These resources will help guide you through the academic program.
Course Planning Worksheets
Core Requirement Overview
Intro to Advising, Part 1: Degree Requirements
Intro to Advising, Part 2: Core Requirements
Introduction to Course Counts
1. How do I get an academic advisor?
Each student is assigned a faculty advisor prior to arriving at Occidental. Incoming first-year students will meet their faculty advisors for the first time during Orientation. Your faculty advisor will provide guidance on course registration and help you navigate the College’s academic program.
2. When do I need to declare a major?
All Occidental students enter the college undeclared. While you are not required to declare a major until the end of the second year, you are strongly encouraged to declare prior to Advising Week during spring semester of your sophomore year to ensure that you have an advisor in your major department who can help you in mapping out your courses for your junior and senior year.
Transfer students who transfer to college as juniors should declare a major during their first semester on campus.
3. How do I declare a major or minor?
To declare a major you will need to select a faculty advisor who is affiliated with your major department or program. Next, fill out a Major Declaration Form (available on the Registrar's Office forms page) and get signatures from your new advisor (or existing advisor if they are in your major department) and the department chair. Once complete, the Major Declaration Form should be submitted to the Registrar's Office, either via email or in person. Note: Some departments may have their own online forms that should be filled out prior to contacting the department chair for a signature on the Major Declaration Form. See the relevant departmental web page for more information.
To declare a minor, fill out the Minor Declaration Form (available on the Registrar's Office forms page) and get an approval signature from the relevant department chair. Once complete, the Minor Declaration Form should be submitted to the Registrar's Office, either via email or in person.
4. Can I change my faculty advisor without declaring a major?
You can change your faculty advisor at any time by filling at an Advisor Change Form (available on the Registrar's Office forms page) and submitting it to the Registrar's Office. All that is required is a signature from your new advisor. If you are ready to declare a major, you can simultaneously switch advisors using the Major Declaration Form.
