At the University of Dayton, a co-major is more than an extra set of classes; it's a strategic integration of two fields that allows you to personalize your degree and specialize your skills. Having a co-major in addition to a primary major adds depth and differentiation to your qualifications, providing a competitive advantage for post-graduate employment or graduate school.
At UD, some co-majors must be paired with a specific primary major, while others have no limit. View the co-major program page for additional information.
You can apply directly to co-major, or you can add one after admission. When applying directly to a co-major, you'll be admitted to the related Discover program as your primary major until a primary major is decided.
*Available for spring/fall 2027 enrollment.
A co-major is an academic pathway that allows you to gain deep, functional expertise in high-demand fields without the extended credit requirements of a double major. Designed to be completed within four years alongside your primary major, UD's interdisciplinary co-majors bridge the gap between foundational knowledge and career-specific skills.
A co-major is a specialized, in-depth program (usually 27+ credit hours) that must be paired with a primary major. It usually focuses on applied or interdisciplinary skills.
A minor is a smaller, optional area of focus (often 12 credit hours) that adds depth to your degree, but with fewer required credit hours than a double major or co-major.
You can apply directly to a co-major or add one during your first or second year.
When you apply to a co-major, you will be admitted into the related Discover program as a primary major. For example: neuroscience co-majors are admitted into Discover (Undecided) while bioengineering co-majors are admitted into Discover Engineering.
After admission, you can reach out to the Office of Recruitment and Admission to declare a primary major. If you need time to decide, you can work with your holistic advisor to declare a primary major during your first or second year.
Yes, the co-major will show up on your transcript.
No. There is no extra cost for a co-major when it is completed within the standard eight semesters.
With appropriate academic planning, you can complete a co-major within the standard eight semesters — even with the additional credits it requires. You and your holistic academic advisor can work together to plan your degree path.
You also can use our online Transfer Credit Evaluation tool to find out which college credits you've already earned (e.g., transfer credit, CCP, AP/IB/CLEP exams) might apply to your undergraduate degree.