Explore Majors

Selecting or changing a major can be a challenge for students and a lot of students stress over the possibility of choosing the “wrong” major. In fact, one third of students who have declared a major, change their major at least once. Exploration is a good thing! The Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills can help you evaluate your possibilities and implications on your future career. Here are some ways to get started:

Here are a few things to get you started:

  • Take a self assessment to learn more about your interests and values and see which majors and careers may be a good fit for you
  • Learn about what majors exist at UConn using the Major Profiles tool
  • Narrow down your options using the Major Elimination Tool
  • See what Alumni do with the major you are considering
  • The Major Experience (TME) offers a wealth of major exploration tools including career trajectories based on major, the ability to connect with peers in majors on campus, and good courses to take to get a sense of what a major is like.

Not sure what your next steps should be in selecting a major? Schedule an appointment in 12twenty with a Career Coach and get a personal guide for your journey!

Frequently Asked Questions 

Here are quick answers to the most common questions we get about Exploring Majors. For further questions about our responses or any other questions, schedule an appointment with a career coach. 

There is no correct order when choosing a major or career. Some students prefer to choose a major they are interested in and decide on a career later. Others prefer to choose a career path first and then choose a major that will help them prepare for that career. Both routes can lead to success, so follow whichever one feels right to you. 

Employers consider many factors when evaluating candidates, including area(s) of study, experience, and skills. So, while an employer may consider your major, they will also take into consideration everything else included in your application. The best applicants supplement their area(s) of study, no matter how directly related to what they are applying for, with relevant experiences and skills. There are a few exceptions, especially in majors where specific technical skills or certifications are required, but employers in those fields also value relevant experiences and skills. 

Graduate programs often do not have prerequisite majors; rather, they have prerequisite courses that all applicants must complete at the undergraduate level before applying. Therefore, as long as you choose a major that includes these prerequisite courses or you take them as electives, you can typically choose any major and apply to graduate school successfully. However, it is best to check the requirements of the program you are interested in so you know exactly what to expect. 

No. Career coaches can provide insight about the connections between majors/courses and careers but are not experts on the academic requirements here at UConn. You should discuss the process of changing your major and determining what courses to take with your academic advisor. 

Featured Resources

Focus 2 is an online assessment tool that helps students become more career-ready by identifying personal interests, skills, values, and …

Bridge the gap between “where you are” and “where you want to be” through the goal-oriented and action-oriented process of …

The Major Experience (TME) is a University-wide major exploration program, designed to help students explore majors in a holistic, interactive, and intentional manner. TME …

Major Profile pages are the easiest way to gather information about all majors offered at UConn. Each profile includes: a …

It’s often easier to first identify the majors you DON’T want to do. This step gives you the opportunity to eliminate majors in …

Review majors, minors, and courses available at UConn.

Featured Articles

Trends, advice, and experiences in this community, written by Career Center staff and subject matter experts.