So, you’re at Texas A&M. You thought you wanted to be an engineer because, well, it’s College Station and everyone is an engineer. Then Calculus II happened. Or maybe you realized that while the idea of a Business degree sounded great for your resume, your heart is actually in Horticulture or Parks and Recreation. It happens. Honestly, a change of major tamu is one of the most stressful experiences a student can go through, mostly because the university doesn't make it a simple "click here to switch" process. It’s a gatekept system.
Texas A&M operates on a decentralized model. This means the College of Engineering doesn't talk to the College of Arts and Sciences the way you’d expect. Every department is its own kingdom with its own guards at the gate. If you’re looking to jump ship, you aren't just filling out a form; you’re applying for a job. And the competition is stiff.
Why Your GPA Isn't the Only Thing That Matters
Most people think if they hit a 3.0, they’re golden. Wrong. While the "Minimum GPA" listed on the Texas A&M Change of Curriculum website might say 2.5 or 2.75, the competitive GPA is often much higher. For a high-demand major like Mays Business School, you’re basically looking at a unicorn hunt if you didn't start there. Mays rarely accepts internal transfers once you’ve hit a certain number of credit hours. It’s tough.
But let's talk about the "Statement of Purpose."
Don't sleep on this. When a department head looks at your change of major tamu application, they’re looking for "Aggie Spirit" mixed with actual logic. They want to know why you’re leaving your current spot and why their department is your "forever home." If you write a generic "I want better job prospects" essay, they’ll see right through it. They want to see that you’ve done the research. Mention specific professors. Talk about the labs in the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building (ILSB) or the specific track in Communication you want to follow.
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The Credit Hour Trap
There’s this thing called the "Excess Credit Hour Rule" in Texas. If you take too many classes that don't count toward your degree, the state starts charging you out-of-state tuition rates. A&M is very protective of this. If switching your major puts you over the limit, or if you’ve already completed more than 60–75 hours, many departments will flat-out reject you. They don't want your "Time to Degree" to stretch into six years.
You’ve got to be surgical. If you’re a sophomore with 45 hours, you’re in the sweet spot. If you’re a junior with 80 hours, you better have a compelling reason and a degree plan that shows you can still graduate on time.
Navigating the Bureaucracy of Change of Major TAMU
The process officially happens through Howdy. You go to the My Record tab and find the Change of Curriculum portlet. But here’s the secret: Do not submit that request until you have talked to an advisor in the target department. Advisors at A&M are the keepers of the keys. Some are incredibly helpful; others are basically there to tell you "no" so their department doesn't get overcrowded. If you show up to an "Open Advising" session for the major you want, you’re already ahead of 50% of the other applicants.
- Step 1: Check the specific requirements. Some majors require specific "indicator courses." For example, if you want to move into a STEM field, you likely need a "B" or better in MATH 151.
- Step 2: Attend a transitional advising session. The University Undergraduate Advising office offers these specifically for students who are "between" majors or who have been dismissed from a college (like being "ETAM-ed" out of Engineering).
- Step 3: Watch the deadlines. They are unforgiving. Usually, the windows open after final grades are posted and close quickly. For Spring 2026, you’re looking at very specific windows in January and June/July.
What if You Get Denied?
It happens. A lot. Especially if you’re trying to get into Computer Science or Biomedical Sciences. If your change of major tamu request gets the "denied" status in Howdy, it isn't necessarily the end of the road, but it is a wake-up call.
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You have two choices. You can pivot to a "feeder" major that is less competitive but shares 80% of the curriculum. For example, if you can't get into a specific engineering track, look at Industrial Distribution or Technology Management. They’re still great degrees with high placement rates. Or, you can hunker down, take "Easy A" core classes to boost your GPA, and try one more time. But be careful—A&M doesn't like "homeless" students who just wander around taking random classes without a declared major.
The "ETAM" Factor for Engineers
If you’re a freshman in General Engineering, you aren't technically "changing" a major—you’re participating in Entry to a Major (ETAM). This is a whole different beast. It’s a holistic review. If you have a 3.75 GPA, you get automatic entry into your first choice. If you have a 3.74? You’re at the mercy of the reviewers.
Many students realize during their first year that they don't actually want to be an engineer. If that's you, get out before the ETAM process finishes. It’s much easier to switch from "General Engineering" to "English" than it is to switch from "Mechanical Engineering" to "English" after you've already been placed.
Money and Financial Aid
Don't forget that your scholarships might be tied to your major. Some departmental scholarships are "major-specific." If you leave the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for the College of Education, that $2,000-a-year merit scholarship might vanish. Check with the Financial Aid office in the General Services Complex (GSC) before you pull the trigger.
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Also, look at the tuition differentials. Some majors at TAMU cost more per credit hour than others. Business and Engineering usually have higher fees. If you’re moving into a Liberal Arts major, you might actually save some money on "differential tuition," which is a nice little silver lining.
Actionable Steps for a Successful Switch
You need a plan. Walking into an office and saying "I'm unhappy" doesn't work. Showing up with a printed degree evaluation from Howdy and a list of courses you’ve already taken that satisfy the new degree requirements? That works.
- Run a "What-If" Report in Howdy. This is the most underutilized tool. It shows exactly how your current credits apply to the new major. If you see a sea of red "Unmet Requirements," you know you have a long road ahead.
- Identify the "Indicator" Courses. Every major has 2 or 3 classes that they use to weed people out. Find out what they are for your target major and ace them. A "B" in a core requirement is worth more than an "A" in an elective.
- Draft Your Essay Early. Don't wait for the Howdy portal to open. Write out your reasons for switching now. Focus on career goals and specific academic interests.
- Check the "Blinn Team" Rules. If you’re a Blinn TEAM student, your transition process has extra layers of complexity regarding credit hours completed at each institution. Talk to the TEAM advisors specifically.
The change of major tamu process is essentially a test of how badly you want to stay at the university in a field you actually enjoy. It’s bureaucratic, it’s slow, and it’s often frustrating. But the students who succeed are the ones who treat it like a professional application. They network with advisors, they maintain their GPA even in classes they hate, and they understand the timeline. If you miss a deadline by one hour, the system won't let you in. Period.
Stay on top of your "Change of Curriculum" portlet and keep your communication with advisors in writing. If an advisor tells you that a 3.2 GPA is enough, get that in an email. It’s your degree and your future—no one cares about it as much as you do.