STEPS TO CHOOSING A MAJOR

Transcription

1 STEPS TO CHOOSING A MAJOR Choosing Majors: STEP 1 The first step in choosing your major is to eliminate some of the possibilities. My guess is that there are some majors that you KNOW, just by the title, are of no interest to you. Go down the list of majors and cross these majors off. You are going to notice that there are many majors that you are not familiar with. Keep these ones on the list for further exploration because you never know, it may be a very interesting major! Remember, a good decision is an educated decision! LIST OF MAJORS AT MASON: SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT: Accounting (BS) Finance (BS) Information Systems and Operations Management (BS) Management (BS) Marketing (BS) COLLEGE OF SCIENCE: Astronomy (BS, BA) Biology (BS, BA) Concentrations in: Biology Education (BA, BS) Biotechnology (BS) Environmental and Conservation (BS) Marine & Freshwater (BS) Microbiology (BS) Molecular (BS) Chemistry (BS, BA) Concentrations in: Analytical & Environmental (BS) Biochemistry (BA, BS) Chemistry Education (BS) Computational and Data Sciences (BS) Earth Science (BS) Environmental Science (BS) Geography (BS, BA) Geology (BA) Global and Environmental Change (BS) Mathematics (BS, BA) Medical Technology (BS) Physics (BS) COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS: Art and Visual Technology (BA, BFA), Concentrations in: New Media, Graphic Design, Interdisciplinary Arts, Painting, Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture Computer Game Design (BFA) Dance (BA, BFA) Film and Video Studies (BA) Jazz Studies (BM) Music (BA) Music Composition (BM) Music Education (BM) Music Performance (BM) Theatre (BA)

2 SCHOOL OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING: Applied Computer Science (BS) Concentrations in: Bioinformatics Game Design Geography Software Engineering Civil and Infrastructure Engineering (BS) Computer Engineering (BS) Computer Science (BS) Electrical Engineering (BS) Information Technology (BS) Systems Engineering (BS) COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Community Health (BS) Concentrations in: Global Health Health Education Nutrition Pre Health Professions Health Administration (BS) Concentrations in: Assisted Living Administration Health Systems Management Nursing (BSN) Social Work (BSW) COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: Athletic Training (BS) Kinesiology (BS) Concentration in Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources Health Promotion (BS) Concentration in Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources Parks and Outdoor Recreation (BS) Concentration in Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources Physical Education (BSEd) Sport Management (BS) Concentration in Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources Therapeutic Recreation (BS) Concentration in Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources Tourism and Events Management (BS) COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES: Anthropology (BA) Art History (BA) Communication (BA) Concentrations in: Journalism Public Relations Media Production & Criticism Persuasive & Political Discourse Interpersonal & Organizational Communication Conflict Analysis and Resolution (BA, BS) Criminology, Law & Society (BS) Economics (BA, BS) Concentrations in: Managerial Economics (BS) English (BA) Concentrations in: World Literature American Literature Modern British Literature Creative Writing Cultural Studies

3 Drama Fiction Film & Media Studies Folklore & Mythology Linguistics Medieval & renaissance Non Fiction Writing & Rhetoric Poetry Environmental & Sustainability Studies (BA) French (BA) Global Affairs (BA) Government and International Politics (BA) History (BA) Integrative Studies New Century College (BA, BS) Advertising Arts & Culture Child & Family Studies Conservation Studies Education Information & Society International Studies Leadership Studies Legal Studies Life Science (Pre Health Concentrations) Organizational Administration Public & Community Engagement Latin American Studies (BA) Neuroscience (BS) Philosophy (BA) Concentrations in: Law Psychology (BA, BS) Public Administration (BS) Religious Studies (BA) Russian & Eurasian Studies (BA) Sociology (BA) Spanish (BA) Now that you have narrowed down your choices of majors, pick out 3 5 majors on your list that look the most interesting. There may be more than 5 that you are interested in but 5 is a good place to start. You can always go back to your original list for more choices if need be. My Top Majors:

4 Gathering Information: STEP 2 It s time to gather information on your top major choices. Check off steps as you accomplish them. Print out the Major Requirement form for each of your top majors. You can find these forms on the Academic Advising Website (advising.gmu.edu) under the heading Current Students then Major Requirements. Focus on the Major Requirements section on the Planning form. Look at what courses are required of that major. Look up the course descriptions of these courses in the online catalog (catalog.gmu.edu). (*Hint: You can easily search for course descriptions using the catalog search on the top left corner of the catalog home page.) Do these descriptions sound interesting? Make any notes on the planning form to look back at and share with your advisor. This step alone can tell you a lot about the major! You may have already eliminated one or more of your top 5 majors. Next, go back to the Academic Advising Website (advising.gmu.edu) and click on Current Students then Exploring Major Sheets. Print out and review the Exploring Major Sheets for each of your top majors. Read the information provided on the Exploring Major Sheets. Mark these sheets up with any notes on what you like and what you dislike about the major. Fill out the Pro s and Con s List for each of your top majors. Schedule an appointment with a career counselor to find more in depth information about the career opportunities within your major interest area or areas. Call to set up an appointment. Set up a follow up appointment to speak with your advisor about your top choices. Call to schedule your appointment. Don t forget to bring your worksheets!

5 Major Evaluation Major under evaluation: PRO s CON s

6 Major Evaluation Major under evaluation: PRO s CON s

7 Major Evaluation Major under evaluation: PRO s CON s