Frequently Asked Questions about Exploring Majors

So, you want to be Undecided?

When do I need to make a decision about my major at CSUN?

As an Undecided/Undeclared student at CSUN, you are required to declare a major other than “undecided” by the time you complete 60 credit hours.  Typically, this will occur by the end of the sophomore year.  It is strongly recommended, however, that you set a goal to choose your major by mid-April of your freshman year.  That is when you will be pre-registering for your sophomore fall semester classes.  Some students do not make their major decision until they are sophomores, and others decide to change their major as late as the sophomore year.  Many of these students still graduate in four years.  While this can be done in some cases, it is important to note that there is no guarantee for this.  It depends very much on what courses you have taken and the curriculum requirements of the major you choose. Thus, while you may be able to have more time, it is best to decide by the end of your freshmen year. 

Can I start out “undecided” at CSUN and graduate in four years?

Yes! You definitely can start at CSUN as an undecided student, choose your major, and graduate in four years.  Obviously, there is a limit as to how long you can stay undecided and still be able to complete your bachelor’s degree requirements on time. It always depends on what courses you have taken and what major you choose. If you decide on your major by the end of your freshman year, you should be able to graduate in four years. It is very important for exploratory students to take courses that will keep their options open.  Always see your academic advisor for help in course selection while you are exploring your major choices. And, it is important to begin your exploration process early in your first semester. Contact your academic advisor in the Advising Resource Center/EOP for help in getting started. 

What courses should I take while I am “undecided”?

Undecided students should take courses from three categories: introductory courses in majors of potential interest, general education courses that are broadly applicable to the requirements of many majors, and elective courses that are specifically designed for exploratory students.  Your academic advisor will help you select the right courses.

Where can I get help for choosing my major?

On the California State University, Northridge campus, you will find many services and resources available to help you throughout your major exploration process.  There are academic advisors, career counselors, professors, the Major’s Fair, libraries, workshops, and the Majors & Careers Forums.  See your academic advisor in the Advising Resource Center/EOP for directions.

How will I know when I’ve chosen the right major?

For most students, there may not be just one “right” major.  Unless you decide to pursue a career field that requires a specific degree (i.e. occupational therapy, elementary education), you actually have a lot of  flexibility in choosing your major.  Thus, there could be several majors that would be good choices. For this reason, it is important to consider both the academic and career aspects of prospective majors.  First, you need to learn about the degree requirements, course descriptions, faculty, and related career fields. Then you should utilize some decision-making tools to evaluate your alternatives.  You do not have to make a “perfect” choice, but you can maximize the probability that you will make a good choice by making
a “well-informed” and “well-thought-out” decision. This can be accomplished by thoroughly researching all the possible majors and carefully evaluating each option.

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Can I make a wrong or bad choice of major?

There are more than one hundred majors offered at California State University, Northridge and each of these majors is excellent. Thus, you can’t choose a “bad” major at CSUN.  Most likely, there are several majors that could be a very good match for you. However, there could be one or more majors that would not be a good choice for you as an individual.  For example, while an excellent major at CSUN, mathematics is probably not a good choice for every student.  It is important for you to complete a thorough exploration and decision-making process to find the major that is a good fit for you.

How are careers related to majors?

Is there a one-to-one link between the career you plan to pursue and the college major you choose?  Generally, at the bachelor’s degree level, there is not just one specific major required to enter a career field.  There are, in fact, many appropriate majors related to most careers.  It is important to recognize that there are some professional fields that do have qualifying or licensing requirements that indicate the need to choose certain undergraduate majors.  Most professional fields, however, do not have such specific requirements and therefore you have considerable flexibility in your major choice.  For example, you can be admitted to law school or medical school with any undergraduate major. Other typical examples are the business management and marketing career fields.  U.S. corporations hire college graduates from a wide range of majors for these and other positions all the time.  Thus, you should always determine whether the career field you plan to enter has any specific requirements that indicate certain major choices.  At the same time, it is important to know that in most cases, there is not one specific major required and you can choose from all CSUN majors.

Should you add minors to your major?

Yes – and, in most cases, you can!  A minor usually requires completion of 5 courses (15 credits) in a field of study.  With a little careful planning, one or more minors can be completed in addition to your major without having to take any additional credit hours of coursework by double-counting the minor’s courses.  Your advisor can show you how to do this. One advantage of  adding a minor to your academic program is that you can study in multiple academic fields.  Also, a degree program that includes minors is much stronger as a credential for graduate school or job application, and expands potential career opportunities as well.

What are the advantages of starting in college as an exploratory student?

If you complete a thorough exploration and decision-making process during your first year in college, starting out as an exploratory major will increase the probability that you will make a good choice of major.  Also, many exploratory students graduate with more breadth in their degrees because they complete double majors or add minors to their majors as a result of their exploration.  Finally, exploratory students learn how to research options, evaluate alternatives, and make decisions, and this can be a valuable lesson learned in college.

 
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