Exploring Majors

If you are undecided about your major, you are not alone. About a third of students begin college without having chosen a major, and of those who do begin college with a declared major, 60-70% change it at least once before they graduate. You are encouraged to spend your first few terms, especially if you are a freshman, learning more about yourself and exploring different academic options. One way to do this is by taking a variety of courses that seem interesting to you.

Selecting a major is a process which:

• begins with self-assessment: identifying and anaylzing one's personality, interests, skills, and values
• proceeds to exploration of majors and careers: taking courses in interest areas, researching options for careers
• concludes with decision-making: what is a "good fit" - declaring a major

Self-assessment

Advising & Careers Services (ACS) offers workshops that help students to begin to understand their skills, interests, and values. Both the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Strong Interest Inventory (SII) are administered on a regular basis and are valuable tools in the self-assessment stage. ACS staff can also help you understand the meaning of these tests in selecting a major or career.

The staff in ACS can also help you with interviewing and job search acitivities. Services include:

• career counseling, research, and exploration
• career assessments
• career planning workshops & classes
• resume and cover letter critiques
• mock interviews
• graduate & professional school assistance
• internship & volunteer opportunities
• jobs database

Exploration

Taking an introductory course in an academic area that interests you is often one of the best ways to explore a potential major. A list of exploratory/introductory courses has been compiled to assist you in this process. Enrolling in these courses also provides an opportunity to talk with faculty about the particular field of study. If you decide after taking a course that this major is not for you, the course will still apply towards your degree, whether it fulfills a specific requirement (e.g., BA or BS) or as an elective. An academic adviser can help you better understand the applicability of your courses.

List of PSU majors, minors, and certificates

Testing out different career fields can also help.  Students are encouraged to do job shadows or look for part-time jobs or internships in the career fields that are of interest.  Career counselors and advisers can help you find these opportunities.

Decision-Making

There is no "right" major, but there is a major that complements your skills, values, and interests. The best major for you is one that both interests and challenges you. If you are concerned about career fields that are available to you after graduation, realize that most career fields do not require a specific major, although there are exceptions (e.g. accounting, mechanical engineering); there are many fields where the relationship between your major and your career is not as direct. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for more information on the connection between major and careers. If you need help deciding on a major, both academic advisers and career counselors are able to help you.