose from. For a complete list, please visit the Academics page of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website.

Appointments

Every student at the University of Maine is assigned a faculty advisor within their major. To find your faculty advisor, check your MaineStreet account. Students can also book an appointment with advisors in the Advising and Academic Services Center before faculty advisors have been assigned or for questions or concerns beyond the scope of a faculty advisor’s expertise.

Schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Academic Services Center.

  1. Access your Degree Progress Report from your MaineStreet Account. For help accessing your Degree Progress report, click here.
  2. Fill out a General Education Worksheet and bring it to your meeting.
  3. Prepare a brief list of questions (e.g., where is a certain department, when do I declare a major, selecting courses).
  4. Write your appointment date and time in your calendar. Please contact an Academic Adviser prior to your meeting if you need to reschedule.

General Education Requirements

Every University of Maine academic program is based upon a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. The University’s goal is to ensure that all of its graduates, regardless of the academic majors they pursue, are broadly educated persons who can appreciate the achievements of civilization, understand the tensions within it, and contribute to resolving them. This component is called general education, and it amounts to about one-third of every program. The design of general education at the University of Maine is meant to be flexible within the broad goals it seeks to achieve. It affords each student many ways of meeting its requirements, which, in addition to its English requirement, fall into six broad categories: Human Values and Social Context, Science, Ethics, Mathematics, Writing Competency and Senior Capstone.

All UMaine students must complete these general education requirements, which are counted in the total credits required for graduation and may be contained in the Major Requirements as well.

General Education Categories and Requirements

  • ENG 101 (College Composition)
  • 18 credits in Human Values and Social Context (at least 3 credits must be taken within each sub-category; a single course may satisfy more than 1 sub-category). Categories include: Western Cultural Tradition, Social Context & Institutions, Cultural Diversity & International Perspectives, Population & the Environment, and Artistic & Creative Expression
  • 2 courses in Science
  • 1 course in Ethics
  • 6 credits in Mathematics (including statistics and computer science, only 3 credits in computer science can count toward this requirement)
  • 2 courses which are designated as Writing Intensive (1 must be within the major)
  • 1 Capstone Experience, where the student integrates the components of his or her undergraduate training to perform at a professional level. The capstone experience is usually completed during the senior year.

Forms

Many of these forms are also available at the CLAS Division of Students Services (Room 100, Stevens Hall)

Attention Apple Macintosh Users: Do not use the built-in Apple Preview application to fill out these forms.  We will not be able to read the data when we open the form.  This may significantly delay processing. Download and install the free Adobe Reader application from Adobe to fill in and save the form before submission.

Academic Probation

At the end of each semester, your transcript will be reviewed to establish your academic standing. Academic standing is determined using both semester and cumulative grade point averages (GPAs).  The levels of academic standing are:

  • Good Standing
  • Academic Probation
  • Academic Suspension
  • Academic Dismissal
  • Non-Degree Student Status

Click here to see the University Undergraduate Catalog for specific information

For any questions, contact Sam Kunz, Assistant Director, Advising & Academic Services, skunz@maine.edu or 207.581.1987.