If you have decided to pursue a bachelor's degree at Metropolitan State University, but are still undecided about the major you want to pursue, consider asking yourself the following questions:
- Do I have a preference for one degree title over another?
- What is important to professionals in my future career, my current employer and work peers? What is important to me and to other significant people in my life?
- How many credits beyond the minimum 120-124 will it take to complete my preferred major? Would it serve me better to choose a shorter major or program in order to finish sooner?
- Will I pursue a master's degree in the future? If so, carefully consider which undergraduate program you choose and build in graduate school prerequisites.
- Do I have strong credentials or a lot of experience in my chosen field? In general, those with weaker experience in a field are advised to select a focused major in that field rather than a general or individualized program.
- Which is more important to employers in my field of interest, academic credentials or work experience? Will I need a particular degree or major to progress in my career, or to break into a new field?
- Do employers in my field of interest require specialization or do they prefer generalist degrees?
- Am I selecting a specific degree because I don't know what else to choose?
Some strategies to use in selecting a major:
- Explore the ISEEK (Internet System for Education and Employment Knowledge) Web site for career, education, employment and business information.
- Complete the Checklist for Choosing a Major, consisting of five main steps to help you decide on a major.
- Take the required General Education Liberal Studies (GELS) courses to develop your interest and skills while exploring the different majors.
- Take the foundation and core courses required in your potential major.
- Learn more by reading about the different course descriptions required in your major.
- Use Career Services to define your goals and explore your career options such as a shadow program, workshops, job fairs, personality testing, skills & interest inventory.
- Take a career exploration course such as Psyc 107 Career Planning and Development or Psyc 108 Career and Life Planning for Women.
- Consult with different advisors.
- Explore designing your own degree program.