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Nova Will Get You There
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Making the Major Decision About Your Major
What is a major, anyway? A major is a major expression of you because it is the area that you choose to study in-depth in college and will be your major focus of the next four or five years — or at least it should be. You’ll find it’s a huge part of your identity, both by how you define yourself and by how others identify you. You’ll be amazed by how often you hear the words, “What are you majoring in?" While you don't have to declare a major right away, at some point, it will happen and most of your classes will focus on topics in that area.
The greatest thing about majors is that you can choose from hundreds of them, from Accounting to Zoology. Some schools even offer degrees in unusual subjects. There are tons of choices out there, but which one is right for you? Should you choose something traditional, or select a major from an emerging area? If you’re a focused individual who already knows what you want to do after college, decide which major will best help you achieve your goals.
Where do I start?
A great way to get started is to begin assessing what careers appeal to you. What are your interests, talents, values, and goals? Have a discussion with a counselor about what majors may be a good fit and try a few on for size. Picture yourself taking classes, writing papers, making presentations, conducting research, or working in a related field. Try to talk to people who work in your fields of interest, and decide if you like what you hear.
Give reading the classified ads a try as well. What jobs sound interesting to you? What level of education or experience is required? Select a few jobs that you think you'd like and then consult a list of majors. Use this info to get an idea of all the possibilities and determine which ones match your talents and goals.
What does a major entail?
Most majors require you to complete a specific number of approved courses or credits related to your particular field of study. Your classes will consist of required courses that everyone pursuing that major must complete, as well as elective courses that you can choose. For example, if you’re majoring in English Literature you’ll probably have to take an introduction to literature course and several courses that survey particular periods, such as Late-American Literature.
For electives, you can choose to take any course offered by the department that fulfills the credit requirements for your degree in that major. Catalogs from most schools will list credit requirements for each major and will detail what courses are offered as prerequisites. If you’re interested in particular elective classes, make sure you find out if they are offered every year — some classes only occur periodically or only during a particular semester and that you discuss these options with your faculty advisor.
What's a double major all about?
If you’re feeling truly inspired, you can opt to major in more than one area. Many disciplines offer enough latitude with course selections that you can complete a double major without ever taking additional classes to graduate! For example, as a Communications major, you may have so many electives available, both inside and outside of your major, that you could potentially fulfill the requirements of an additional major. Cool, huh? You’ll definitely stand out from the crowd at graduation. Before you decide to take a double major, consider if the institution you plan to transfer to will allow you to continue the dual major. Some programs have curriculums that are so demanding that it is not possible to dual major, for example, Engineering and Business.
What’s a minor or concentration?
A minor or concentration consists of a series of classes that complement your major. The required courses are determined by the department and entail fewer credits than a second major. Minors are a great way to “specialize” in a certain area within your major.
What if I just am not ready to make such a decision in my first year?
Fortunately, you will have to take so many required courses during your college career that you can fill your first semester with all the basics, such as composition, math and science. If you're really unsure of your major, selecting a variety of introductory courses for your first semester is a great way to see what interests you. However, don’t dawdle too long. By sophomore year you should decide where you’re headed, or you may end up in school longer than you planned.
Can I change my major?
There is no law that says you have to stick with your major after you choose one. The majority of students change their majors, and it rarely causes any big problems. Changing your major from one area to a related one, such as switching from English to Communications, can be relatively painless if many of the courses you’ve taken are required for either major. However, if you jump from one major to a completely unrelated one, let's say switching from French to Wildlife Biology, you may find that some of the courses you took to fulfill the French major don’t fit at all for the Wildlife Biology requirements. (However, if communicating with French bears is important to you, it may not be a big deal!) The key to changing your major is to do it as early as possible. The later you change it, the more likely you’ll be taking extra classes. This will cost you time and money, since colleges charge tuition by the credit.
You’ll figure it out!
Deciding what to study is a tough decision, but don't let it stress you out. Majors rarely force anyone into a particular career. In fact, many students find themselves in a completely unrelated field after graduation — and are quite happy. Others complete a master's or Ph.D. in a completely different area from their bachelor’s degree. Choosing your major carefully is important, but life goes on, most likely successfully, even if you determine that studying something else might have been more interesting.
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