Frequently Asked Questions

The Exploratory Program seeks to bring undecided students an awareness of all WKU major programs,  and to discover careers that may be good fits for them based off of these majors or interests. The Advisor and student formulate next steps in how to learn about these majors and careers of interest through connecting the student to our Career Center, to speak to knowledgeable faculty and staff on campus about certain fields, and to other resources for their own self-guided research. In order to allow students time and to best set them up to eventually declare a major, students are advised to take Colonnade (general education) classes only. 

After logging into TopNet, students will click on the "Student Services" tab. Next, students should click on the "Registration" tab followed by selecting the "View Advisor Information." tab. This link will provide the advisor's name, phone number, email address, and office location so the student may contact the advisor.

If you believe you have the wrong advisor assigned to you, please contact the Advising and Career Development Center at (270) 745-5065. If you are requesting a change in advisor, please fill out the Change of Major/Minor/Advisor form.

You will need to declare a major before you register for your 60th hour, or before you reach junior standing. However, since there are only 39 hours of Colonnade Plan requirements, it is in your best interest to declare during your second or third semester.

Baccalaureate degree seeking students are required to formally declare a major prior to registering beyond their 60th hour of degree  credit, or completion of their first term of study at WKU (whichever comes later); associate degree seeking students are required to formally declare a major prior to registering beyond their 30th hour of degree credit, or completion of their first term of study at WKU (whichever comes later). This declaration is to be made in consultation with the student's academic advisor. The hold prevents students from registering for classes until they declare a major. Students can use the online form on TopNet to change their major/minor/concentration.

Once a change of major has been processed, the must declare major hold will be removed by the system allowing a student to register for classes.

Changes in majors, minors, concentrations, and advisors are made upon request by students. Students must submit a Major, Minor, Concentration, Advisor Change Form to the academic department that administers the student’s chosen program. This form is available online for students in TopNet.

• Login to your TopNet page, go to the "Student Services" tab.
• Click on "Student Records"
• Click on "Change Major, Minor, Concentration, Advisor"
• Choose your desired major  from the Major 1 drop down menu.
• Choose Yes, I request an advisor change from the Advisor 1 drop down menu.
• Submit your requested changes.
• Confirm your changes.
• Print out the form and bring it to the location indicated on the bottom of the page for the appropriate signatures (Regional Campus students should bring the form to their Regional Campus advisor for processing).

Students with approved undergraduate degree programs on file in the Office of the Registrar may change their major(s) and/or minor(s) by filing an approved, revised program or an Undergraduate Degree Program Change Form with the Office of the Registrar. For further information please contact the Advising and Career Development Center at (270) 745-5065.

Students can obtain personalized, interactive audits displaying progress toward a selected degree through Degree Works through their TopNet. An audit shows all the requirements needed to fulfill a major, minor or concentration and displays the transfer and WKU courses that have been used to satisfy those requirements. Students can run "What-If" audits to compare their coursework against other majors.

 

WKU uses a general education model called the Colonnade Program. The Colonnade Program is now the core academic program at WKU. These general education requirements are an integral part of the undergraduate curriculum that both complement and support the student's preparation in their specific field.

WKU requires that all undergraduate degree-seeking students successfully complete a general education curriculum that represents a substantial component of each degree program (15 hours for associates degrees and 39 hours for baccalaureate degrees).

Courses in the Colonnade Program teach students to think critically, solve problems, and communicate effectively. Through these courses, students are encouraged to explore the connections among different areas of study in order to understand their roles as students and citizens. In short, the Colonnade Program is intended to promote intellectual curiosity and to instill a love of learning.

Regardless of a major choice, students are required to meet these general education requirements. There are specific courses that may benefit each student and advisors will convey those messages to ensure students are maximizing their experience with general education.