Undeclared Major

• Department Information
• Introduction
• Advising
• Choosing a Major

 

Department Information

Academic Advising and Career Education
Student Services and Administration Building, 2nd Floor
Phone: (510) 885-3621
Fax: (510) 885-2398

Director: Lawrence Bliss

Introduction

Academic Advising and Career Education (AACE) is the academic advising home for undergraduate students who have not yet declared a major 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. We encourage students to meet with an AACE counselor on an ongoing basis throughout their research. We are here to support student exploration and guide them through the 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 all students. AACE provides 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 should concentrate on satisfying their General Education requirements until a major is selected. Students should keep in mind, however, that no course with the same prefix as their declared 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

AACE provides a variety of resources and knowledgeable staff to help students make well informed decisions about major and career options. AACE 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.

Undeclared students should consider all possibilities, as most major programs may not prepare students for a specific job, but instead will get them ready for the job market by developing transferable skills. AACE provides additional resources which include self-assessment testing to better understand personal interest, values, and abilities; and a career library to aid research on majors and careers. AACE counselors are also available to assist students narrow down the focus on majors that lead to specific careers.

It is important for undeclared majors to understand 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 thing. 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 graduation in a major and AACE counselors are available to help students complete the process.