Academics
Deciding on a Major
First Two Years
Use your first year to explore options: investigate potential majors with professors and advisors in the respective departments; select courses that will both fulfill general education requirements and give you a sample of the majors in which you are interested. This is a time to focus on courses that seem most interesting to you and try new things. Enjoy this freedom.
Meet with your advisor each semester! Share your thinking about possible majors. Discuss your strategies for exploration and academic planning.
Get involved! Active involvement in campus and community activities will help you focus on your strengths, interests, and skills.
After the first year, begin to work intensively with your advisor to narrow down your choices and make a decision on a major. Bear in mind that although your major will direct your studies, the vast majority of Arts & Sciences majors will effectively prepare you for any number of career options. By the end of your sophomore year you should be able to make your decision. Further delays may result in additional time needed to graduate.
Additional Resources
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Some things you might want to know are where to go if you want to fill out a "Change of Major/Minor" or "Change of School" form. These forms can be found in the Center for Freshman Advising outside the Ashe Building, in the annex of the Ashe Building, room 112 or in the Center of Student Academic Services, room 200. Simply ask one of our staff in the Center for one of these forms. If you need assistance, you can make an appointment to meet with your advisor, to help you find the answers to your questions. Make sure to plan a visit to our famous Toppel Career Planning and Placement Center and meet with a Career Counselor.
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Also at the Toppel Career Center you can make an appointment to use the Career Computer Lab that houses Discover (a self-directed computer based career guidance system) and SIGI Plus. It is important to recognize that the Toppel Career Center has programs that are beneficial not only to employment seeking seniors, but to all students including new freshmen.
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You may also want to visit the Counseling Center where career testing and counseling is also available.
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Talk to everyone you can! Find out what courses were taken by people in your area of interest. Talk to peer advisors, other upper-class students, and professors. What degrees are required beyond the undergraduate degree? What careers are graduates with these interests likely to enter?
This is not a definitive list! There are many other resources and services available at the University of Miami, which may be more specifically related to your area of interest. Please take advantage of the opportunities that the University of Miami environment has to offer.
