In plain English
This is a backup choice for what someone wants to study. It names the main subject a student would choose if they cannot study their preferred major.
In context
Here, the expression indicates that the requested subject is the second-choice main subject of study chosen as a backup if the first-choice major cannot be studied.
- Situation
- Applying for admission, scholarships, financial aid, and following decision status
- What it communicates
- labels the backup subject field
Meaning limits
The term alone does not indicate any result for that second-choice subject; it only marks it as a backup main subject.
Examples
“He chose history as his alternate major in case he could not study journalism.”
“When the adviser asked for a backup plan, Lena named statistics as her alternate major.”