Major Exploration and Confirmation - Finding the Perfect Major for You!

Transcription

1 Major Exploration and Confirmation - Finding the Perfect Major for You! Jacqueline Wallace Christy Huynh Daniel Semeraro jacqueline.wallace@oswego.edu christy.huynh@oswego.edu semeraro@oswego.edu Major Exploration in the Compass, 145 Campus Center, SUNY Oswego, , 1

2 Major Exploration Plan Name Local Mailing Address Advisor What being undeclared means to me (Check all that apply to you) I do not have enough FEAST information about the OR majors that are available FAMINE I do not have enough information about possible career fields to which majors may lead I am not sure about my ability to succeed in the coursework for certain majors I have SO many interests that I cannot narrow down my options I do not have a strong interest in anything, so I am not sure what to explore I am not sure of my values, so I do not know what is important to me in a major/career area I am afraid to choose a major because it might be the wrong decision I am not sure what jobs will be available to me if I graduate with a certain major I have difficulty making decisions in general Other people have suggested majors but I am not sure they are good for me SUNY Oswego does not have the major that I want Other Major Selection Process Self Awareness (Who am I?) Skills, Values, Interests, Values, Abilities, Strengths Exploring Majors - Knowing my Academic Options (What majors and minors am I interested in?) Exploring Careers - Knowing my Career Options (What careers are related to the majors I am exploring?) 2

3 My Goals for Exploring and Confirming Majors Major/Minor Strategies/Resources (Circle one) - GST MBTI - Dissect a Major - SII - Take a course - StrengthsQuest - Job Shadow - Service Learning - GST 303/GST Focus2 - What to do with a major in Semester/Date to be completed - GST MBTI - Dissect a Major - SII - Take a course - StrengthsQuest - Job Shadow - Service Learning - GST 303/GST Focus2 - What to do with a major in - GST MBTI - Dissect a Major - SII - Take a course - StrengthsQuest - Job Shadow - Service Learning - GST 303/GST Focus2 - What to do with a major in My goal is to confirm and declare my major by Registration for spring classes is in mid-november. Registration for fall classes is in late April. Discuss your goals and progress with your academic advisor, professors, Compass staff, and your friends and family. This is important and will help you stay on track throughout the process of exploring and confirming a major. 3

4 School of Education Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) SAE Adolescence Education (Grades 7-12) - SAE Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, French, German, Mathematics, Physics, Spanish & Social Studies Wellness Management - ECS TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages) - SAI SUNY Oswego Majors Technology Education - SR Technology Management - ECI Agricultural Education - R Business and Marketing Education - SEI Vocational Education in Agriculture, Family & Consumer Sciences, Health Careers, Technical, and Trades School of Business Business Administration - ESC Finance - ESC Human Resource Management - ES Risk Management and Insurance Major - CEI Management Accounting CRS College of Liberal Arts and Sciences American Studies - AIS Anthropology - IAR Applied Mathematical Economics IRE/ISA Applied Mathematics - IRE Biochemistry - ICE Biology - ISR Chemistry IRE Cinema and Screen Studies EA/AI - Cognitive Science - SIE Computer Science - I Creative Writing - AI Economics - ISA English - AI French - AS Geochemistry RI/IRE Geology - RI German - AS Global & International Studies - ES History - SEI Operations Management/Information Sys.-IC Marketing ESA Public Accounting CRS **Public Accounting - CRS Human Development - SI Information Science - IRC Language and International Trade IRA/SAI Linguistics - AIS Mathematics - IRE Meteorology - RI Philosophy - AIS Philosophy-Psychology AIS/SIE Physics - IRE Political Science - SEI Psychology SIE **Psych/Bus. Admin. SIE/CEI **Psych/Human Comp. Inter. SIE/SR Public Justice - SEI Sociology - ISA Software Engineering - ICR Spanish - SA Women s Studies - ISA Zoology - IR School of Communication, Media, and the Arts Art (Studio) - AIS Art (Graphic Design) AIS Art (Art History) AIS Broad./Mass Comm. AE Communication - ESA Journalism AEI Public Relations - EAS Music AIS Theatre AS **Note: These majors are a combination of both undergraduate and graduate programs. 4

5 SUNY Oswego Minors School of Education **Athletic Coaching SI **Expressive Arts Therapy - SA **Health Science - SE School of Business **Arts Management - ASE Business Administration - SEI **International Business - ES College of Liberal Arts and Sciences *African/Afro-American Studies - AIS Anthropology - IAR *Applied Statistics - I *Astronomy - IAR *Biocultural Anthropology IA Biology - ISR Chemistry - IRE Cognitive Science - SIE Computer Science - IR *Computer Information Systems ECI/ICR Creative Writing - AI Economics - ISA English - AI *Expressive Arts Therapy - SA *Forensic Science - IRC French - AS *French Culture Studies - SAI Geology - RI German - AS *German Culture Studies SAI *Gerontology - SIE Global & International Studies ES History - SEI *Italian Culture Studies - SAI Linguistics - AIS Mathematics - IRE *Medieval and Renaissance Studies SEI *Native American Studies - SEI *Peace and Conflict Studies - SEI Philosophy - AIS Physics - IRE Political Science - SEI Psychology - SIE *Public Administration/Policy - SEI Public Justice - SEI Sociology - ISA Spanish - SA Women s Studies - ISA Zoology - IR School of Communication, Media, and the Arts Art AIS *Medieval Renaissance Studies Art History AIS *Museum Studies - RA *Arts Management ASE Music - AIS *Audio Design and Production RAI *Peace and Conflict Studies - SEC Communication ESA Theatre *Expressive Art Therapy SA Women s Studies - SIE Journalism - AEI *Minors for which we do not offer a Major 5

6 Major and Minor Elimination Directions: Using the pages 8 and 9 of majors and minors, take a moment and cross out the ones that you are certain you have no interest in. Next, circle the majors that you see as possibilities or if you would like to learn more about them. List the majors you circled as possibilities here: Now categorize the majors in 2-3 groups that make sense to you: Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 6

7 Major: Summary of the Major Description: Dissecting a Major Worksheet Rate each course utilizing the following scale: Extremely Neither Extremely Draining Draining/Energizing Energizing Course Ranking Comment 7

8 Strategies for Exploring and Confirming Majors Enroll in GST 103 Exploring Your Strengths A one-credit quarter course offered to help you find and develop your strengths in academics, career and beyond. As part of this course you will complete a variety of personality assessments that will help you learn more about your strengths, abilities and values. You will also research majors and careers that fit your personality, values and interests. Learn more about my Interests, Values, Abilities, and Strengths through Inventories and Assessments o Focus2 A career and education planning tool that includes assessments and a customizable online portfolio. o StrengthsQuest StrengthsFinder is an online assessment that identifies your top 5 Themes of Talent. o MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) A personality assessment that identifies your preferences. o Strong Interest Inventory An interest inventory that matches your interests with career fields. Investigate all majors and minors that SUNY Oswego offers Review the Undergraduate Catalog and departmental websites for majors/minors of interest. Get an understanding for course work and degree requirements for different majors. Complete these activities to narrow your search: o Major-elimination activity find out what majors interest you the most. (p.9) o Dissect a Major activity helps to identify if a potential major is truly a good fit. (p. 10) Take a course in a major or minor of interest Many majors offer introductory courses. Many of these courses fulfill general education requirements and can be taken to explore majors. Job Shadow/Informational Interview Spend a day with a professional in the field or interview a professor about their discipline. This is a great way to learn firsthand about a career fields or majors. Sophomores may utilize the Alumni Sharing Knowledge (A.S.K.) program to connect with alumni in their career field of interest. To learn more visit Other networking opportunities include: o Talk to an upper-class student about their major o Utilize the Informational Interviewing handout (p. 15) Service Learning or Volunteering Volunteer in the community either independently or through a Service Learning, GST302. Choose a site related to a field or major of interest to acquire skills and knowledge of real world settings. To learn more visit Career Awareness (GST303) or Internship (GST498) Gain insight about a major or career field that interests you. Visit Experience-Based Education in the Compass, 145 Campus Center for more information about internships. Learn more about careers that are related to the majors you are exploring Strong Interest Inventory An interest inventory that matches your interests with career fields Focus2 search career fields related to your interests, skills and values. To receive a free Focus2 user id visit the Resource Center in the Compass, 145 Campus Center. Websites with comprehensive information about careers: o O*Net o Bureau of Labor Statistics - o Undeclared website - 8

9 Assessment and Inventory Descriptions The Compass offers a variety of assessments that provide you with information about your strengths, values, interests and skills. If you are interested in completing an assessment, visit the Compass Resource Center in 145 Campus Center. StrengthsQuest StrengthsFinder is an online assessment that identifies your top 5 Themes of Talent. StrengthsQuest allows you to explore and strengthen your talents, use your strengths to improve your academics, discover a major and career path that builds off of your strengths and learn to use your strengths to excel. If you are interested in StrengthsQuest visit the Compass, 145 Campus Center for more information. MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) MBTI identifies your preferences and provides information about your unique type (there are 16 distinct types). Understanding your personality type/preferences is the foundation of major exploration and this is a great tool for helping you to understanding who you are and what majors would be a good fit for you. The MBTI gives you information about how you orient in the world, take in information, make decisions and structure your life. If you are interested in taking the MBTI visit the Compass, 145 Campus Center for more information. Strong Interest Inventory The Strong Interest Inventory is a tool that matches your interests with majors and career fields. It helps you identify your interests, preferences, and personal styles and provides information you need to select a major and career you can be passionate about. If you are interested in taking the Strong Interest Inventory visit the Compass, 145 Campus Center for more information. Focus2 Focus2 is a web-based program that includes five online self assessments (work, interest, personality, skills, values, and leisure interests), a career portfolio and information about careers. For a free user ID visit the Compass Resource Center, 145 Campus Center. Researching Careers! Undeclared Website - Review Exploring Careers O*Net Search for information about occupations including career tasks, applicable skills, work activities, and related occupations (this resource also matches occupations to Strong Interest Inventory results) Bureau of Labor Statistics Search the Occupational Outlook Handbook for information about careers including nature of the work, training, job outlook, salary and related occupations. Focus2 allows you to search careers related to your interests, abilities and values. 9