The following outline illustrates a process that may assist you in choosing or changing your major.

Define

What do you intend to get out of a college education and an academic major?

Experiment

Explore different fields of study. Utilize the following resources and approaches:

• Read about the Areas of Study Point Loma offers.
• Talk to people—faculty, upperclassmen in the major; individuals working in career fields of interest.
• Take a variety of courses, not just required courses, but courses that sound interesting or enlightening.
• Take a Skills Assessment (available through Career Services).
• These inventories provide individuals with suggested majors based on their interests. They also focus on career interests, skills, and personality preferences.

Evaluate

To select a major, you need to evaluate your interests, skills and abilities to determine whether they are a good fit with a major.

Ask yourself:

• What do I enjoy learning that would also prepare me for work after college?
• In which classes (high school and college) have I excelled? Where do I feel confident?
• Which classes (high school and college) have I enjoyed the most?
• If you are still unsure about your interests, skills and abilities, talk with a career counselor or faculty member.
• Consider the skills assessment options Career Services has to offer you.

Research

Once you have identified subject areas that interest you as a major, investigate the options more thoroughly.

Think about:

• What type of occupations/careers can I pursue with this major?
• Will this major prepare me for the career field(s) and/or graduate programs that I am considering?
• What is the employment outlook for this major and related career of interest?
• What other courses or subject areas should I take to help supplement this major?

The Career Resource Library in Career Services has numerous books, information folders, and flyers to assist students in researching this information. Career Choices, a computer-based program, is a one-stop opportunity for researching potential majors.

Make a Decision

Choose the major that best fits your interests, skills, career goals, etc. Realize that you can always change your mind, if after pursuing your chosen major you receive feedback that causes you to re-consider your initial choice.

Focus

After you have selected a major, concentrate on it.

• To obtain good positions in a competitive job market or to gain entrance into graduate school, it is important to do well in all of your classes, especially your major. Maintain a high GPA.
• Begin preparing for your future career field(s). Conduct thorough research on your career options, obtain work experience related to your career field, acquire career-related skills, and if appropriate, pursue courses outside your major.

The Career Services staff is available to assist you with the decision making process of choosing a major. To schedule an appointment for individualized assistance, contact Charlie Howard by email or phone at (619) 849-2384.