Deciding Student Resources

Not sure what major to pursue?

• discover your interests, values, and explore options available to you
• know that being a Deciding student is acceptable, even desirable, particularly for first-year students
• initial choices of majors are tentative and to explore alternatives is a healthy activity
• maintain a positive attitude toward change
• use available campus resources, such as The Bagley Center, Lamson Library, University Studies and visit with a departmental representative in a major in which you have interest
• develop a written, four-year academic plan to discover alternatives and narrow your choices to prepare for choosing a major
• rethink your goals
• understand career choices available and devise a plan of action

Career Advising

You may want to explore various career opportunities by visiting The Bagley Center in Bagley House or online. The resources are designed to encourage exploration and career planning, as well as to assist you in the career decision-making process.

Course Planning Tips

You have decided on a major but have not yet declared.

General Advice: Process an Academic Major and/or Option Declaration or Change form, available online on the Registrar Office's Web site or on the wall outside the Registrar's Office in Speare Building. There are advantages to declaring your major. For example, you can register for courses that have a prerequisite of that major only.

Schedule Planning: Follow the requirements in the University Catalog for your intended major.

You have narrowed down the possibilities of majors to two or three.

General Advice: Examine the two or three options to see how long you can keep it open without delaying graduation.

Schedule Planning: Look for courses common to the different options, but also ones that will help you decide on a major. As long as possible plan a schedule that keeps each option open.

You are truly undecided because you are interested in so many things.

General Advice: Keep exploring as long as possible, but try to narrow the options. How quickly this must be done depends on how structured the majors are which seem most likely. Explore the possibility of an Interdisciplinary Studies major by speaking with someone in the Undergraduate Studies Office in Speare Building. You might also want to visit The Bagley Center in Bagley House to do some exploration activities.

Schedule Planning: This is usually easy because you have a long list of desired courses.

You are truly undecided because you are interested in very little or nothing.

General Advice: Explore why you are in college (goals, interests, skills, family, peers, etc.). You should seek assistance at The Bagley Center in Bagley House.

Schedule Planning: This is sometimes difficult and often involves you deciding which subjects are least objectionable to study. Try to find an area of strength to work from and take courses to complement this strength.

Curriculum Planning Guides

Curriculum Planning Guides are a paper-copy listing of all courses required for your program of study based on each Academic Catalog. They are available on the Office of Undergraduate Studies Web site where you may download and print a copy for your major.