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Take introductory courses in subjects that interest you to learn more about what the major may offer. Introductory courses are general in nature and provide a good overview to what is studied in the major. In addition, many introductory courses fulfill General Education requirements.
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In the early weeks of a quarter, sit in on one or two courses in subjects that interest you to capture the flavor of the subject matter. If one sparks an interest, plan to enroll the next time it is offered.
- Try out introductory courses in subjects that are new to you. You may find an entire field of study you didn’t know existed!
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Use the UCSB General Catalog to review requirements for several majors. Look at course descriptions, too.
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Use General Education (GE) as a way to explore. The General Catalog also lists all of the courses that apply to the GE Program. Choose GE courses that apply to majors you are considering. The General Catalog is updated every year and is also available to view online at http://www.catalog.ucsb.edu.
- Visit department offices for majors that interest you and talk to staff
and faculty.
The departmental undergraduate advisor can:
- assist you with major course selection and provide information about major courses offered every quarter. He or she can describe the nature of courses, the typical testing approaches, and the amount of reading and writing required.
- help you learn about opportunities that will be open to you after graduation.
- describe the themes of the major and with selection of courses.
In addition to staff and faculty advisors, many departments also have peer advisors, who can share information with you about their experiences in the major. Further, department offices often provide information sheets about majors and career opportunities after completing the major. You can also refer to UCSB’s Departmental Directory for additional information.
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Talk to professors to learn how they became interested in their field of study. This will help you evaluate a discipline from the perspective of individuals who really understand the content, methodologies, and career opportunities of their chosen field. To contact professors, consult the department office or Copmmunication's UCSB Student-Staff-Faculty Directory for their phone number or e-mail address.
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Ask your friends about their majors. Ask about their career interests and what sparked their interest in that specific major.
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Each quarter, make an appointment with yourself to review your choices. Make sure you choose the right major for you by reviewing your academic progress including course selection, time to degree and GPA.
