Tips from Career Services
By Emily Baxt, Career Services
Choosing a major should be exciting, not stressful. Here are some steps to help you:
1. Identify your choices
Before you can choose a major, you have to know what the options are at USD, and really start to think about what you enjoy.
• Try playing the Majors Game, a card sort that represents the majors and minors at USD. Come to one of the FYE sessions on this topic or stop by Career Services in Hughes 110 to meet with a counselor and pick up a deck.
• Pay attention to what classes, books, and activities truly spark your interest.
2. Learn more about your favorites
Once you’ve identified some possibilities, learn more about them.
• Talk to friends, preceptors, other faculty, and career counselors about various majors. Gather lots of information.
• Spend some time reading the Undergraduate Bulletin. Review the course descriptions and requirements for various majors. Visit the bookstore and look at the books for different classes.
• Take a class or two in a field that interests you. Ask faculty or advisors for guidance on which courses offer the best exploration opportunities.
3. Consider the relationship to careers
Your major does not determine your career, but if you are interested in a major, you may be interested in related careers. Read more about how majors might relate to careers at the following sites.
4. What Can I Do With a Major in…?
These links provide job titles, career paths, and skills related to various majors.
http://www.sandiego.edu/careers/majors/whatmajor.php
http://www.uncwil.edu/stuaff/career/Majors/
http://www.udel.edu/CSC/mrk.html
http://www.utexas.edu/student/careercenter/careers/index.html
5. Let us help you!
People who can help you explore your major choices are all around you at USD. Engage faculty, career counselors, upperclassmen, and others in conversations about majors and your decision-making process.
• Take the information you discover—and new questions—to your preceptor. See how you can use your classes next semester to further explore majors of interest, while still fulfilling GE requirements.
• Visit the Career Services Office. Talk with a career counselor, complete career assessments, and look at career library resources on the majors or occupations you find interesting. Call x4654 to make an appointment.
When choosing a major, take your time, do the research, and ask for help!