Explore Majors

Explore Majors Graduation Cap Icon

Not all those who wander are lost.

J.R.R. Tolkien

Students explore majors and minors for different reasons.

  • Are you “undeclared”? Looking to explore majors without wasting time or credits?
  • Regretting randomly picking a major to rush through college applications?
  • Wondering how well your current major fits?
  • Considering potential minors that might fit with your interests and goals?

Whatever your situation, you are not alone. Over 40% of college students change majors or add new programs at least once. Now is the time to explore your options!

Take action!

  1. Review your Focus results and identify at least two majors or minors that you want to explore.  Confused about how to do that? View this Focus tutorial video (or transcript) for guidance on how to use the Focus Assessment for major exploration
  2. Find out more about majors and minors you are considering using the USF Catalog. Use the questions from this comparing majors worksheet to reflect how each major suits you.
  3. Use the “what-if analysis” feature in your degree evaluation to envision your graduation plan for each potential program. Consider how much flexibility you will have for study abroad, minors, or other activities.
  4. Contact the department offering the program you are interested to find out more information and to see if there are any eligibility requirements that you must meet before declaring the program. Use these links to find the contact information for your program of interest or email CASA for assistance finding the best contact(s).
  5. Check out the New Student Registration videos created for incoming students to understand the "spiel" each department shares with their incoming majors. Note - this page is occasionally inaccessible while it is being updated for the next incoming class.
  6. Browse the Explore Their Path blog to view stories and posts of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who studied in various majors and minors. See if any of the them sound interesting to you!
  7. Talk with someone you trust like your CASA coach to narrow down your list of potential majors and minors.
  8. Ready to declare a major, minor, concentration or special program? These instructions walk you through what you should do.
  9. If you are considering studying abroad, fill out the Study Abroad Interest Form and meet with the Center for Global Education.
  10. If you are considering applying to graduate school later on to be a doctor, dentist, physician's assistant, etc., contact the pre-health adviser for guidance. You can choose any major and still go to medical school as long as you take the proper course prerequisites. You can schedule a meeting with the Pre-Health Professions Adviser or sign up for her newsletter.
  11. If you think you may want to be a teacher, look into credential programs that you can complete alongside your major through the Undergraduate Teacher Education Center.
  12. If you think you may want to be a lawyer, check out this Pre-Law page.
  13. Check out these academic planning resources to make sure you are on track to graduate.

Be inspired!

Check out this video of Danielle Massis discussing her decision to switch from Accounting to Biology.  In particular, she suggests watching Youtube videos of other people for ideas and she mentions going to an Accounting Society meeting and feeling like, "these are my people." To find your major tribe, we encourage you to visit the Explore Their Path blog and check out media featuring students in majors and minors that you are considering!

Video and interview by Karen Ver Trinidad