Ãå±±½ûµØ

Advising

Exploring/Changing Majors

Declaring a Pathway

If you aren't ready to declare a major, you willÌýselect aÌýPathwayÌýthat best matches your academic interests. Pathways group similar majors together so that students have the opportunity to explore majors. Review the Pathway description and majors on the Pathway pages that interest you most.Ìý

Once you choose a Pathway, you will be assigned an advisor who willÌýhelpÌýyou to evaluate your skills, interests, valuesÌýand abilities, and determine how they align with the many majors available at PSU.

Exploring Majors

Selecting a major should be a thoughtful process. Your advisor can help you with this, but you can also take these steps on your own:

    Self-assessment

    An important first step is to know your skills, interests, and values. There are many ways to do this:

    • Take a career assessment. Check out theÌýUniversity Career CenterÌýcalendarÌýfor a current schedule of Career & Major Exploration workshopsÌýor make aÌýÌýto discuss if an assessment is right for you.

    Exploration

    Exploring your options can happen in a variety of ways. Try any of the following:

    • Know your options for majors.ÌýPSU offers more than a hundred different programs.ÌýPathwaysÌýgroup similar majors together, so it may be easier to review them grouped into those themes.
    • °Õ²¹°ì±ðÌýintroductory coursesÌýin the academic areas that interest you.ÌýThis is one of the best ways to explore a potential major.ÌýEnrolling in these courses also provides an opportunity to talk with faculty about the particular field of study. If you decide after taking a course that this major is not for you, the course will still apply towards your degree, whether it fulfills a specific requirement (e.g., BA or BS) or as an elective. Your advisor can help you understand the applicability of your courses.
    • Test out different career fields.ÌýObserving the day-to-day operations can help you discern whether a field is a good fit. Do job shadows or look for part-time jobs or internships in the career fields that are of interest. Career counselors can help you find these opportunities.

    Decision-Making

      An informed decision will help you to feel more confident about your choice. There is no "right" major, but there is a major that complements your skills, values, and interests.

      • Do your research.ÌýTalk to students and faculty in the majors you are considering. What do they like/not like about it?
      • Learn about career opportunities.ÌýRealize that most career fields do not require a specific major. Although there are exceptions (e.g. accounting, mechanical engineering), for most fields the relationship between your major and your career is not as direct. Check out theÌýWhat Can I Do With a Degree In...?Ìýpages to see the variety of choices of careers for all PSU majors.
      • Evaluate the pros and cons with an advisor.ÌýIs time-to-degree a factor for you? Does the major require courses that are challenging for you?

        Declaring/Changing Your Major

        Once you have made a decision,Ìýdeclare your major! If after a period of time you realize this is not as good of a match as you thought, re-assess and explore again.

        You must declare a major by the time you reach 90 credits, or within your first term if you transferred to PSU with 90 or more credits.ÌýÌýAfter that point, the exploratory option in each Pathway will no longer be available; however, you can still changeÌýyour major.

        If you have 90 or more credits, talk with your advisor before changing your major to discuss your options and possible implications. Be aware that federal financial aid has time and credit restrictions;Ìýa change in majorÌýcould impact your aid eligibility.

        Selective Admission Programs

        Note that some majors have selective requirements:

        Explore Pathways
        Additional Resources for Exploratory Students