EXPLORE YOUR MAJOR
Declaring a major is an important step for college students, but not always the first step.  While some students enter college knowing precisely what they want to do, many others need time to select a major that is best for them. 

The truth is that many new freshmen are not prepared to select a major at the beginning of their college career. In choosing to be undeclared, you are making a decision that requires action.  You are deciding to take the time to explore your interests, abilities, and needs. While we encourage students to think carefully before declaring a major, it is important to note that most careers are not necessarily tied to a specific major; in many cases employers are more interested in the skills and experiences a potential employee has.  A student’s grade point average can also be a consideration when employers are assessing potential candidates; so, for this reason, it is often in the student’s best interest to declare a major that he or she feels excited about studying. An enthusiastic and engaged student is more likely to be academically successful, leading to a good start in the business and professional world. This site will guide you through various ways of discovering your major and to introduce you to various campus and internet resources that are here to help you in this journey.

One way to discover your major is through your coursework.  A Bachelor’s Degree from Fulbright College allows for:

Core requirements include courses in such areas as English, history, fine arts, humanities, mathematics, social science and natural science.  Not only do these courses develop general knowledge, they give you experience in different fields of study.  Taking core courses allows you to explore a variety of possible majors while satisfying degree requirements.

Also, use the Fulbright College Degree Checksheets in conjunction with the Catalog of Studies to investigate the courses required in each major.  Make a list of the majors that appeal to you.  Once you have narrowed down your list, you can take introductory courses in a few of these majors to help you select the major that is best for you.

Electives allow you to take classes which are not part of the core requirements and still earn graduation credit.  Electives contribute to your overall learning experience at the University.  Be thoughtful about choosing your electives and use them as a way to explore some of your interests.  Some students also use their electives to complete requirements for minors, double majors, area studies, and pre-professional areas such  as medicine, dentistry, or allied health programs.

One course which exploring students may find helpful is VAED 1011; Career Decision Making.  Students in this course will explore career opportunities, learn about career decision making resources, and learn how to be a competitive candidate in the job market. 

HELPFUL LINKS
Fulbright College Major Checksheets
Minors Checksheets
What Can I Do With This Major
Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food, & Life Sciences
School of Architecture
College of Education & Health Professions
College of Engineering
Law School
Walton College of Business

Self evaluation and determining career interests is an important part of the process of choosing a major. The Career Development Center offers several tests to help with your assessment process and to help you discover more about your personality, career interests, and skills to name a few. While some of the tests are free of charge; others are available to you for a nominal fee.

Keirsey Temperament Sorter. This site will help you better understand your identity and how that relates to your career.

Strong Interest Inventory (SII). This test analyzes your interests and matches them with careers.  The SII is administered at the Career Development Center (ARKU 607).

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI test, based on the theory of Carl Jung, evaluates personality types and preferences.  MBTI is administered at the Career Development Center (ARKU 607).

TypeFocus. This test helps you to understand your personality and how this relates to your future career through Self-Awareness, Career Strategy, and Job Search reports.

Discover. This test offers interest, values, and abilities assessments.

An important way to determine a major is through work experience.  Experience can be gained through the following:

Work experience not only helps you select or eliminate a career/major, it is a way to network and create relationships that can be valuable later in your career. Listings for jobs, internships, and cooperative education can be found at the Career Development Center in ARKU 607.  This campus resource assists students in their career decision-making process.  Besides job listings, they offer career counseling, a resource library, résumé assistance, and interview preparation.

You may also investigate careers through the following Internet Resources:
Mullins Library
Occupational Outlook Handbook
What Can I Do With This Major?

Congratulations on selecting a major!  If you have selected a major within Fulbright College:

• Go to the Advising Center (MAIN 518) or to the department of the major you are declaring
• Fill out a change of major form, sign the form, and have your advisor sign the form
• Take the completed form to the Dean’s Office (MAIN 525)