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Choose a Major

Undecided about what to choose as your major? The following information may help you decide. In addition, come talk with a career adviser during drop-in advising.

Suggestions for Course Selection and Choosing a Major

What Can I Do With a Major In handouts

Researching a Major

• Meet with a Career Advisor.
• Read about the major in the UCSC General Catalog on line or at the Bay Tree Bookstore for $7.
• Read the undergraduate handbooks for the majors that interest you. To find the handbook for sociology major, for example, type “sociology major handbook” in the search box of the main UCSC home page. This will take you to the location of the Sociology Undergraduate Handbook which contains detailed information about that major.
• Visit with individuals in the department you are interested in. The department advisors can help you. You can also talk with faculty and students in the major.
  Some questions you may wish to ask them include:
  • What areas of concentration are available in the major?
  • What kind of academic skills are needed to successfully complete this major (e.g., good writing skills, math ability)?
  • What are classes like (large, small, lab, lecture)?
  • Are exams essay type, short answer, objective, a combination?
  • Are there any special programs affiliated with the major (field studies, study abroad, etc.)?
  • What careers are graduates from this major pursuing?
    
• Go to the bookstore and look at the books required by professors for majors that you are considering. Do the books interest you?
• Enroll in a lower-division course in the major and/or sit in on a few lecture classes to see if it takes your interest.
• Look at books in the Career Center resource library that tell you what you can do with various majors.
• Use the Career Advice Network, a database of alumni from various majors who can give you advice about their majors and careers.

Suggestions for Course Selection and Choosing a Major

• Build on your strengths: choose courses that relate to what you did well in and enjoyed in high school.
• Use general education coursework to begin exploring a major.
• Take prerequisites for majors that may be of interest to you.
• Be adventurous - try new subjects that sound intriguing.
• Pick courses that will help you develop skills you want to develop:
  • Communication skills
  • Computer skills
  • Read and analytic skills
  • Teamwork
  • Foreign language skills
  • Scientific laboratory skills
• Don’t be afraid to “make a mistake” about a course. Any course you take will count towards the 180 credit requirements needed for graduation. You will still gain knowledge and develop transferable skills for your future career.
• Avoid listening to negative comments concerning a major or a course. Another student may not like it, but you may.
• Don’t let one bad experience with one professor or one class, deter you from considering a major. Examine the negative experience, was it the subject matter or the professor's teaching style/personality?
• If you are interested in the Sciences or Engineering major – start early. These majors require sequential coursework and lower division prerequisite courses. Starting coursework early on is essential if you want to graduate in a timely manner.
• Considering graduate/professional school? Contact graduate programs and learn if there are certain course requirements for entry and ask what major may best prepare you.