Majors Exploration: Explore
"Not all those who wander are lost,"
— J. R. R. Tolkien (writer)
"Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit"
— Frank Borman (NASA astronaut and engineer; commander of Apollo 8)
"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration"
— Ansel Adams (photographer)
The first step in the process of choosing a major and developing a career goal...EXPLORATION.
Get Involved
Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs) are a great way to learn more about academic majors and potential career fields. You'll take classes with other students who share your interests and meet faculty in those fields. There is even a Major Exploration FIG!
Participating in Student Activities not only connects you with your university but can also provide an avenue through which to explore different majors and careers, as many organizations are major-specific. While you are still in the exploratory stage, you may not want or be eligible to become a member of some of these organizations, but it is still often helpful to attend a meeting or two or to contact a member of the organization. They can be great sources of information to you! Student Governance maintains a complete list of student organizations.
Assess
Assessments can help you clarify your interests, personality, and values, and how those relate to majors and career goals.
MyPlan is a virtual one-stop shop of personal assessment. The website offers four different assessments (including personality, interests, skills, and values) and information about salaries, educational requirements, and more for hundreds of different careers. To learn more about the MyPlan assessments and how to sign up attend a Major Exploration Seminar in Ransom Hall. To see upcoming dates check here or contact the University Advising Center at 817-272-3140 to set up a major exploration appointment with an advisor.
Counseling Services provides Career Exploration sessions, the Strong Interest Inventory, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The counselors there will administer the assessments to you and help you interpret how your results can guide your major and career choices. To register, go to Career Inventories.
Make Your Coursework Count
What better way to find out if you like a major than to take an introductory course? Several intro-level courses count towards your University Core Requirements (courses you will need no matter your major) and others can be worthwhile electives. Talk with your academic advisor about your options.
In addition, UT Arlington offers a one-credit hour Major Exploration Course (UNIV 1131). You'll find out more about yourself and the majors offered here at UT Arlington and hear from speakers from various departments on campus. We offer two sections each fall and spring. It is a one credit pass/fail course. Invest the time to find the right path for you! To view information about available sections for the upcoming semester, click here, and to sign up for this class, email uac@uta.edu.
Stay on Track
The Path to Graduation will give you an idea about where you should be in your major and career exploration process during your time at UT Arlington. Keep in mind that every person's story is different, so allow for flexibility within these guidelines!
You should now know about yourself and the careers and majors available to you. Move on to Discover more.