Declaring a Major: Each student entering Tennessee Tech will select a major subject or field of interest. He or she is expected to complete the curriculum for the major subject and degree chosen, as outlined under the department in which the major is offered, following the requirements in the University catalog effective at the time he or she enters the chosen curriculum. A student who transfers to another institution and later returns to Tennessee Tech will follow the catalog in effect when he/she returns to the University.

Non-Degree Seeking Students Students who do not wish to earn a degree from TTU but who only register for classes on a class-by-class basis, will not have a designated major. These students may not be eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

Special Considerations for Nursing Majors The School of Nursing offers one major, nursing, which leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The nursing major is also known as the Upper Division Professional Nursing (NURS) program. Students must be admitted to the NURS major, and as such cannot declare this major without applying and being admitted. Lower-Level Nursing refers to the first three semesters of the nursing curriculum. Lower-level Nursing is a Career Track for students who wish to gain admission to the NURS program. Students who intend to apply for the NURS program are encouraged to declare a major in Interdisciplinary Studies. Those students would either complete the degree in Interdisciplinary studies or change their major to nursing upon acceptance into the NURS program.

Second Major A student may qualify for an additional major or majors by the completion of all prescribed requirements in the specified additional curriculum or curricula.

Changing a Major The major/minor/concentration/program may be changed by meeting with the new department of the major s/he wishes to declare. The change is initiated by the new department in Eagle Online, which both the student and former advisor will acknowledge. From there, the Change of Major is automated through the Office of the Registrar. For more information, contact the Office of the Registrar at Registrar@tntech.edu or at 931.372.3317. 

Declaring a Career Track Tennessee Tech designates several “career tracks” to support students who intend to enroll in professional schools. Career tracks are not “majors” and do not lead to a degree on their own. Career Tracks assist with pre-professional advising and guiding students towards their career interest. Majors, concentrations and options are provided for each career track below and are based on common pathways that help students meet the majority of the pre-requisites required by professional schools. Fulfillment of the requirements of the suggested major leads to a baccalaureate degree at Tennessee Tech. A major in Interdisciplinary Studies may be appropriate for students who intend to graduate with a baccalaureate degree, but do not wish to declare one of the majors outlined below. Students who wish to declare a non-suggested major should contact the appropriate professional career-track office to ensure that they will be able to complete the coursework necessary for admission to professional graduate schools through fulfillment of the requirements of their major.

Each career track provides a student with a curriculum guide that is designed to satisfy the minimum requirements for admission to various types of professional schools. Many, but not all, professional schools require that students obtain a degree prior to admission. Students considering dental hygiene, medical technology, or pharmacy school should be in a major that leads to a degree even though there is a possibility they may transfer to one of those professional programs. To declare a career track, students should contact their academic advisor. The academic advisor will be able to assist with declaring a Career Track and guide the student regarding courses and degree requirements.

Participation in a career track does not guarantee students admission to professional schools, nor are students who intend to attend professional school required to join a career track. Students should carefully review the requirements of the professional school to which they intend to apply.

Financial aid requirements may not permit such students to receive financial aid for courses that are not part of their major program of study or would lead to the student going beyond the permissible number of elective credits. Some students may choose to only complete coursework designated in each career track without seeking a degree from Tennessee Tech. These students may not be eligible to receive financial aid.