How to Declare

Ready to declare?

1. Declare your major in Axess.¹ Do not choose the Honors option in Axess unless you have already submitted an Honors Program application to the department.
2. Send an email to our Student Services Office at mse-ug-advising@stanford.edu to set up an initial MatSci advising appointment. The purpose of the meeting is to review the basics of getting a BS in MatSci and to assign a Faculty Advisor (Major Advisor).
3. Download and complete the MatSci Program Sheet. When completing the program sheet, include courses you plan to take as well as those you have already taken. Your courses can change in the future, so treat the program sheet as a planning guide. 
4. Download a copy of your unofficial Stanford transcript from Axess and attach it to your program sheet.
5. Meet with your Faculty Advisor to review your program sheet and have your Advisor sign to approve it.
6. If any transfer and/or AP credits are used, bring the signed program sheet and transcript copy to the SoE Student Affairs Office at Huang 135 to be verified and get approval (see SoE Handbook for full details).
7. Email your signed program sheet and unofficial transcript to our Student Services Office at msestudentservices@stanford.edu (please also CC your Major Advisor). The MatSci Student Services Office will then approve your major declaration and add you to the MatSci undergraduate email listserv.
8. Congratulations and welcome to MatSci!

Notes

1. Stanford requires the declaration of a major by the end of sophomore year. The department will, of course, accept later declarations from students who change majors.

Non-Stanford students

At Stanford University, students do not apply as undergraduates to specific departments, but rather to the university itself. This allows students to explore many options and develop their interests before committing to a specific major.

Undergraduate students declare their majors in their second year of study (and no later than the beginning of junior year) and then continue in a major subject for the duration of their undergraduate studies.

If you are currently considering attending Stanford, see the Undergraduate Admissions site for more information.