Declare Your Major / Minor
How to Declare
To officially declare a history major or minor, follow these three steps:
1. Fill Out Form
Students do not need to fulfill any prerequisites to declare a major in History.
2. Set Up Appointment
Make an appointment in Vol Academic Connect, which can be accessed in myUTK under the “Academic Support” tab at the top of the page. Once in Vol Academic Connect, students may select “Change of Major to History” for change of major or prospective student advising, “History Advising” for major/minor advising, or “Supplemental Advising” if the student has an assigned faculty advisor. You will need to have filled out the Major declaration form (Step 1.) prior to your meeting. An official transcript is not necessary.
3. Receive Staff Advisor
Upon declaring your major, you will be assigned both a staff advisor and a faculty mentor within the department. Some students may wish to continue an existing mentoring relationship with their HIST 299 professor or another faculty member. The department will try to honor such requests.
Support
We encourage you to visit your History professors during their office hours, and visit your History advisor regularly. This interpersonal contact is how you will learn about opportunities that will help build your resume and lead you to new career interests and goals. The department also offers a free tutor in research and writing, which can be a tremendous help.
History Writing Tutor Appointments
NOTE: Students may set up appointments with their history advisors via e-mail during fall and spring semesters, in order to discuss their program of study in history or be cleared for semester registration. Please note that only your staff advisor (or on some occasions, another staff or faculty member within the History Department) can clear your advising hold once you declare the major.
“We study history not to be clever in another time, but to be wise always.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero
