Major Welcome

You've declared! Join us to learn more about your new major.

Each spring, the College holds a Major Welcome event, where students are welcomed by faculty members of their chosen majors.

This year, Major Welcome will be held throughout the months of February and March on days and times set by each department. There, students will have the opportunity to meet faculty, staff, and other students in their field; learn more about opportunities in their program; and, of course, celebrate their major! 

Departments expect students to attend the Welcome Event of their primary major unless in class at that time. Find the 2026 schedule of events as well as answers to frequently asked questions below.

2026 Major Welcome Events Schedule

African & African-American Studies    

March 2026
Location TBD

 
American Culture Studies    

February 25, 2026, 2 to 3:30 p.m.    
McMillan Hall, Room 140

 
Anthropology   

February 19, 2026, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
McMillan Hall, McMillan Cafe

 
Art History & Archaeology

March 20, 2026, 2 to 4 p.m.
Kemper Art Museum, 2nd Floor

 
Asian American Studies

March 2026
Location TBD

 
Biology

March 4, 2026, 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Life Sciences Building, Room 201

 
Chemistry    

February 26, 2026, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Wrighton Hall, Room 400

 
Classics/Ancient Studies    

February 27, 2026, 10 to 11 a.m.
Umrath Hall, Room 224

 
Comparative Literature & Thought

February 25, 2026, 3 to 4 p.m.
Ridgley Hall, Room 319

 
Comparative Literature & Thought: Comparative Arts Specialization

February 25, 2026, 3 to 4 p.m.
Ridgley Hall, Room 319 


Data Science in the Humanities (DASH)

February 25, 2026, 3 to 4 p.m.
Ridgley Hall, Room 319

 
Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences

March 2026
Location TBD

 
East Asian Languages and Cultures

March 3, 2026, 4 to 5 p.m.
Busch Hall, Room 18

 
Economics

March 18, 2026, 6:15 to 7 p.m.
Seigle Hall, Room 306
*Please note: The department will host the welcome session in concert with its annual Faculty-Student Pasta Dinner on the third floor of Seigle Hall, beginning at 5:30 p.m. All Economics majors and minors as well as Econ+CSE and Math+Econ majors are invited; sophomores are encouraged to attend the Welcome Session beginning at 6:15 p.m.

 
Education    

March 3, 2026, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Seigle Hall, Room 107

 
English    

March 5, 2026, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.   
Dunker Hall, Hurst Lounge

 
Environmental Policy

March 4, 2026, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Seigle Hall, Room 207

 
Environmental Studies

March 2, 2026, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Schnuck Pavilion, Room 202

 
Film & Media Studies

March 18, 2026, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Seigle Hall, Room 400

 
Germanic Languages & Literatures

February 25, 2026, 3 to 4 p.m.
Ridgley Hall, Room 319

 
Global Studies    

January 30, 2026

 
History    

March 4, 2026, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Busch Hall, Room 18

 
Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies   

February 26, 2026, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Busch Hall, Room 18 or outside Busch Hall (weather-permitting)

 
Legal Studies

February 25, 2026, 3 to 4 p.m.
Ridgley Hall, Room 319

 
Linguistics   

February 27, 2026, 10 to 11 a.m.
Wilson Hall, Room 104

 
Mathematics    

February 23, 2026, 4 to 5 p.m.
Cupples I, Room 199

 
Medical Humanities 

March 4, 2026, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Busch Hall, Room 18

 
Performing Arts - Dance and Drama

March 2026
Location TBD

 
Philosophy    

March 2026
Location TBD

 
Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology    

February 25, 2026, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Wilson Hall, Room 104

 
Physics  

March 2026
Location TBD

 
Political Science    

March 3, 2026, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.   
Seigle Hall, Room 207

 
Psychological & Brain Sciences 

February 24, 2026, 4 to 5 p.m.
Somers Family Hall, Room 215 A/B

 
Public Health & Society 

March 19, 2026, 3 to 4 p.m.
Hillman Hall, Room 200

 
Romance Languages and Literatures - French    

March 2026
Location TBD

 
Romance Languages and Literatures - Italian

March 2026
Location TBD

 
Romance Languages and Literatures - Spanish    

March 2026
Location TBD

 
Russian Language and Literature

March 2026
Location TBD

 
Sociology

February 25, 2026, 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. 
Seigle Hall, Room 104

 
Speech & Hearing

March 6, 2026, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. 
DUC, Room 248

 
Statistics & Data Science

March 2026
Location TBD

 
Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies

March 2, 2026, 4 to 5 p.m. 
McMillan Hall, Room 221

 

*Please note: all session times listed below are in Central Standard Time (CST)

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I have class during my department event time? 

It is the expectation of the department that you attend the Welcome Event for your prime major unless in class at that time. That said, go to class but please contact your major advisor or department to find out what you missed.

Can I go to the Welcome Event for a second major or minor?

Departments welcome second majors and minors.

My major isn't listed. What should I do? 

If your major isn't holding a welcome event, please contact your major advisor to learn more about important information and opportunities in your program as well as meet with faculty and staff.

I know my major but haven't declared yet. How do I do that?

Declaring is a two-step process. Check out this video with instructions here, and still be sure to go to your Major Welcome Event. For additional information on declaring your major, visit the Major Declaration page.