Choosing a Career and a Major
Factors Involved in Choosing a Major:
- Am I Choosing a Major or a Career?
Not all life plans have a single or specific academic major that leads directly to them. - Understanding the World of Work:
Sometimes just knowing what is out there and available can help. -
Self Assessment:
Understanding who we really are is a lifelong process. Having a good picture of who you are presently and where you want to go is a great tool in the decision making process. -
Decision Making:
Not everybody has taken time to look at the components of decision making. By doing so you may be able to identify just where it is that you are stuck. -
Understanding Major Requirements:
A close examination of the requirements of a degree may help you identify if a major is going to be congruent with your interests.
Am I choosing a major or a career?
Not every life goal or career has a single major that that will lead directly to it. This can make selecting a major more difficult. Below are a few of the common types of goals that do not require a specific major and some ideas that may help.
Law School: There are many options available for this person s/he may consider English or Political Science or any of the many options from the school of business. The key is a successful score on the LSAT and possibly a series of prerequisites. To get a good start on this option one could start with and appointment to see the SUU Pre Law Advisor. It is also a good idea to contact a few potential schools to identify any recommendations they have. Shaping your academic experience to fit a specific program may give you that extra point on your application.
Graduate Program: Many grad programs have "types" of degrees that work well and not necessarily a specific major that is a sure ticket in. This provides a student the opportunity to study something they like and can do well. Faculty and informational interviewing can give a student a great deal of valuable information. As stated above it is also a good idea to contact a few potential schools to identify any recommendations they have. Shaping your academic experience to fit a specific program my give you that extra point on your application.
Health / Medical Professions: Medical School, Dental School, Pharmacy Colleges and many other health care professions require study in specialized schools. These types of schools may or may not require the completion of a bachelors degree. Most, however, require a great deal of prerequisite knowledge. Southern Utah University has advisors identified to help students plan for such experiences. It is also a good idea to contact a few potential schools to identify any recommendations they have. Shaping your academic experience to fit a specific program my give you that extra point on your application.
Stay at home parent: If you plan on being a stay at home parent you have a unique challenge (or luxury depending on your perspective). There is no specific major for “stay at home parent”. What now? Well this is an opportunity to make a decision based on what you like to study or to apply if you do need a back up plan. In this case a student may want to focus on subjects you enjoy and become an expert with that subject. It is likely that if you like something now you will probably enjoy the kind of work that one could find with that degree. In summary, earn a degree, and learn how and where to market it later.
Family business: Some individuals are taking over a family business and are at school to get an education. Some degree options are more congruent than other for this type of life plan. Depending on the type of business it may well be that there is a specific major to support it. For example, a young person who plans on taking over a family owned farm may consider agriculture or agribusiness. It may also be that there is no particular program of study to support a specific plan. In that case the student is in a situation where they get the luxury of simply choosing a major he or she likes. As above it is likely that if you enjoy a subject you will be able to find a way to apply it later in life if you need to.