University of Oregon Advisor Tami Hill's workshop on choosing a major from 10/28/10.

1. MAJOR DECISIONS

2. Major Myths and Facts
1. You need a major to graduate.
2. If you want a career in business, you should major
in something in the liberal arts.
3. All majors have some things in common.
4. The #1 skill employers want their employees to
have today is strength in technology.
5. Some majors are worth more than others and you
should choose a major that’s practical.

3. Choosing a major is a process
I know my interests, values, and
personality
I am aware of the wide variety of
majors at the UO
I know my skills and abilities
I am interested in a few majors and
know their requirements
I can commit to my major of choice

4. I know my interests, values, and
personality
I am aware of the wide variety of
majors at the UO
I know my skills and abilities
I am interested in a few majors and
know their requirements
I can commit to my major of choice

5. Interest, Values, and Personality
 What do you like to do? To study? To know about?
 What do you believe in? What’s important to you?
 What kind of person are you? How do you relate to
others and the world around you?
 How might these connect to majors?

6. Exploring majors by topic
http://www.washington.edu/uaa/gateway/advising/majors/exp.
php

8. I know my interests, values, and
personality
I am aware of the wide variety of
majors at the UO
I know my skills and abilities
I am interested in a few majors and
know their requirements
I can commit to my major of choice

9. Skills and Abilities
 What are your academic strengths?
 What are the areas in which you struggle?
 What skills have you gained from jobs, volunteering,
or internships? What would you like to learn to do?
 How might these connect to majors?
 For more help with identifying interests and
abilities, check out the UO Career Center:
http://uocareer.uoregon.edu/students/majors-and-
careers/skills-interests.aspx

10. I know my interests, values, and
personality
I am aware of the wide variety of
majors at the UO
I know my skills and abilities

11. I know my interests, values, and
personality
I am aware of the wide variety of
majors at the UO
I know my skills and abilities
I am interested in a few majors and
know their requirements
I can commit to my major of choice

12. Researching Majors
 UO Course Catalog: Especially major requirements
and course descriptions
http://uocatalog.uoregon.edu/
http://uocatalog.uoregon.edu/business/business
http://uocatalog.uoregon.edu/liberalarts/liberalarts

13. Researching Majors: Course Catalog

14. Researching Majors
 Department websites on the UO home page
http://www.uoregon.edu/

15. Researching Majors:
Department Websites
http://psychweb.uoregon.edu/

16. Researching Majors
 Talk to academic advisors
 Talk to people in the major: juniors and seniors,
graduate students, faculty members

17. I know my interests, values, and
personality
I am aware of the wide variety of
majors at the UO
I know my skills and abilities
I am interested in a few majors and
know their requirements
I can commit to my major of choice

18. Fear of commitment?
Are you having a problem deciding on a major for
any of the following commonly believed ideas?
 I should have known what I wanted to do when I
came to college
 There is one perfect major for me
 My major determines what kind of job I can get
after college
 Some majors are worth more than others

19. Addressing the myths
 I should have known what I wanted to do when I
came to college.
 There are advantages to deciding a major later.
Why?

20. Addressing the myths
 There is one perfect major for me
 Major requirements are only 30-50% of an
undergraduate degree.
 All majors have some things in common:
critical/creative thinking, communication, inquiry,
social aspect, self discovery.
 You will more than likely not love 100% of
everything about any major you might choose.

21. Addressing the myths
 My major determines what kind of job I can get after
college.
 Very few majors connect directly with specific careers:
Julia Child studied English. Matt Groening studied
philosophy, as did one of the CEOs of General Electric.
Lisa Kudrow was a biology major. Michael Jordan
studied geography.
 Many people change their careers in the course of their
lives.
 So what can I do with this major?
 http://careers.utah.edu/jobSearch/employer/what_ca
n_I_do/list.htm

22. Addressing the myths
 Some majors are worth more than others
 Some majors may lead to higher paying jobs.
 Many employers do not care about your major.
 In an increasingly globalized world and rapidly
changing economy, which majors lead to which jobs is
not so clear cut; flexibility and adaptability are key.
 Employers are looking for employees with multi-
disciplinary skills and knowledge.

24. “Once I choose a great major, I’m done,
right?”
Congratulations! Matching interests and abilities to a
major usually means better performance (GPA).
However, it is important to avoid going on “cruise
control”:
 Build relationships with professors and GTFs
 Continue to research possible future careers and
graduate programs
 Connect concrete experiences to your field of study:
work, internship/practicum, research, study abroad.
These help you to know that a future career in the field is for right for you,
and demonstrate your knowledge and experience to potential employers.
 Work on interviewing and resume writing

25. Cited Works
 http://www.uoregon.edu/~aass/AA_Pages/AA_ChooseMajor.h
tml
 http://www.washington.edu/uaa/gateway/advising/majors/ex
p.php
 Keyes, Scott. 2010. “Stop Asking Me My Major.”
http://chronicle.com/article/Stop-Asking-Me-My-
Major/63453/
 Schwartz, Marion. 2007. “Adapting Learning Theory to
Advising First-Year Undecided Students.” In Academic Advising:
New Insights for Teaching and Learning in the First Year.
NACADA:185-202.
 University of Illinois. 2010. “Business Careers for Liberal Arts
Majors.” http://www.las.illinois.edu/students/career/business/