What should I major in?

Selecting a major does not mean you will limit the career choices available to you after graduation. If you choose a major that you intrinsically enjoy, you are more likely to excel academically, you will be more motivated in the classes you take, and when it is time to start looking for a job or applying to graduate school you will be able to explain with enthusiasm why you chose your major and what you gained from doing so.

• Planning Resources
  
• Take Action

Planning Resources

More	When choosing a major it is beneficial to understand your strengths and your interests. Consider taking one or more of the self-assessment instruments offered by the Career Center. Also, ask yourself the following questions for important clues: When I go into a bookstore, am I drawn to a particular section? When I read newspapers or magazines, which articles do I always turn to? Which classes do I enjoy the most? Which classes do I actively participate in? Am I drawn into discussions outside of class with my peers, graduate students or professors in a particular department? In looking through the course catalog, do I find myself wanting to enroll in electives in a particular department?
More	Do you need to learn more about the various majors offered at Cal and what they entail? Use Career Center and campus resources to get more information: Review the General Catalog for departmental courses Attend departmental information sessions Review college and major publications available through specific colleges and departments Go to departmental websites for undergraduate program information Look at print resources in the Career Center's Info Lab Talk with departmental advisors at the Letters & Science Majors Faire, a bi-annual event held in the fall semester
More	It is often helpful to talk with students, alumni and staff about potential majors. Other people can offer expertise and insider perspectives: Talk to upperclassmen, graduate student instructors, and professors in departments that interest you Meet with an adviser or peer adviser in the L&S Advising Office Consult with departmental undergraduate advisors or peer advisors Talk to alumni and others working in occupations that interest you Join a major-related student group or attend their meetings on campus Get advice from your resident advisor or APC about choosing a major
More	You can experience what a major is like before you declare one: Audit upper-division courses (for more than a single session) Take advantage of undergraduate research experiences or undergraduate research programs on campus Enroll in freshman/sophomore seminars or DE-Cal classes
More	Meet with a Career Counselor who can help you evaluate the information you have collected about possible majors, suggest additional resources, and guide you through the decision-making process.
More	Sometimes it can be difficult to choose a major after you have narrowed down the options. If this is the case, you may want to evaluate how well your options support what is important to you. Some variables that might be important to you are: Number of prerequisite courses already completed Impacted status of the major Accessiblity of faculty Opportunity to conduct research or write a senior thesis Opportunity to work on group projects or deliver presentations in classes If more than one major still appeals to you, you may consider declaring a double major, declaring a minor in one of the disciplines, or taking a few courses as electives in that major.
More	The Yearly Planner gives you tips about things you can do each year at Cal to help you plan for your future. Remember, you need to declare your major by the end of your sophomore year, or by the start of your second semester if you transferred to Berkeley as a junior.

Take Action

Use one or more of the Planning Resources described above to learn about a major you might declare. Ask yourself the following questions for each of the majors you are considering:

1. Does the required coursework in this major complement my interests and abilities?
   
2. Are there required prerequisite courses that I really do not want to take?
   
3. How much freedom will I have to take elective courses?
   
4. Does this major require a lot of writing, a thesis, quantitative skills, or foreign language courses?
   
5. If I already have defined my career goal, does this major complement or prepare me for that career?
   
6. Does the major allow me to pursue an area of emphasis?
   
7. Are there other important considerations for me?

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