Choosing a Major: A Decision Workbook for Students

A good major decision uses concrete evidence: courses tried, faculty consulted, curricula compared, and goals clarified. This hands-on course walks you through that process using a workbook designed to turn confusion into a defensible choice. By the end of this course you will have a written interest profile, a comparison of at least three candidate majors with curricula, notes from advising and faculty conversations, a four-year course plan for your top choice, and a decision memo capturing why you chose what you chose. What you will learn: - How to translate interests, strengths, and values into a candidate list of majors - How to read a degree audit and four-year sample plan for each candidate - How to interpret course descriptions and identify which classes will actually show you fit - How to use first-year electives strategically to test multiple options - How to prepare for and run an academic advising conversation that produces real information - How to consult faculty in specific departments without being awkward - How to write a decision memo that captures rationale for your future self The course is structured as a workbook. Each module covers one step: interest mapping, candidate selection, curriculum review, advising, testing, and deciding. Each module includes templates and examples. This course is written for students within two years of choosing a major. By the end you will replace gut-feel choices and family pressure with a documented process, and the major you select will rest on evidence you can revisit if doubts return later.