john_doe

I know multiple instances when people changed their programs entirely without any visa issues. As was mentioned, school handles that. Anyway, this is the last thing that worries me now.

Ok, it seems like I didn't tell you everything. I'm not a "bad student" or something. My logic is simple: as long as I do satisfactory progress towards my degree, e.g. take minimum 2 GRAD classes in my dept. per semester + 1 more which can be outside of the dept. (which I do) and get positive grades I can do whatever I want and spend my time outside of required classes and research however I want. So I spend this time taking unrelated courses. It does not harm my PHD program in any way. Everything I said now is in the policy guide, which I indeed read before ever thinking about taking unrelated courses. Second, my financial aid coming from the university, but not from the dept. itself, so it has the same policies - a student has to stay inside a program, e.g. take 2 + 1 courses per semester and have good grades. So the question is more about moral side of my venture. From your replies I learnt that it really depends on university and department, so it seems like there is no way to evaluate the success of what I intended to do. However, I know one person who did exactly the same thing, except he chose another field and another university, though the field was somewhat related. So I assume if one person did it, then I can do it too. Lyrical digression: sometimes it's really hard to find a field or profession that you will like and enjoy.

No, I can't just drop my current program and start a new one. I'm international student and dropping this program means going back home. Then I will have to apply for UNDERGRAD program because I don't have credit and, which is more important, academic knowledge of my chosen field in order to apply for a grad program. So I have 2 choices: either continue pursuing degree in my current program while taking unrealted courses (which I can actually do and finish with masters instead of PHD) or simply take all necessary courses for the unrelated program as fast as possible and reapply.

Thank you for your detailed reply. 1. PhD program 2. No, I got external funding from another source. My dept. doesn't pay me anything, such as assistantship, grants, etc. 3. You confused me here. I don't know actually! I didn't know there are some differneces... 4. Like really different. I'm swtiching from humanities to hard sciences. Do you think my department can terminate me if they see that I take, say 2 grad courses inside the dept and 2 undergrad courses at another dept? Do they have any legal authority to terminate any student who they don't like or something?

I've already posted a similar topic but under another name and got pretty aggressive replies, though I tried to do my best to avoid offending anybody. Now I decided to ask my questions here, not in a specific subfield forum, but here. So, as a first-year grad student I really decided to switch my field and program completely. This is a tough decision, but a well-thought one. I feel like the field I'm currently in is a road to nowhere for me, for my future carrier. The new field is not a random choice, nor it's a choice only because of opportunities this field offers in future for me. It's a choice of my soul and my preference. I deliberately avoid naming the fields because some people can become angry or something. The thing is, I'm lack of necessary classes, knowledge, and, more importantly, credits to switch the field. What I'm doing right now is taking classes at another department as well as at my department. And I'm really worrying about it. I'm anxious about everything. Can professors or any staff in my department learn that I take unrelated courses? Can they see my schedule? What if they start asking questions? How can I say that I don't see my future in my current field but at the same time I want to stay in the program to get some time and take needed classes for another program? I'm so nervous about all these things that sometimes can't sleep and spend sleepless nights googling this issue and reading countless articles... Please, I need your advice. I understand that it looks like I'm betraying the program and professors who I'm currently interact with, but... I have to think about my future too. What do you guys think? Could you answer the questions I posted above? And any advice would be appreciated...