CSUEB Catalog 2008-2009: Undeclared Majors (Undergraduate)

Undeclared Major

	Department Information
	Introduction
	Advising
	Choosing a Major

Department Information

University Advisement Center
Office: Student Services Hub 1131
Phone: (510) 885-4682

Director: Mary Hubins

Please consult the 2009-2010 online catalog for any changes that may occur.

Introduction

The University Advisement Center (UAC) is the academic advising home for undeclared undergraduate students who are still exploring their major options at California State University, East Bay. It is common for students to explore their interests, major areas of study and career options during their first two years of college. Generally, waiting to declare a major does not create problems, but we strongly encourage you to meet with one of the UAC's academic counselors on an ongoing basis throughout your research. We are here to support your exploration and guide you through your process of declaring a major. Research indicates that students often change their majors one or more times before completing their degrees.

Advising

Academic advising is important for the long-term academic success of undeclared students. UAC academic counselors provide students with individualized advising appointments to assist them in choosing a major, selecting courses, making progress toward a degree, and understanding academic policies and procedures. Undeclared students may concentrate on satisfying their General Education requirements during the first two years, until a major is selected. These students should keep in mind, however, that no course with the same prefix as the student's major may be applied to General Education requirements, with the exceptions noted in the B.A./B.S. Degree Requirements chapter. Courses that cannot be used to fulfill G.E. requirements are normally applicable to the major, so nothing has been lost.

Choosing a Major

The UAC is the place for undeclared students to start exploring major options, since the goal of the academic counselors is to assist students in making well-informed decisions regarding major programs. Counselors encourage students to research the available majors by consulting the University Catalog, speaking with faculty, staff and/or advisors in major departments, and enrolling in introductory courses offered in the major programs of interest. The UAC also sponsors an annual Majors/Minors Fair to give students easy access to information from academic departments throughout campus. In addition, the UAC offers major exploration workshops throughout the year, which provide undeclared students with the tools they need to narrow down their search and, eventually, to declare a major.

Undeclared students should consider all possibilities, as most major programs may not prepare students for a specific job, but instead will prepare them for the job market by developing transferable skills. Some students, therefore, may be referred to the Career Development Center (CDC), where additional resources can be found, including career counselors with whom they may discuss majors leading to specific careers; self-assessment testing to better understand their interests, values, and abilities; and a career library to aid their research on majors and careers.

What is important for undeclared majors to understand is that choosing a major is a process. Students must actively pursue experiences that will give them the information they need to choose their major. Also, choosing a major and a career are not the same. Many college graduates are employed in fields not directly related to their majors, and most people change careers more than once in their lifetime. Remember, the ultimate goal is to declare a major, and the UAC counselors are available to help students complete the process.