How do I explore a major?
Choosing your major is an essential moment in your academic career. Whether you are an exploring student or have changed your major several times, it is crucial to explore the many opportunities available. The more you explore, the more informed you will be when you declare a major that is the right fit for you.
Below are some resources that can assist you through this process.
SSC 1150 Student Success Center: College Success Seminar (2 credit hours)
- myZou Attribute: DISCOVER. Designed for exploring first-semester students.
- This course is designed to create a positive student experience by connecting students with the Mizzou campus community and the academic resources essential to their success. Students will assess their strengths, values, interests, and skills to successfully develop and implement an individualized and strategic approach to college and life. Course topics will focus on navigating career and major paths to pursue academic and life success. Students will become aware of the exploration process and understand their agency and responsibilities in major and career development.
SSC 2100 Student Success Seminar: Career Explorations (1 credit hour)
- Suggested for continuing and/or transfer students.
- The goal of this course is to facilitate the exploration of personal and social determinants of career choice. Students will apply career development theory to choice of career and/or major.
MU Career Center
Take the Focus 2 and CliftonStrengths assessments to learn about your values, interests, and personality, which provide clues to potential major and career paths. Visit career.missouri.edu/career-and-major-exploration/
Four Semester Plan for Exploring Students
Below is a recommended semester guide for exploring students, including general education requirements and major exploration courses. Students should identify a major by 45 hours (end of third semester). Once students earn 60 credit hours, they must declare a major to continue registration eligibility.
| First Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | |
| SSC 1150 Discover | 2 | English 1000 | 3 | |
| Math and Quantitative Reasoning course | 3 | *Science course | 3 | |
| Social Science (MO State Law) | 3 | Humanities course | 3 | |
| Humanities course | 3 | Behavioral or Social Science course | 3 | |
| *Science course | 4 | Major Exploration course | 3 | |
| 15 | 15 | |||
| Second Year | ||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | Major Exploration course | 3 | |
| *Science course | 3 | Major Exploration course | 3 | |
| Behavioral or Social Science course | 3 | Major Exploration course | 3 | |
| Humanities course | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Major Exploration course | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| 15 | 15 | |||
| Note: *At least one science course must have a lab | Total credit hours earned by the end of the second year | 60 | ||
Exploration Milestones
| First semester | Second Semester |
| Meet with your Academic Advisor | Meet with your Academic Advisor |
| Explore you, majors and careers with SSC 1150 Discover | Take a course to explore majors of interest |
| Explore campus | Accumulate 30 credit hours |
| Minimum 2.0 semester GPA | Minimum 2.0 semester GPA |
| Third semester | Fourth Semester |
| Meet with your Academic Advisor | Meet with your Academic Advisor |
| Take a course to explore majors of interest | Take classes toward your intended major |
| Join campus organizations/clubs in your interest areas | Change academic major before junior standing (60 credits) |
| Seek work experiences (jobs shadowing, volunteering, internships) | Seek work experiences (jobs shadowing, volunteering, internships) |
| Accumulate 60 credit hours | |
| Minimum 2.0 semester GPA | Minimum 2.0 semester GPA |
When to declare a major
- As soon as you have identified a major! Students should identify a major at least 45 credit hours in advance but may explore majors until they have earned 60 credit hours (junior standing). Once students earn 60 credit hours, they must declare an undergraduate major.
How to change your major
Contact your academic advisor for directions. You can also visit this website for further information: https://advising.missouri.edu/majors-minors/changing-major/