Choosing a Major and Career

UM policy requires students to choose a major by 45 credit hours. Still undecided? Selecting a major is one of the most important decisions of an undergraduate’s career, but don’t let it alarm you. You do not necessarily need to be in a rush to declare your major, but you should do it carefully. Your major should reflect not only your strengths and interests, but also enable you to pursue the career you would like.

As with any important decision, it is always a good idea to gather as much information as you can before making a final choice. The best way to approach choosing a major is to obtain and organize information, seek help from the many available sources, and most of all, to discover who you are and what you want. Tall order? If you’re unsure, here are some options to assist you in getting there:

• Take your General Education courses seriously! This is an opportunity to take classes in a wide variety of subjects to discover what areas motivate you and spark your enthusiasm.
  
• Consider taking the course UNC 195: Exploring Majors and Careers.
  
• Know thyself! What do you enjoy doing and what are you good at? Where do your special talents lie? What are your values? What motivates you? An academic advisor at the Undergraduate Advising Center or other locations can sit down with you and help match your talents to majors that will allow you to shine.
  
• What do you really want to do? What kind of majors can help you get there? There is always more than one path to any particular career. It is never too early to chat with a career counselor and check out resources on majors or occupations you find interesting. In addition, staff also provide various career assessments which can evaluate which direction you should head in. Visit Office of Career Services (Lommasson 154) for more information.
  
• Are you an entering first-year student with a strong interest, but not sure where it can take you? Consider joining a First-Year Interest Group (FIG) your very first semester. There you can meet a group of other students with the same interests, and have the opportunity to explore an topics in depth. Some examples of past FIGs include, “Human Behavior,” “Climate Change,” “Music, Knowledge, and Culture, and “Women’s and Gender Studies.”
  
• Be honest with yourself. Although choosing a major to please others or because you can “make a lot of money” may seem like a good idea, in the future you may find yourself unhappy and heading toward an unfulfilling career. If you find yourself struggling emotionally with what you want to do and what you think you should do, contact a counselor. (Curry Health Center).
  
• Talk to professors! They have office hours for you to visit and chat with them about their field. Besides offering you valuable information, they may have contacts who can offer advice.
  
• Choose! Now that you know what major you would like to declare. Go to the Registration Counter in Griz Central and obtain a “change of major form.” Fill it out and turn it in. You will be assigned a faculty advisor in your major. Go see him or her and begin your journey!

Second thoughts? You’ve made an informed choice for your major. Continue your exploration. But, if at any point you feel as if you made a mistake, just repeat step #7 above. Many students change their major once (or twice). Just make sure always to keep track of your courses and always keep an eye on graduation requirements. Talk to an advisor often. They are there for you.

And finally…

Remember, what you can do with your major after graduation is not limited to the obvious. For instance, being an Anthropology major doesn’t mean you can only teach Anthropology. You could be involved in an archaeological dig, do research for a “think tank” in Washington, D.C., study the Navajo language, oversee a cultural program at a national park, join the Peace Corps, create exhibitions for a museum, plan specialty-themed trips as a travel consultant, manage the archives at a historical society, or work as a film researcher for the next Indiana Jones film! The Office of Career Services features “What can I do with a major in…?” on their website, to give you more career ideas as well as a list of businesses and organizations who hire these graduates.