{"id":1444,"date":"2016-09-02T21:12:20","date_gmt":"2016-09-02T21:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-collegesuccess\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=1444"},"modified":"2024-04-30T22:46:12","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T22:46:12","slug":"text-your-major","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/chapter\/text-your-major\/","title":{"raw":"Selecting a Major","rendered":"Selecting a Major"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>List key strategies for selecting a college major<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nIn United States colleges and universities, roughly 2,000 majors are offered. And within each major is a host of core courses and electives. When you successfully complete the required courses in your major, you qualify for a degree.\r\n\r\nWhere did the term<strong> major <\/strong>come from? In 1877, it first appeared in a Johns Hopkins University catalogue. That major required only two years of study. Later, in 1910, Abbott Lawrence Lowell introduced the academic major system to Harvard University during his time as president there. This system required students to complete courses in a specialized discipline and also in other subjects. Variations of this system are now the norm in higher education institutions in the US and Canada.\r\n\r\nWhy is your major important? It's important because it's a defining and organizing feature\u00a0of your undergraduate degree. Ultimately, your major should provide you with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and\/or behaviors you need\u00a0to fulfill your college goals and objectives.\r\n\r\nIn this section, we look at how to select your major and how your college major may correlate with a career. Does your major matter to your career? What happens if you change your major? Does changing your major mean you must change your career? Read on to find out!\r\n<h2>How to Select Your Major<\/h2>\r\nSelecting your major is one of the most exciting tasks (and, to some students, perhaps one of the most nerve-wracking tasks) you are asked to perform in college. So many decisions are tied to it. But if you have good guidance, patience, and enthusiasm, the process is easier. Here are some tips to follow as you consider your college major.\r\n<h3>Seek Inspiration<\/h3>\r\nInspiration is all around us. Maybe there\u2019s somebody in your life (a friend, a mentor, or someone else) who inspires you with what they do, how they spend their time, or their passion for their work. Maybe you\u2019re inspired by a celebrity or a person you admire whom you learned about from the news or a documentary. Maybe there\u2019s a historical figure that you remember from grade school that you really admire. Think about what or who inspires you, and what that says about your passions and your values. When you\u2019re inspired, you will find motivation. It\u2019s worth it to consider that inspiration reason enough to pursue a college major, considering the amount of time and effort you\u2019ll put into completing your degree!\r\n<h3>Consider Everything<\/h3>\r\nDon\u2019t let preconceived notions of what you think you can do hold you back from considering all the options. Think about it: you probably already have a list of majors you think you would never consider, whether it\u2019s because you think you couldn\u2019t do well, you think you don\u2019t like the topic, or you believe it\u2019s not a good choice for you. You may be right, but before you go ahead and let your assumptions get in the way, really take a look at all your options and consider them! Try to challenge the beliefs you have about yourself, your abilities, and those majors, before you make any fast choices. You might be surprised what can happen after taking an intro course in a field you\u2019d never considered before.\r\n<h3>Identify Talents and Interests<\/h3>\r\nWhat are your talents and interests? Think about what used to just light up your life when you were a child. What did you like to do when you were a teenager? What do you come back to again and again, as the years go on? What do you enjoy doing to pass the time? Maybe you love playing music or making art. Maybe you love writing. Think about how your talents and interests can connect to a potential college major. If you love keeping up with and writing about current events, journalism might be a good option for you. If you\u2019ve always loved math, you might want to consider accounting or statistics! If you\u2019re having a hard time coming up with ideas, consider asking some people who know you best. We often can\u2019t see ourselves as clearly as those who love us best.\r\n<h3>Explore Available Resources<\/h3>\r\nThere are lots of resources available to you to learn more about choosing a college major. You can learn more online about how college majors map into certain careers, you can talk to other students who are farther along in their college career, and you can talk to your professors about what it\u2019s like to enter certain fields of study. Every person is different, so take others\u2019 advice with a grain of salt, but it\u2019s always worth it to get another person\u2019s perspective, especially if they are doing something you think you might want to do in the future.\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/2b619662-89d8-4d9f-891f-a3565cf7f7bc\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h3>In-depth Career Exploration<\/h3>\r\nYou can learn a lot about a career before you ever accept a job offer. Talk to people in your prospective career and see what it\u2019s like for them. You can find people to contact through your school\u2019s alumni network or through LinkedIn. It might seem hard at first, but people are generally more open to spending 30 minutes of their time talking to you about their experience than you might initially think. Another way you can explore in-depth career exploration would be to shadow someone for a day at their job. This option requires more of a commitment from you and the person you\u2019re shadowing, but if you\u2019re genuinely interested in a career path then it could be really important information for you to gain by watching or joining someone on their job for the day.\r\n\r\nThe next video shares nine more tips on selecting your college major:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Narrow your choices by deciding what you don't like.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Explore careers that might interest you. Ask questions.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Use your school's resources.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Ask your teacher, counselor, and family about your strengths.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Remember, 60 percent of students change their majors.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Your major isn't going to define your life. But choosing one that interests you will make your college experience much more rewarding.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Go on informational interviews with people in careers that interest you.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">There's no pressure to decide now.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Take new classes and discover your interests.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<iframe src=\"\/\/plugin.3playmedia.com\/show?mf=1291140&amp;p3sdk_version=1.10.1&amp;p=20361&amp;pt=375&amp;video_id=V4dNoVsmU2o&amp;video_target=tpm-plugin-8qxbxk4v-V4dNoVsmU2o\" width=\"800px\" height=\"450px\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0px\" marginheight=\"0px\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\nYou can view the <a href=\"https:\/\/course-building.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/College+Success\/Transcripts\/HowToSelectYourCollegeMajor_transcript.txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">transcript for \"How to Select Your College Major - WiseChoice\" here (opens in new window)<\/a>.\r\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>glossary<\/h3>\r\n<strong>major:<\/strong> a specialized focus on a particular discipline within one's college studies, typically in preparation for a line of work that requires a relevant credential\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>List key strategies for selecting a college major<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>In United States colleges and universities, roughly 2,000 majors are offered. And within each major is a host of core courses and electives. When you successfully complete the required courses in your major, you qualify for a degree.<\/p>\n<p>Where did the term<strong> major <\/strong>come from? In 1877, it first appeared in a Johns Hopkins University catalogue. That major required only two years of study. Later, in 1910, Abbott Lawrence Lowell introduced the academic major system to Harvard University during his time as president there. This system required students to complete courses in a specialized discipline and also in other subjects. Variations of this system are now the norm in higher education institutions in the US and Canada.<\/p>\n<p>Why is your major important? It&#8217;s important because it&#8217;s a defining and organizing feature\u00a0of your undergraduate degree. Ultimately, your major should provide you with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and\/or behaviors you need\u00a0to fulfill your college goals and objectives.<\/p>\n<p>In this section, we look at how to select your major and how your college major may correlate with a career. Does your major matter to your career? What happens if you change your major? Does changing your major mean you must change your career? Read on to find out!<\/p>\n<h2>How to Select Your Major<\/h2>\n<p>Selecting your major is one of the most exciting tasks (and, to some students, perhaps one of the most nerve-wracking tasks) you are asked to perform in college. So many decisions are tied to it. But if you have good guidance, patience, and enthusiasm, the process is easier. Here are some tips to follow as you consider your college major.<\/p>\n<h3>Seek Inspiration<\/h3>\n<p>Inspiration is all around us. Maybe there\u2019s somebody in your life (a friend, a mentor, or someone else) who inspires you with what they do, how they spend their time, or their passion for their work. Maybe you\u2019re inspired by a celebrity or a person you admire whom you learned about from the news or a documentary. Maybe there\u2019s a historical figure that you remember from grade school that you really admire. Think about what or who inspires you, and what that says about your passions and your values. When you\u2019re inspired, you will find motivation. It\u2019s worth it to consider that inspiration reason enough to pursue a college major, considering the amount of time and effort you\u2019ll put into completing your degree!<\/p>\n<h3>Consider Everything<\/h3>\n<p>Don\u2019t let preconceived notions of what you think you can do hold you back from considering all the options. Think about it: you probably already have a list of majors you think you would never consider, whether it\u2019s because you think you couldn\u2019t do well, you think you don\u2019t like the topic, or you believe it\u2019s not a good choice for you. You may be right, but before you go ahead and let your assumptions get in the way, really take a look at all your options and consider them! Try to challenge the beliefs you have about yourself, your abilities, and those majors, before you make any fast choices. You might be surprised what can happen after taking an intro course in a field you\u2019d never considered before.<\/p>\n<h3>Identify Talents and Interests<\/h3>\n<p>What are your talents and interests? Think about what used to just light up your life when you were a child. What did you like to do when you were a teenager? What do you come back to again and again, as the years go on? What do you enjoy doing to pass the time? Maybe you love playing music or making art. Maybe you love writing. Think about how your talents and interests can connect to a potential college major. If you love keeping up with and writing about current events, journalism might be a good option for you. If you\u2019ve always loved math, you might want to consider accounting or statistics! If you\u2019re having a hard time coming up with ideas, consider asking some people who know you best. We often can\u2019t see ourselves as clearly as those who love us best.<\/p>\n<h3>Explore Available Resources<\/h3>\n<p>There are lots of resources available to you to learn more about choosing a college major. You can learn more online about how college majors map into certain careers, you can talk to other students who are farther along in their college career, and you can talk to your professors about what it\u2019s like to enter certain fields of study. Every person is different, so take others\u2019 advice with a grain of salt, but it\u2019s always worth it to get another person\u2019s perspective, especially if they are doing something you think you might want to do in the future.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_2b619662-89d8-4d9f-891f-a3565cf7f7bc\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/2b619662-89d8-4d9f-891f-a3565cf7f7bc?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_2b619662-89d8-4d9f-891f-a3565cf7f7bc\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>In-depth Career Exploration<\/h3>\n<p>You can learn a lot about a career before you ever accept a job offer. Talk to people in your prospective career and see what it\u2019s like for them. You can find people to contact through your school\u2019s alumni network or through LinkedIn. It might seem hard at first, but people are generally more open to spending 30 minutes of their time talking to you about their experience than you might initially think. Another way you can explore in-depth career exploration would be to shadow someone for a day at their job. This option requires more of a commitment from you and the person you\u2019re shadowing, but if you\u2019re genuinely interested in a career path then it could be really important information for you to gain by watching or joining someone on their job for the day.<\/p>\n<p>The next video shares nine more tips on selecting your college major:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Narrow your choices by deciding what you don&#8217;t like.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Explore careers that might interest you. Ask questions.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Use your school&#8217;s resources.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Ask your teacher, counselor, and family about your strengths.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Remember, 60 percent of students change their majors.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Your major isn&#8217;t going to define your life. But choosing one that interests you will make your college experience much more rewarding.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Go on informational interviews with people in careers that interest you.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">There&#8217;s no pressure to decide now.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Take new classes and discover your interests.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/plugin.3playmedia.com\/show?mf=1291140&amp;p3sdk_version=1.10.1&amp;p=20361&amp;pt=375&amp;video_id=V4dNoVsmU2o&amp;video_target=tpm-plugin-8qxbxk4v-V4dNoVsmU2o\" width=\"800px\" height=\"450px\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0px\" marginheight=\"0px\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>You can view the <a href=\"https:\/\/course-building.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/College+Success\/Transcripts\/HowToSelectYourCollegeMajor_transcript.txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">transcript for &#8220;How to Select Your College Major &#8211; WiseChoice&#8221; here (opens in new window)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>glossary<\/h3>\n<p><strong>major:<\/strong> a specialized focus on a particular discipline within one&#8217;s college studies, typically in preparation for a line of work that requires a relevant credential<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-1444\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>College Success. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Linda Bruce. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Major (academic). <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Wikipedia. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Major_%28academic%29\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Major_%28academic%29<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">All rights reserved content<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>How to Pick a Major. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: byuidahoadmissions. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/8I_Qw2NfSq0\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/8I_Qw2NfSq0<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>All Rights Reserved<\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Standard YouTube License<\/li><li>How to Select Your College Major - WiseChoice. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: SE Social Media. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/V4dNoVsmU2o\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/V4dNoVsmU2o<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>All Rights Reserved<\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Standard YouTube License<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":19,"menu_order":5,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"College Success\",\"author\":\"Linda Bruce\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Major (academic)\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Wikipedia\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Major_%28academic%29\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"copyrighted_video\",\"description\":\"How to Pick a Major\",\"author\":\"byuidahoadmissions\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/8I_Qw2NfSq0\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"arr\",\"license_terms\":\"Standard YouTube License\"},{\"type\":\"copyrighted_video\",\"description\":\"How to Select Your College Major - 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