Exploration Tips

Review all the majors offered at St. Edward's.
If you are like most students, you are mainly familiar with subjects taught in high school (e.g. English, history, math) or with professional programs (e.g. business, engineering, nursing). Fields such as bioinformatics, philosophy, or sociology may never have crossed your mind as possible majors. Before you rush to a decision, read course descriptions for introductory classes in fields you have not considered. Visit faculty members in those areas during their office hours and talk to them about whether your own interests match opportunities in the field.

Experiment with elective courses.
Consider taking introductory (1000- and 2000-level) courses in subjects you find interesting. Courses with a field-based or service-learning component will provide an opportunity to see how classroom theories are put to practical application.

Reflect on your high school performance.
What classes did you like the best? Which ones did you try to avoid? In which ones were your grades the highest? Which ones would you prefer not to remember? Do you notice any connections?

Focus on your values.
Unlike high school where most of your classes were required, your undergraduate degree offers you the flexibility to match your interests with the major you pursue. Do you want to make an impact on your community? Do you want to express yourself creatively? Do you want to earn promotions rapidly? Do you want to work under pressure? Do you want to work alone or as part of a team? Choosing a major that leads to a job with rapid promotions may not allow you to express your creativity. You will need to determine what you value.

Learn the requirements for your prospective major.
Not all majors require the same number of credits or the same GPA. Find out if your major has a minimum GPA that is higher than the university's minimum 2.00. Is the GPA one you can realistically maintain? How many credits are required for your major? Does the sequencing of courses mean you will be in college longer than four years? Is that financially feasible for you?

Evaluate what you have learned.
After exploring different majors and their requirements as well as your own values, what connections do you notice? With an active approach to exploring, your prospective major should be in clearer focus.