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Undeclared Students - Choosing a Major

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Not everyone knows what major to choose when they begin college. The University College offers special advising for students who are undecided about what major is right for them. Undeclared students are encouraged to consider their options and make appropriate choices based on personal interests, professional goals, values, skills and abilities. The Discovery Program works with the University Career Center to link educational options with career opportunities.

 

Discovery Program advisors offer a blend of individual and group counseling sessions and workshops to assist undeclared students. Advisors help first-year undeclared students with monitoring their academic progress, course scheduling, interpreting university regulations and procedures, and maximizing their academic success. In addition, each semester the Discovery Program offers a three-credit class, UNIV 103 “Focus on Choice,” that concentrates on careers, educational opportunities and the development of your potential. Advisors also provide alternative advising options for those who do not qualify for, or are not admissible to, their preferred programs of study.

 

Students are encouraged to select a major by the end of two years. Students must declare a major within one of the university’s schools no later than the semester in which they complete 60 credits.

Although some majors can lead to specific careers (e.g., nursing, mechanical engineering, accounting), graduating with any major leads to various career options. A college education teaches skills and knowledge that are applicable to more than one field. Consequently, choosing a major doesn’t limit someone to only one career, and selecting a specific career goal doesn’t limit someone to only one major.

 

First-Year Advising Home | Choosing a Major | VCU Programs of Study | Steps in Choosing a Major | "Majoring in..." | Common Major Myths | Curriculum Worksheets | Academic Advising Courses