If you are undecided about your major, you are not alone. Many of our first-year students are undecided about their academic and career goals. The College of Arts and Sciences offers 23 majors and 28 minors, so you have plenty of opportunities to explore your interests!
About the Program
Our comprehensive Exploratory/Undecided program is designed to help you identify your strengths, interests, and potential career paths. You have all the way until the end of your sophomore year to declare your major!Support for Matching Your Strengths and Career Goals With a Major
Starting with your first semester, you benefit from a strong support system and have the opportunity to take seminars that are designed to help you explore your interests. You continue to take general education requirements in subjects that interest you.
First-Year Seminar
All students in the College of Arts and Sciences take a First-Year Seminar on a topic of interest. This course helps you to meet the academic expectations of college, while you explore different subject areas, and work in teams with students who represent all areas of the college. Sample topics include, Beauty, Body Image & Feminism, The Theory of Games, Why Smart People Make Bad Choices, and Castaways and Survivors.
Strong First-Year Academic Advising
You receive individualized academic advising so you can match your interests and career options to an academic major. You are assigned a first-year advisor within the Center for Student Success who will help connect you with resources on campus, and answer any questions that arise along the way.
You also take a course with your advisor (US 190) that exposes you to a variety of subjects while you learn time management and study strategies. You also can attend an Exploratory Majors fair where you can meet faculty who represent the programs you are considering.
Career Readiness and Exploration
Along the way, you explore the majors and careers that are a good fit. Our class sizes are small, so your professors will get to know you and take an interest in your academic and career goals.
In your junior and senior years, continue with opportunities for hands-on learning with an intense focus on career readiness so you can take what you study in the classroom and apply it to real-life situations as you learn networking and interviewing skills. We also match your strengths with potential career paths as you get advice from our successful alumni.
Meet the College of Arts and Sciences First-Year Advisors
Nate Carr
Economics , '21
Nate Carr ’21 came to UHart with a diverse skill set that made it a daunting task for him to narrow down his passions and interests into a single area of study. He decided his best option was to enter UHart as an exploratory—or undecided—student to help him experience a variety of courses that complement his strengths, and help him pinpoint the area that would best fit his talents.
Nate says he realized that deciding on a major didn’t limit his college experience. Rather, it motivated him to reach out to the campus community and learn that he can still be involved in his interests while pursuing his education. Read more.
Economics Professor Jane Horvath said an economics degree would offer me plenty of open doors after graduation. I wanted a major that gave me the opportunity to make an impact."