Major Change Criteria

Note: Due to our course sequencing (Cohort) the undergraduate program takes a minimum of 8 semesters (4 years) to complete for all incoming students (freshman, transfer, and major changes).

NEXT STEPS: Students must wait until the CAPPA major change window (see above) to verify that the major change requirements are met.

To ensure that your submission is reviewed as quickly as possible, please refrain from reaching out to the department outside of the CAPPA major change window. Any contact with the department outside of the CAPPA major change window could result in a delay in submission reviews. Please be patient as our advising team works on reviewing submissions.

Requirements that must be met (during CAPPA major change window):

1. Completion of 12 hours at UTA
2. Minimum 2.8 GPA at UTA
3. Minimum 2.8 GPA in any CAPPA classes taken, if applicable (ARCH, INTD, UDES, ESST, LARC, PAPP, PLAN)
4. Complete the CAPPA Major Change Module in Canvas (self-enroll via Canvas).
   • Complete all 10 Sections in the CAPPA Major Change Module, including,
     • → The Design-thinking prompt (in the CAPPA Major Change Module) showing your passion for a design-based major
     • → Completion of the Major Exploration Focus 2 Assessment
5. Completion of the CAPPA Major Change Interest form (within the CAPPA major change window) 

Prospective students, who are still interested in major change and have fulfilled requirements 1-5 after their current semester grades have been posted, would submit the CAPPA Major Change Interest Form (available only during CAPPA major change window listed above). If ALL steps are not fully met, the request will be automatically denied. 

It is the student's responsibility to complete all of the major change requirements and submit the CAPPA Major Change Interest Form during the CAPPA major change window.

 
The department of interest will then make a final decision. Acceptance into the program of interest is not guaranteed.

To ensure that your request is evaluated as quickly as possible, please refrain from reaching out to the department via e-mail, phone, or in-person visits during the time period that we are reviewing your submission.

DID NOT MEET THE MAJOR CHANGE REQUIRMENTS? WHAT'S MY NEXT MOVE?

Students who do not meet the requirements to change major may request to take our major-required courses as a Non-Major.  See our CAPPA NON-MAJORS WAITLIST request form. 

A Non-Major is defined as a student who is not a degree seeking major within the CAPPA at The University of Texas at Arlington.

“CAPPA-majors” are students actively pursuing one of the following degree plans at UT Arlington:

• Bachelor of Science in Architecture
• Bachelor of Science in Interior Design
• Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Urban Design

Our commitment is to ensure that all “CAPPA-majors” graduate in a timely manner. Therefore, at this time, all art courses are restricted to “CAPPA majors” with the exception of ARCH 1301 Intro to Architecture + Interior Design (ARCH 1301 section 002 specifically). 

Permission for major-required courses will not be given to non-majors before our current majors have been seated. Permission may only be requested for up to two long semesters (fall, spring).

NO MAJOR CHANGES WILL OCCUR IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ACTIVELY-ENROLLED SEMESTER.

To schedule an appointment for additional questions, visit THIS LINK, and choose Undergrad Admissions Info. 

Students in a CAPPA undergraduate program, wishing to change majors within CAPPA, must:

• Submit a request by completing the "CAPPA Program Change Request Form" which must include for consideration:
  • Verification of the completion of the Major Exploration FOCUS 2 Assessment, and
  • Letter of consideration indicating:
    • The reason for the change request, and
    • Plan for academic success in new major, if approved.

The CAPPA Undergraduate Advisors will evaluate the student's academic record to determine the potential for success in the new major and process the request accordingly, if the request is approved. Please note that the CAPPA Director of Academic/Student Affairs and Advising may also review the student's academic record in order to evaluate the request.

CAPPA students with a cumulative GPA (grade point average) below 2.000 may only change their major, within CAPPA, only with permission from the CAPPA Director of Academic/Student Affairs and Advising. 

CAPPA students are only allowed to change majors, within CAPPA, twice during their academic career. Any major change request, beyond those two changes allowed, will need to be to a major outside of CAPPA. Students will need to contact their non-CAPPA major of choice for information and assistance on changing into their program and will not be allowed to change back into any CAPPA undergraduate program. 

If a student appeals for an exception to change his/her major more than two times, the third change would require:

• Submission of the CAPPA Program Change with the Major Exploration FOCUS 2 Assessment completed, 
• Letter of consideration indicating:
  • Why the exception should be considered,
  • The reason for the change request, and
  • Plan for academic success in new major, if approved, and
• Approval from the CAPPA Director of Academic/Student Affairs and Advising

There will be no exceptions considered beyond that. 

If a change of major is approved, the student will then be responsible for meeting all program requirements and course prerequisites of the catalog in effect at the time of the change. In the first semester of change to a new major, the student must meet with an academic advisor to prepare a degree plan.