CHOOSING YOUR MAJOR AT CSUN

  1. Review the catalog (which lists required courses, gives course descriptions, and a brief overview of careers) using the ARC/EOP list of majors & minors.


Your goal: to identify majors that might be of interest to you

  1. Get more information on majors that you might want to consider:
    1. Read the Career Monograph information sheet (available in the ARC/EOP lobby rack).
    2. Look at textbooks in the campus bookstore (& also by subject in regular bookstores) to see if your interest is strong enough to want to take the 14+ classes that a major in that subject would require.
    3. Research majors & careers using websites & databases. Start with the campus web pages for the departments you're considering at www.csun.edu/academic/index.html  and, for more general information by career title, the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/oco.
    4. Attend information sessions presented by the departments, ARC/EOP, and The Career Center and/or the annual Majors Fair.  
    5. Take the first class (it's often GE applicable) or two in any major you might want to consider.
    6. Get some in-person experience in the areas you're considering by talking to students in campus clubs & organizations. Almost every department has a related organization - find them in announcements around campus, in the Sundial newspaper; through the Matador Involvement Center (MIC) at the USU, 677-5111; or through the club websites at www.csun.edu/getinvolved       
    7. Talk to people doing the kind of work you are considering (an informational interview) and observe workers in the setting and positions you are considering (job shadowing).  Campus clubs & organizations, The Career Center, ARC/EOP, faculty, professional organizations, conferences, and your own personal network of family and friends can provide opportunities.
    8. Experience work - either a paid or volunteer part-time job - in the field you are considering.  Get into the environment & see if you can imagine yourself working as a full-time professional in the field.      
  1. Considering many possibilities or need more help?

    Schedule an individual session to meet with one of the ARC/EOP career staff.

    You may benefit from a complete career assessment process which includes
    several sessions to explore your INTERESTS, your PERSONALITY  CHARACTERISTICS, the SKILLS you would most enjoy using, and the VALUES that are most important to you.

    This assessment process is available in different formats and sites on campus; learn more in your ARC/EOP career appointment.


   

home