Choice #4: your major
Majors/Minors: What they are
By the end of their Sophomore year, every student must declare a major on the Portal. This will be the discipline in which you complete your advanced study. For more information about the many majors and minors available at SMCM click here.
What you need to decide
It is absolutely common for first years to still be undecided on a major so don't worry if you don't know what you want to do yet!
The first year is a good time to explore possible interests!
That being said, there are some things that can help your summer advisor on this front.
Things to consider regarding your major
If you already know what you would like to major/minor in, write it down to let your summer advisor know. Many majors have a list of courses that first-years often take, so it will make this process of choosing classes go quickly!
This spreadsheet will give you an idea of what courses you would take during the first semester of each major or minor. Each major/minor has its own tab along the bottom of the spreadsheet so click on the major you are interested in and take a look!
Some majors have REQUIRED courses the first year. If you are even possibly considering a major in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Marine Science, Neuroscience, or Physics, you should look carefully at the list of courses you NEED to take (it may be one or sometimes two courses) in order to stay on sequence.
To get more information about any particular major or minor, you can visit the websites of each program where information on major requirements and course descriptions can be found. A list of majors and minors with links to their websites can be found here.
If you are interested in more than one major/minor, again, write them down. Your summer advisor can help you to strategically pick some courses so that you can explore the options you're interested in.
If you have no idea what you want to major in (again, totally fine!), think about what classes you have enjoyed in the past or what new areas interest you and write them down. This will help your summer advisor help you choose courses that align with your interests and help you to start exploring different possible majors.
Also, we hold a majors fair early in the fall semester where you can visit booths and talk with faculty and students about the many options at SMCM!