What is a catalog year in college?

A catalog year in college refers to the academic year in which a student officially declares a major and starts their coursework. It dictates the specific requirements and curriculum that the student must fulfill in order to graduate. Each college or university typically publishes a catalog that outlines all of the available courses and academic programs, as well as the requirements and policies for each major.

Students are usually held to the requirements of the catalog year in which they declared their major, not the year in which they started attending the college. If a student changes their major, they may be required to switch to the catalog year associated with the new major, which may have different requirements. It is important for students to be aware of their catalog year and regularly check with their academic advisor to ensure they are on track to meet all necessary requirements for graduation.