diff --git a/api/controllers/service_api_with_auth/user/profile.py b/api/controllers/service_api_with_auth/user/profile.py
index 9b8757356e..16d162177c 100644
--- a/api/controllers/service_api_with_auth/user/profile.py
+++ b/api/controllers/service_api_with_auth/user/profile.py
@@ -105,8 +105,12 @@ class UserProfile(Resource):
         # Validate major if provided
         if 'major' in data:
             major = data['major']
-            if len(major) > 20:
+
+            if isinstance(major, str) and len(major) > 20:
                 return {"success": False, "message": "Major exceeds maximum length"}, 400
+            elif major is not None:  # Handle non-string or None values appropriately
+                return {"success": False, "message": "Major must be a string value"}, 400
+
             validated_data['major'] = major
 
         # Use the service to update user profile
diff --git a/api/services/end_user_service.py b/api/services/end_user_service.py
index 5c2e1f0664..ddf18be6b2 100644
--- a/api/services/end_user_service.py
+++ b/api/services/end_user_service.py
@@ -70,12 +70,17 @@ class EndUserService:
             if 'major' in profile_data:
                 major = profile_data['major']
 
-                # Initialize extra_profile if it doesn't exist
-                if not end_user.extra_profile:
+                # Create a new dictionary if extra_profile is None
+                if end_user.extra_profile is None:
                     end_user.extra_profile = {}
 
-                # Update major in extra_profile
-                end_user.extra_profile['major'] = major
+                # Make a copy of the existing dictionary to ensure changes are detected
+                extra_profile = dict(end_user.extra_profile)
+                extra_profile['major'] = major
+                end_user.extra_profile = extra_profile
+
+                # Force the change to be detected
+                db.session.add(end_user)
 
             # Save changes to database
             db.session.commit()