Declaration Process

The College of Letters is a three-year major that students typically declare during their freshman year at Wesleyan. The declaration period this academic year begins on Friday, December 1, 2023 and runs through the winter break and spring semester on a rolling admissions basis. To ensure a seat in the incoming sophomore class, we advise first-year students to declare the COL major early. For students planning to apply for a Summer Language Learning Grant, please note that these awards will be made early in the spring semester.

Declaring the major involves two separate steps:

  1. Complete and submit a COL Major Declaration Form
  2. Go into WesPortal to declare the COL Major. You can do this by opening the Academics tab, and clicking on Major/Minor/Certificate Declaration.

Please note you will not be able to enter the major without completing both the above steps. Submission of the COL Major Declaration Form provides the department with the information needed to advise an incoming major on all aspects of their academic career, including their choice of a foreign language and study abroad planning. Students will be assigned a COL advisor within two weeks of declaring the major.

Total enrollment in the major is limited to 25 students. Students who wish to enter the major after the end of the COL Major Declaration Period or after the major has been enrolled to capacity should contact the Director to discuss their options.

Transfer students wishing to declare the COL major at the beginning of their sophomore fall semester are advised to contact the Director to discuss their options.