Majors & Careers
Majors
Overview of how to choose and complete a major at the U.
What is a major?
A "major" is a set of courses designed to grant mastery of a specific subject. All U of M students must complete a major.
How should I pick a major?
Here are two great resources to start learning about these majors? Try one of these resources to start learning about the best major for you:
major & career profiles: Major overview that shows common jobs, careers, and starting salaries for those students.
🔑You can even filter these by theme and college!
THEME: Shows you majors across the university focused on a particular theme. For example, if you want to see biology-related majors ACROSS the university
COLLEGE: Shows you majors just in one college. For example, if you want to see majors only in the College of Biological Sciences - even knowing that biology-related majors exist outside that college. (Learn about these "colleges" here!)
annual major & minor expo: Event every February or March. Connect with advisors and faculty from different academic departments to learn more about what they offer.
What courses do I need for my major?
Two main starting points:
majors.umn.edu: List of every U of M major, linking to the major's requirements.
sample plans*: Sample four-year plans for every major, showing an example of how a student could go about completing the required courses within four years.
*⚠️CAUTION: These sample plans are just examples. Majors often provide a variety of ways to complete their requirements, so don't worry too much if the sample plan differs from your own plan. ⚠️
Do jobs/careers require a specific major?
Very rarely. There are usually a wide variety of majors that can competitively prepare you for each career. See below for classes and majors that may help you best prepare for some popular careers.
Can I officially pick (or "declare") my major while in PSEO?
No. However, classes you take during PSEO will count towards whatever UMTC major you eventually declare after high school.
Can I change my major after I pick one?
Can I change my major after I pick one?
Yes, though some majors may be tougher or more competitive to get into than others.
Careers
Key resources to learn about certain careers and the courses you may need to prepare for them.
Health Careers
Pre-Health Student Resource Center: Resources on pre-health professions such as medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry
Check your progress towards many health fields with a Pre-Health APAS report!
Required courses for some U of M health programs:
