FOR STUDENTS

Choosing a Major

Although some students are positive about what they want to study in college, many are unsure and wonder how they will ever decide. Whether you are “pretty sure” of your major or still searching, consider the following when registering for your first semester of college classes:

  1. Most colleges require students to take classes in broad-ranging subjects in addition to “major” requirements needed to graduate. These non-major requirements may be called by different names (for example, General Education, Core Requirements, or Distribution Requirements), but they amount to the same thing, requirements every student must complete regardless of major.
  2. If you are uncertain about a major, think about the subjects you’ve enjoyed studying and don’t worry about the job prospects in those fields for the moment. See whether there are any patterns, such as the social or natural sciences, humanities, the arts, or quantitative fields.
  3. Select introductory general education classes from the various departments that interest you in case you decide to use them to satisfy specific graduation requirements. You may find a program that interests you so much you might decide to choose it as your major.  Even if you don’t, the courses you took will, at least, satisfy general education.
  4. Make time to talk with an academic advisor about the options at your college.
  5. Talk with faculty in that major to get a better sense of the variety of careers available.
  6. Talk with students currently in that major to get their opinions on how satisfied they are with the offerings in that field.

For more information about choosing a major, visit the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation, website at  www.nhheaf.org. Its Center for College Planning is full of useful information and loaded with helpful advice!

For more information about majors at KSC, PSU, UNH, GSC or UNHM
(Click link above for a list of majors at each institution)