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Choosing a Major
You will probably fall into one of two categories when deciding your major:- You know what you want to do for a career
- You don't know what you want to do for a career
You know what you want to do for a career
It's obvious what your major should be:If you want to be a nurse, you'll have to major in Nursing, or if you want to work as an office assistant in a law office, you'll major in Legal Office Assistant, etc. You may need to choose the length of program you want; i.e., do you want to be an L.P.N. or an R.N? Do you want to be an engineering technician or an engineer? Talking to an advisor in the department or to people working in the career can help you decide the level. Your home or financial situation may also dictate how far you can go. There are more suggestions at Career Exploration.
It's not obvious what your major should be:
For some careers, it almost doesn't matter what your major is. For example, if you want to be an archaeologist, you should get an A.A. here in a general field such as anthropology or history, then transfer to a 4-year school where you can get a Bachelor's degree in archaeology.
Even when you are sure of what you want as a major, it is good to ask yourself why you want it. Many people major in something for the wrong reasons -- they know they can get a job in it, or their mom or dad did it, or their friends are in it. Remember that you are a unique individual. What's right for your dad or friend may not be right for you! People often end up working in a career they don't like but can't seem to get out of because of family and financial obligations. We don't want that for you! It's much better to spend some time now exploring careers and finding one that suits you than to spend years of your life in a job you hate.
You don't know what you want to do for a career
There's no better time to do some career exploration. There is free career counseling at the Counseling/Career Center. We offer workshops, individual counseling, and many resources to help you find what's right for you. A staff member can help you in using these resources.If you have to declare a major for financial aid applications, you'll need to decide the level you're going for, i.e., a certificate, A.A., or A.T.A. If you're not sure, just select an A.A. You can then write "Undecided, working with a career counselor" on the application. Next, call us at 736-9391, ext. 265, or come over and make an appointment to see a counselor for some career guidance. Or sign up for a career workshop at 736-9391, ext. 265. Or take the career class, SDEV105, and get credit for learning about yourself!