intended major

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intended major" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a particular field of study that an individual has declared they intend to pursue. For example, "The college accepted her application on the condition that she submit a letter describing her intended major."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Staring at my CommonApp profile, I think maybe I should give "linguistics and foreign languages" as my tentative, intended major.

The New York Times

Another consideration is the oft-neglected field on the application labeled "Possible Area of Academic Concentration"–a student's intended major.

Forbes

12In these analyses, we have classified a student's intended major based on the choice she made on the college application to the campus in which she eventually enrolled.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

In addition to assessing beliefs, knowledge, and attitudes, the survey assesses a wide range of background demographic information including political and religious activity and affiliations, intended major, class level, and experience with courses teaching evolution during high school (see Table 3).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The study population is not described in any detail (e.g., class size, intended major, gender/ethnic makeup) for either the integrated or traditional courses, making it difficult to determine other factors that might be influencing these outcomes.

CBE Life Sciences Education

His intended major is philosophy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

For at least a decade, students who intend to major in education have had among the lowest SAT scores of all college-bound seniors -- in 2004, they ranked 19th of 22 intended majors, two points in combined verbal and math scores below those who planned to major in agriculture.

The New York Times

15If applicants perceive that admissions at selective institutions are becoming more competitive post-HOPE, they may report more challenging intended majors in order to bolster their chances of admission.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

By the time tours reach this building, guides run out of things to say, and space is freed for parents and potential students to digress into low-level conversations about misremembered facts of the tour, differing ideas about other schools, and occasionally misconceptions about the student's intended majors.

Vice

India, like the U.S., is almost certainly confident that its emission reductions will be greater than its pledges -- but to say so would reveal that the Manmohan Singh government intends major reforms in India's energy policies, and there are powerful domestic interests that would begin mobilizing against change if Singh were to tip his hand.

Huffington Post

It is estimated that as many as 40% of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) intending majors do not graduate with a STEM degree (Hurtado et al. 2010).

International Journal of STEM Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a student's academic plans, use "intended major" to clearly communicate their current field of study. This is especially useful in application materials and academic advising.

Common error

Avoid using "intended major" when the student has already formally declared and is actively pursuing that major. Instead, use "major" to reflect the confirmed status of their field of study.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intended major" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an adjective preceding another noun or as a subject complement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately and effectively describes a student's declared, but not yet confirmed, field of study.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intended major" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a student's preliminary academic focus. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely used in academic, journalistic, and professional contexts. While synonyms like "prospective major" or "planned course of study" exist, "intended major" is direct and widely understood. Remember to distinguish between an "intended major" and a confirmed "major", using the former only when the student's field of study is not yet formally declared. With a high frequency of use across authoritative sources like The New York Times and scientific journals, "intended major" remains a valuable term for clear communication about academic paths.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Prospective major

Focuses on the potential or future aspect of the major.

Planned course of study

Emphasizes the academic path the student intends to follow.

Chosen field of study

Highlights the selection of a specific academic area.

Declared major

Implies a formal announcement of the student's major.

Anticipated major

Suggests an expectation or prediction of the major.

Future specialization

Focuses on the area of expertise the student aims to develop.

Targeted discipline

Indicates the specific academic area the student is aiming for.

Desired academic path

Highlights the student's preference for a particular academic route.

Aspirations for higher education

Broadens the scope to include overall educational goals.

Undergraduate focus

Specifies the area of concentration during undergraduate studies.

FAQs

How do I use "intended major" in a sentence?

You can use "intended major" to describe a student's planned field of study, as in "Her "intended major" is biology, but she's also considering chemistry".

What is a synonym for "intended major"?

Alternatives include "prospective major", "planned course of study", or "anticipated major", depending on the context.

Is it okay to change my "intended major" in college?

Yes, it's common for students to change their "intended major" as they explore different academic areas and discover new interests.

Which is correct, "intended major" or "intent major"?

"Intended major" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "Intent major" is grammatically incorrect.