GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT MAJORS USEFUL SOURCES ABOUT MAJORS
The following can be excellent sources of information about majors and, as needed, should be be used over and over in any order that seems appropriate.
The college catalog
The internet
The college's career/counseling center
The major department
Reassessing yourseslf
GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT MAJORS USING COLLEGE CATALOGS
For each major that you are considering, read in the college catalog about the relevant department; in particular determine:
The number of credit hours the major requires in the relevant department (including any prerequisite courses which you have not yet taken).
The number of credit hours the major requires in other departments (including any prerequisite courses which you have not yet taken).
What electives are available?
What electives are suggested?
What specializations, if any; are offered.
The course descriptions of the courses required or recommended for the degree.
Whether the department have its own GPA requirements for its majors.
Is it possible to have a double major with one of the majors being in this subject?
Is it is possible to have a major and a minor with the major being in this subject?
Is it is possible to have a major and a minor with the minor being in this subject?
What are the requirements for a double major or minor?
What graduate and professional programs are graduates of this program prepared to enter?
What career fields are graduates of this program prepared to enter? For each major that you are considering, answer the following questions:
What do you find interesting about this major?
Will you enjoy this major for its intrinsic value?
Do the courses required by this major genuinely appeal to you?
Do you have or can you acquire the academic skills are needed for success in this major?
Are there majors similar to this one? If so, check these majors out.
With respect to your usual grades, can you reasonably expect better grades in this major?
Answer this question if you are interested in graduate or professional study: Will this major help you acquire the skills and prerequisites needed for the type of graduate or professional study that you may be considering?
Will this major be of value in attaining your career goals?
Do any of the specializations of this major appeal to you?
Is the department's mathematics requirement doable?
Do you relate to the students in this major and faculty in this department?
GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT MAJORS FROM THE CAREER/COUNSELING CENTER
Visit the Career/Counseling Center to take advantage of their services ofered for students undecided about their college major. Some of the services that may be availabe are:
Self-assessment tools to help in assessing your natural abilities, interests, and work values;
Individual advising from a career counseling.
Lectures or workshops designed to help you search for a major and career.
Books and material on choosing a major or a career
Meet with your academic advisor as early as possible to talk about majors. Continue meeting with your advisor several times as your ideas develop.
GATHERING INFORMATION RELATED TO YOUR MAJOR BY REASSESSING YOURSELF
Students who have come to college with a declared intent to major in a specific discipline should take the initial courses in that discipline as soon as possible in order to verify that the intended major is, in fact, the right one for them.
For some, finding a major is a matter of trial and error. Take courses in possible major fields.
Consider a minor or double major for its intrinsic interest to you, not with an eye to significantly improve your chances for admission to law school.
Do you have reason to expect to perform well?
PEER ADVISORS
For the relevant departments, undergraduate peer advisors, if they exist, can share with you information about their university experiences, course selection, professors, and department gossip.
Read some good PEER ADVISOR ADVICE from undergraduate peer advisors at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Students in majors that you are considering can share with you information about their university experiences, course selection, and professors.
Read MYTHS ABOUT MAJORS.
Visit department offices for majors that interest you and talk to staff and faculty. The departmental undergraduate advisor can
assist you with major course selection and provide information about major courses offered every quarter. He or she can describe the nature of courses, the typical testing approaches, and the amount of reading and writing required.
help you learn about opportunities that will be open to you after graduation.
describe the themes of the major and with selection of courses.
In addition to staff and faculty advisors, many departments also have peer advisors, who can share information with you about their experiences in the major. Further, department offices often provide information sheets about majors and career opportunities after completing the major.
CAREER COUNSELING CENTER Almost all colleges have a center that offers advise to students seeking a major.
ACADEMIC ADVISOR. IF AN ANSWER IS NOT FOUND IN THE CATALOG, CHECK WITH THE ACADEMIC ADVISORS.
A Day in the Life is described for each career profile.
Paying your Dues indicates the training needed
Associated Careers
This is a MUST READ for general information..
Question. When should you start thinking about your college major. Answer. The statement It is never to early, only too late, which advertisers once said about insurance, contains some truth when talking about choosing a college major. Beginning to think about a college major becomes quite relevant when thinking about which college to attend.
Question. Should your choice of college determine your major or should your choice of a major determine your college. Answer. If you are absolutely convinced about your choice of major, then the existence of a good program in your major should play a role in your choice of major but if your choice of major changes frequently then your present choice of major should have little or no effect on your choice of major.
