Choosing the Right Major
Many students come to college with questions about which major to choose or which career path to take. If you are one of those students, you’re not alone. We can answer your questions and help you explore your options, so that you can choose the major that’s right for you.
Myths About Choosing a Major
A specific academic major exists for every career field.
One reason major selection can be so confusing is that most majors are not designed to prepare students for a single career. Some career fields do require a specific credential, such as teaching or nursing, and some, such as public accounting or music, are difficult to enter without the proper background. However, most career fields do not require a specific major and most majors will allow you to excel in a number of occupations.
Liberal arts degrees are not marketable.
Otterbein graduates have become successful business managers, computer specialists, consultants, and even CEOs with degrees in English, history, and art. Your unique blend of capabilities, interests and experiences are what make you marketable, not just your academic major.
Everyone seems to know what they want to do after college except me.
If you are unsure about your career goals, you are not alone. At Otterbein, as well as in most colleges around the nation, the most popular major is "undecided." Even though choosing a major is an important step, it does not determine your entire future. The best plan is to remain undecided until you have had a chance to thoroughly explore your options.
If I change my major, I won’t graduate in four years.
The courses in your major account for approximately one third of the credits you will earn. Two thirds of your courses consist of Integrative Studies courses and electives. That gives you some room to experiment with courses to determine what you would like to major in. In most cases, if you change your major in your first two years, it is still possible to graduate if you plan carefully.
Exploring Your Options
- Choose elective courses that will allow you to explore fields that interest you.
- Study the college catalog to learn about the courses and requirements of different majors.
- Make an appointment with us and we can help you assess your natural abilities, interests, and work values in order to discover compatible majors and careers.
- Talk to upper class students about their majors.
- Research career options utilizing books, periodicals, association information, and the Internet.
- Talk to people in career fields you are considering; ask us for contacts.
Making the Decision
When making your decision about a major, there are several different approaches that may suit your particular circumstances:
- Choose a major that allows you to study what interests you the most.
Exploring an academic area in depth helps to strengthen and focus your comprehensive learning skills and develop your own unique talents to the fullest. What you enjoy studying the most will most actively engage you in the process of becoming an educated person.
- Choose a major that provides a good background for a specific professional area you hope to pursue.
The career path you have chosen may require a Master's or PhD. Choose a major that will provide the knowledge base needed for entry into those programs.
- Choose a major that has the potential to develop you as a human being.
The liberal arts prepare you to be a well-rounded, informed person. Humanities courses offer you an opportunity to gain a broader view of the world. By combining this knowledge with work experience, campus activities, and carefully chosen electives, you can be very prepared to enter the job market.
- Choose a major that combines a liberal arts education with professional training.
Combine a major and a minor, or double major in areas of interest that will develop specific skills. Some good combinations might include music and business, English and marketing, or communications and psychology.
- Develop a major to fit your needs.
If you have set career goals that do not fit within the present requirements of the current major system, you have the opportunity to create a major of your own (an individualize major) using a combination of the courses available. You must work with a faculty member to create your major and it must be approved by the Curriculum Committee.
Questions to Ask About Academic Departments
Before making a final decision about a major, ask these questions:
- What classes make up this program? What electives are suggested?
- What are students like in this field? How do my interests compare to theirs'?
- Is this a major field in which I expect to perform well?
- What are the typical methods of teaching and learning in this program?
- How does the program's level of difficulty compare with my own abilities and dedication?
- What will my skills and competencies be when I finish this program?
- What kinds of career fields do graduates in this program typically enter?