Choosing a college major that is suitable for you is part of planning your academic program thoughtfully and getting the most from the college experience. Sometimes students fall readily into a major that fits them well. Often, however, it takes some research, exploration, and experimentation to settle into that major that feels right.
Once you reach your sophomore year, it is important to focus on major selection if you have not done so already. .Here are some “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for choosing a major.
"Do’s" for the Major Seeker
1. Become familiar with all the majors available at UMBC.
UMBC just added its 43rd major—Asian Studies. Some major fields may be completely unfamiliar because they were not taught in high school. Interdisciplinary Studies (the “build your own major” major), Health Administration and Policy, Ancient Studies, and Business Technology Administration are interesting majors students may not have been aware of prior to arriving at UMBC.
2. Narrow the list to 5-8 possibilities based on your interests and aptitudes and then do more in depth research.
Read the entire catalog sections, all the course descriptions, faculty bios, and any other information about these majors available on the Department websites. If there are concentrations within the major, which would be most appropriate? How many credits are required? Are there any entry requirements (such as gateway courses or a portfolio review)?
3. Use your “general education” courses to experiment with potential majors.
Choose your general education courses thoughtfully so you can test out your reactions to potential majors by taking an introductory course. Sometimes it is necessary to take that first course in order to know whether a field is truly of interest or not.
4. Talk to friends who are in your potential majors, attend Council of Majors meetings, and discuss the major with professors in the field. Also seek out related extracurricular activities and internships.
All of these activities will help you gain a realistic picture of what the major entails.
A Few “Don’ts” for Major Seekers
1. Don’t let anyone else choose your major for you.
Friends, parents, siblings all have ideas about what you should major in. It is very important that you listen to what they have to say with an open mind, but then make your own individual choice. You are the student and you are making decisions that could affect the rest of your life.
2. Don’t assume that a college major will necessarily lead directly to a specific type of job.
Many of the skills acquired in college are of a general nature and can be applied in many different professional settings. The workforce is full of people whose undergraduate majors bear only an indirect relationship to the positions they hold.
3. Don’t stick with a major when it is clear that you are performing poorly in the required courses.
If your grades are low in your major, this is an indication that it is not appropriate for you. Be open to other options in which you can be more successful.
4. Don’t assume that difficulty choosing a major is a sign of weakness or failure.
Some of the most intelligent and creative people have many strong interests and difficulty choosing a primary focus. Combining a major with a minor or certificate program may prove to be a good solution.
Click here to find out more about UMBC's 43 majors!
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS QUESTION:
Why is it a good idea to become familiar with UMBC's full list of 43 majors?
