Explore Majors

Not sure what you want to study? Trying to figure out a career path that best fits your strengths, values and interests? The strategies below can take your search to the next level.

1. Reflection

• Start with what you know about yourself: think of your favorite classes. What did you enjoy about them? Did they cover subject matter you liked? Were they taught in a style that appealed to you?
• Consider what’s important to you – such as what world problems you’d like to solve or how you most enjoy spending your time. What makes these things important?
• Take the FOCUS assessment: assesses your values, personality, skills, and work interests and connects your results with majors and associated careers that might be a good fit for you.
• Talk to people who you trust and know you well. What strengths do they see in you? How could those strengths be linked to possible career paths?

2. Exploration

• Take exploratory courses in the fields you are considering.
• Talk with an academic advisor explore course options.
• Review MSU's undergraduate catalog to learn more about majors offered.
  • Cross off all majors that do not appeal to you.
  • Dive deeper into majors that are unfamiliar to you or majors that grab your interest. 
  • Review the list of courses required for the majors that interest you. Do the course titles and descriptions sound like a good fit for you?
  • Cross off majors that no longer appeal to you.
• Connect majors to careers using "What Can I do With This Major?" website.
• Explore potenial careers using the Occupational Outlook Handbook. You’ll learn more about specific professions and their day-to-day responsibilities, what the work environments are like, and how to pursue careers in these fields. 
• Consider an informational interview. This is where you connect with a professional in the field you are considering. 
• Review the Career Development Center’s Job Search Handbook to learn how to connect your college experience to real careers.

3. Action

• Make some decisions. Summarize what you’ve learned about yourself, potential majors, and potential career paths.
• Narrow down your top three or four majors or careers and weigh the pros and cons of each.
• Meet with you advising team to discuss your findings and explore what's next. 

Remember, it’s unlikely that you will ever feel 100% sure of your major decision or that you will love 100% of your experience with any major. However, if you do enjoy what you’re studying most of the time, it’s usually a good sign that you will enjoy careers associated with it as well!