MAJOR DECISIONS

Major Myths and Facts

1. You need a major to graduate.

2. If you want a career in business, you should major in something in the liberal arts.

3. All majors have some things in common.

4. The #1 skill employers want their employees to have today is strength in technology.

5. Some majors are worth more than others and you

should choose a major that’s practical.

Choosing a major is a process

I know my interests, values, and

personality

I am aware of the wide variety of

majors at the UO

I know my skills and abilities

I am interested in a few majors and

know their requirements

I can commit to my major of choice

I know my interests, values, and

personality

I am aware of the wide variety of

majors at the UO

I know my skills and abilities

I am interested in a few majors and

know their requirements

I can commit to my major of choice

Interest, Values, and Personality

What do you like to do? To study? To know about?

What do you believe in? What’s important to you?

What kind of person are you? How do you relate to

others and the world around you?

How might these connect to majors?

Exploring majors by topic

http://www.washington.edu/uaa/gateway/advising/majors/exp.

php

I know my interests, values, and

personality

I am aware of the wide variety of

majors at the UO

I know my skills and abilities

I am interested in a few majors and

know their requirements

I can commit to my major of choice

Skills and Abilities

What are your academic strengths?

What are the areas in which you struggle?

What skills have you gained from jobs, volunteering, or internships? What would you like to learn to do?

How might these connect to majors?

For more help with identifying interests and abilities, check out the UO Career Center:

http://uocareer.uoregon.edu/students/majors-and-careers/skills-interests.aspx

I know my interests, values, and

personality

I am aware of the wide variety of

majors at the UO

I know my skills and abilities

I know my interests, values, and

personality

I am aware of the wide variety of

majors at the UO

I know my skills and abilities

I am interested in a few majors and

know their requirements

I can commit to my major of choice

Researching Majors

UO Course Catalog: Especially major requirements

and course descriptions

http://uocatalog.uoregon.edu/

http://uocatalog.uoregon.edu/business/business

http://uocatalog.uoregon.edu/liberalarts/liberalarts

Researching Majors: Course Catalog

Researching Majors

Department websites on the UO home page

http://www.uoregon.edu/

Researching Majors:

Department Websites

http://psychweb.uoregon.edu/

Researching Majors

Talk to academic advisors

Talk to people in the major: juniors and seniors,

graduate students, faculty members

I know my interests, values, and

personality

I am aware of the wide variety of

majors at the UO

I know my skills and abilities

I am interested in a few majors and

know their requirements

I can commit to my major of choice

Fear of commitment?

Are you having a problem deciding on a major for

any of the following commonly believed ideas?

I should have known what I wanted to do when I

came to college

There is one perfect major for me

My major determines what kind of job I can get

after college

Some majors are worth more than others

Addressing the myths

I should have known what I wanted to do when I

came to college.

There are advantages to deciding a major later.

Why?

Addressing the myths

There is one perfect major for me

Major requirements are only 30-50% of an

undergraduate degree.

All majors have some things in common:

critical/creative thinking, communication, inquiry,

social aspect, self discovery.

You will more than likely not love 100% of

everything about any major you might choose.

Addressing the myths

My major determines what kind of job I can get after college.

Very few majors connect directly with specific careers:

Julia Child studied English. Matt Groening studied philosophy, as did one of the CEOs of General Electric. Lisa Kudrow was a biology major. Michael Jordan studied geography.

Many people change their careers in the course of their lives.

So what can I do with this major?

http://careers.utah.edu/jobSearch/employer/what_can_I_do/list.htm

Addressing the myths

Some majors are worth more than others

Some majors may lead to higher paying jobs.

Many employers do not care about your major.

In an increasingly globalized world and rapidly

changing economy, which majors lead to which jobs is

not so clear cut; flexibility and adaptability are key.

Employers are looking for employees with multi-

disciplinary skills and knowledge.

“Once I choose a great major, I’m done,

right?”

Congratulations! Matching interests and abilities to a major usually means better performance (GPA). However, it is important to avoid going on “cruise control”:

Build relationships with professors and GTFs

Continue to research possible future careers and graduate programs

Connect concrete experiences to your field of study:

work, internship/practicum, research, study abroad.

These help you to know that a future career in the field is for right for you,

and demonstrate your knowledge and experience to potential employers.

Work on interviewing and resume writing

Cited Works

http://www.uoregon.edu/~aass/AA_Pages/AA_ChooseMajor.html

http://www.washington.edu/uaa/gateway/advising/majors/exp.php

Keyes, Scott. 2010. “Stop Asking Me My Major.” http://chronicle.com/article/Stop-Asking-Me-My-Major/63453/

Schwartz, Marion. 2007. “Adapting Learning Theory to Advising First-Year Undecided Students.” In Academic Advising: New Insights for Teaching and Learning in the First Year. NACADA:185-202.

University of Illinois. 2010. “Business Careers for Liberal Arts Majors.” http://www.las.illinois.edu/students/career/business/