Choosing Your Major & Career Center for Career Services Southern Connecticut State University

Is This the Best Way to Choose a Major?

Can You Guess My Major? Mass Communication MathAccounting A.Mass Communication B.Public Health C.Theatre A. Math B. Sports Management C. Business A.Accounting B.Psychology C.Finance Carrie Underwood Michael JordanRay Romano

Some Tips to Get Started… Treat the process like a job or one of your classes Set specific goals Work with advisors during the process –Career Services –Academic Departments –Academic Advisement

Prepare Remember that this is a process –Be open to what you find out about yourself –Try not to stress yourself out Assess Yourself –Career Concepts and Exploration, CTR 200 –FOCUSFOCUS

Research Review the undergraduate catalog. Take introductory courses. Talk with advisors in the departments of interest. Talk with faculty members. Talk with students in that major already. Talk with family and friends. Get a job, internship, co-op or volunteer.

Evaluate and Make a Decision In order to make a sound decision, it is important to gather enough information There isn’t one right way to make this decision Consider: –The Pros and Cons –Asking for advice from people you trust

Declare Your Major!

Major ≠ Career Most majors do not lead directly to a specific job. Your major helps you acquire specific transferable skills: –How to define a question –How to investigate possibilities –How to articulate your findings and theories –How to write, problem-solve, organize, research and think critically Employers hire and promote people on the basis of the quality of their work. –How much you like the work could affect the quality.

Ask? What do I want to do? What can I do with my major? What kind of people do I like to work with? Do I enjoy physical challenges? Do I like persuading others? Do I prefer questions with answers, or questions that lead to more questions?

Investigate a Future Career Make an appointment with a Career Services counselor Use these Career Services tools: –Careers.southernct.edu –FOCUS –JOBSs –Career Fairs Gain experience –Informational Interviews –Volunteer –Cooperative Education –Internship

Some Final Thoughts… Keep in mind that your first job right out of college is probably not your final job! Be open to life-long learning Proceed with confidence. Maintain a healthy balance of work and fun.

For More Information Center for Career Services Southern Connecticut State University Room 102, Schwartz Hall careers.southernct.edu