Major Exploration

Your Major, Your Journey

Every student has their own values, interests, and skills. In Major Exploration, we help students reflect, investigate, and take action to choose a major that aligns with their goals for success.

Appointments

Schedule a one-on-one Major Exploration Coaching Meeting with staff in the CORD.

Book an Appointment

Drop-ins

The CORD SOAR Advocate Team offers drop-in meetings with student advocates weekdays from 9 am - 3 pm. We can start the conversation and introduce you to resources to explore and help you schedule a longer meeting with an exploration coach.  

Two people working together at a table with a laptop

Understanding Yourself

This is an opportunity to reflect personally on how your identity, skills, and interests align with possible academic majors. Review this worksheet to help you name some key identities that can help you explore majors thoughtfully. 


Download the Values, Interests, and Skills Worksheet

Two people sit on couches having a conversation. There is a table with a plant in between them.

Debunking Major Myths


Major does not equal career! 

  • Up to 50% of students enter college ‘undecided’.
  • 80% of students change majors at least once.
  • Choosing a major is not choosing a lifetime career- only 27-46% of college grads work in positions directly related to their field of study.
  • Some research shows that people who change majors after starting college have slightly higher graduation rates than those who finalize their major in the first semester.
  • Changing your major now, rather than ‘sticking it out’ can help you save money in the long run- avoiding extra classes that don’t count towards your dream major.

Investigate and Narrow Options

EXPLORATION WORKSHEET

Use this Explore Worksheet with some guided suggestions to connect with coursework, peers, & professionals that can offer insight towards your new path.
EXPLORATION WORKSHEET

UNIVERSITY CATALOG

Use the University Catalog to peruse courses that suit your interest. Try searching "CAREER"!
UNIVERSITY CATALOG

What can I do with this major?

This resource links to career fields, related skills, job planning and professional associations for each major.
What can I do with this major?

Take Action and Declare

When you are ready to declare a new major, you’ll contact an academic advisor in your NEW college to formally change your degree plan and make a plan for what classes you’ll take next semester.   

Consider joining a professional student organization related to your new major/career path and look out for events in your new department to meet faculty and peers.  

Freedman, L. (2013). The developmental disconnect in choosing a major: Why institutions should prohibit choice until second year. The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal, 15. https://doi.org/10.26209/MJ1561278 

Lederman, D. (2017, December 8). Who changes majors? (Not who you think.) Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/12/08/nearly-third-students-change-major-within-three-years-math-majors-most 

Marcus, J. (2018, December 7). Switching majors is adding time and tuition to the already high cost of college. The Hechinger Report. https://hechingerreport.org/switching-majors-is-adding-time-and-tuition-to-the-already-high-cost-of-college/ 

Ranzetta, T. (2019, September 15) Question of the day: What percentage of college graduates work in their field of study? Next Gen Personal Finance. https://www.ngpf.org/blog/question-of-the-day/qod-what-percent-of-college-graduates-end-up-working-in-the-field-of-their-major/ 

University of Tulsa. (2020, November 5). Normalizing the norm of changing college majors. https://utulsa.edu/normalizing-the-norm-of-changing-college-majors/