How to Choose a Major

A resource to set students on the right path toward their best future.

A Publication of Phoenix College

How To Choose a Major www.phoenixcollege.edu

Six Letters You Need to Know Before Selecting a Major Need Help With Your Decision? Here It Is! Myths About Majors Do You Have What Employers Are Looking For? Steps to Choosing a Major

Look Inside

for a Self-Assessment Evaluation to Help Determine Your Next Steps

Phoenix College 1202 West Thomas Road | Phoenix, Arizona 85013 | 602.285.7800

You Can Do This! Steps to Choosing a Major.

1. Get organized! Develop a plan of action by defining and writing down your goals. Set a timeline to accomplish each task. Identify the dates and amount of time you will devote to each task.

2. Assess yourself. Gather information about your interests, personality, skills and abilities, and values using the many inventory and assessment tools designed to gather this information. These tools often provide suggested occupations and/ or career fields tailored to your skills and abilities. (For an example, see the RIASEC assessment on page 3.)

3. Explore the possibilities. Investigate careers and see which majors lead to them.

Take advantage of resources available online and in the library. Some things to consider: • What are the responsibilities and duties of

these occupations?

• Advancement opportunities?

• What are the normal work hours? Working

environment?

• What does the career pay?

4. Prepare to succeed. Select a major that will develop the skills needed in the employment field. Some occupations, such as nursing, require a specific major while many other careers do not. Other professions require advanced degrees. Research shows that students who are passionate and excited about their chosen major are more likely to complete a degree.

5. It’s time to make a decision! Here’s how to approach it: • Review your researched careers/majors.

• Are these selections compatible with your

interests, personality, skills/abilities, and values?

• Make a list of pros and cons for each

option.

6. Evaluate your decision. Make sure your choice is both realistic and a good fit for you.

Do you feel comfortable with the results?

Will this choice fit with your lifestyle and responsibilities in 5 years? 10 years?

7. Stay on target! Set goals to keep yourself on track.

• Define your goal: I am going to complete

a degree in _____________.

• Create a deadline date to finish your

degree.

• Schedule activities that will help you

achieve, reinforce, and reach your target.

For example: visit with an advisor, line up an internship, join a club affiliated with your major, begin to build a network through informational interviewing, etc.

• What is appealing or unattractive about

each choice? Explore the numerous websites that provide detailed career information.

• Narrow this list to 2-3 careers/majors.

• Learn about the specific requirements and

if these choices have a competitive admission process.

• Make your choice.

Quick Tips Phoenix College Fannin Library provides PC students with special access to an excellent web database, free of charge. All you need is your student ID card. To access the Choices Explorer and Choices Planner (Bridges) database, visit the Library homepage at www.phoenixcollege.edu/ library. Click on “Articles,” then on “Careers.” If you are on campus, you’ll have automatic access to the database. If you’re accessing the database from outside campus, you’ll be prompted for your borrower barcode number on the back of your student ID and a password ( the last 4 digits of your phone number).

Phoenix College Career Services also provides links to many helpful websites. Visit Career Services online at www.phoenixcollege.edu/ careerservices and click on “Investigate Career Resources” for access to sites such as the Arizona Career Information System, Career Voyages, and O*Net OnLine.

Self Assessment Inventory In each section, check off the items you would enjoy. Mark as many as apply.

“R” Section

“A” Section

“E” Section

Repair a car

Sing before the public

Sell cars

Do woodworking

Design clothing

Make a speech

Refinish furniture

Decorate a home or office

Be the boss of other workers

Explore a forest

Direct a play

Start a club

Arrest lawbreakers

Write a story or play

Save money

Plant a garden

Design a poster

Sell things

Build furniture

Create a sculpture

Lead a meeting

Run a race

Arrange flowers

Take charge of a project

Drive a truck

Make videos

Sell magazines door to door

Act in a performance

“I” Section

“C” Section “S” Section

Study causes of disease

Keep detailed records

Do a science project

Teach children

Operate business machines

Study human anatomy

Care for a sick person

Organize a work area

Study insects

Teach a friend

Take telephone messages

Research solutions to environmental problems

Interview clients

Attend to details

Help a person overcome difficulties

Balance a budget

Be a hospital volunteer

Use a word processor

Help a charity

Proofread a document

Make people laugh

Create a filing system

Collect minerals and rocks Study the solar system Do math problems Talk to a scientist Baby-sit Study plants

Now, go back to the sections. Add up how many boxes you checked in each section and fill in the totals for each in the space provided below.

TOTALS:

R

I

A

S

E

C

Self Assessment Inventory Understanding the Letters Each of these letters represents an interest category. You will typically find that occupations that match your interests will be more satisfying and rewarding for you than occupations that don’t meet your interests. The columns where you have the most check marks show where your interests are strongest. Listed below are the descriptions of each interest type.

R I A S e c

EALISTIC

NVESTIGATIVE

RTISTIC

OCIAL

nterprising

onventional

People with “Realistic” interests enjoy work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like dealing with plants, animals, and real-world materials, like wood, tools and machinery. They enjoy outdoor work. Typically people with realistic interests do not like occupations that mainly involve paperwork or working closely with others. Sample occupations include: mechanic, chef, engineer and police officer.

People with “Investigative” interests enjoy work activities that have to do with ideas and thinking more than with physical activity. They persuade or lead people. Sample occupations include psychologist, pharmacist, computer programmer and doctor.

People with “Artistic” interests enjoy work activities that deal with the artistic side of things, such as forms, designs and patterns. They like self-expression in their work.

They prefer settings where work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Sample occupations include musician, art teacher, reporter, interior designer and lawyer.

People with “Social” interests enjoy work activities that assist others and promote learning and personal development. They prefer to communicate more than to work with objects, machines, or data. They like to teach, give advice, help or otherwise be of service to people. Sample occupations include social worker, counselor, occupational therapist and school administrator.

People with “Enterprising” interests enjoy work activities that have to do with starting up and carrying out projects, especially business ventures. They like persuading and leading people and making decisions. They like taking risks for profit. These people prefer action rather than thought. Sample occupations include sales person, public relations specialist, business owner and travel agent.

People with “Conventional” interests enjoy work activities that follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and detail more than with ideas. They prefer work in which there are precise standards rather than work in which you have to judge things by yourself. These people like working where the lines of authority are clear. Sample occupations include accountant, secretary, dental assistant and math teacher.

Source: The Career Interest Program Pretice-Hall, Inc. © 2001

Sorting Myths from Facts.

If you are undecided about a choice of major, you’re not alone!

Studies show that 40% of beginning students are undecided. The first step toward making a choice is to educate yourself about the myths and realities related to charting your course of study.

Myth: Each career field has a corresponding academic major.

Fact: Most career fields do not require a major, with the exception of areas that require certification, such as nursing, engineering, and accounting.

Myth: The best way to find a major is to take a class in that discipline.

Fact: This can be both time-consuming and expensive. The structure of a course does not always provide the best representation of a career in that field.

Myth: Picking a major and choosing a career are the same.

Fact: Studies show that less than 50% of graduates accept a job directly related to their major.

Myth: It is efficient to complete all general education courses and then concentrate on the major.

Fact: Majors often require specific general education courses and pre-requisites. Although some major courses may be “general education,” these courses cannot be used for the general education category.

Myth: Pre-med and pre-law are majors.

Fact: Medical schools and law schools accept a variety of degrees and do not have a “preferred” major. They each require strengths in certain skill areas and strong scores on the MCAT and LSAT. Myth: Choosing one major means giving up all others.

Fact: It is possible to complete a minor or complete additional coursework to develop skills and training to complement a major.

The focus should be on general transferable skill development as well as degree completion.

Myth: Selecting a major locks me into a particular career path.

Fact: Studies show that 10 years after graduation, most people are not tied to their majors. For example, an accountant may decide to complete law school, teach, or pursue a different career.

Myth: I should select my major based on the careers that show the most rapid growth.

Fact: Today’s job market may be very different from the job market in four or five years. The best option is to follow your passion and select a major that interests you.

Prepare to Succeed!

What are employers looking for?

Communication skills and a strong work ethic are two of the most important qualities and skills employers look for in a job candidate, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job Outlook 2008.

What else is important to employers? Check out the list below to see how other qualities and skills rated when employers evaluated them using a five-point scale.

Five Point Scale: 1=not important

2=not very important 3=somewhat important 4=very important 5=extremely important

• Communication skills 4.6

• Flexibility/adaptability 4.2

• Friendly/outgoing personality 3.8

• Strong work ethic 4.6

• Computer skills 4.1

• Tactfulness 3.8

• Teamwork skills 4.5

• Technical skills 4.1

• Creativity 3.6

• Initiative 4.4

• Detail-oriented 4.0

• Strategic planning skills 3.3

• Interpersonal skills 4.4

• Organizational skills 4.0

• Entrepreneurial skills / risk-taker 3.2

• Problem-solving skills 4.4

• Leadership skills 3.9

• Sense of humor 3.1

• Analytical skills 4.3

• Self-confidence 3.9

Have Questions?

Need Guidance?

Here’s Help!

Academic Advisement Call: (602) 285-7110 Visit: Learning Center Building

Counseling Department Call: (602) 285-7392 Visit: Hannelly Center

An Academic Advisor can assist you with:

A Counselor can assist you with:

• Planning your educational goals

• Developing communication skills

• Planning a course of study

• Clarifying your goals and values

• Interpretation of placement scores and

• Investigating college majors

course selection • Unofficial transcript evaluation • Scheduling classes • Planning for graduation • Choosing courses for transfer to

another institution • Locating and exploring education resources

on the Internet

Career Services Call: (602) 285-7420 Visit: Hannelly Center - Room 126

• Coping with crisis

Help is All Around You. When it comes to getting information about a major or career, you have more resources than you might realize. Take advantage of all the guidance, advice, information, and experiences that are available to you. The more information you collect, the more able you will be to make a choice that is the perfect fit for you. So seek out and make the most of the following resources: • Advisement • Career Services • Counseling

• Managing anger, conflict or stress

• Alumni, faculty and employers

• Exploring employment options based

• Family and friends

upon your skills and interests • Identifying current trends in the job market • Interpreting career tests to give you a sense

of direction • Discovering information

• Informational interviews • Internships • Library • Websites • Career Assessment Surveys • Volunteer opportunities • Part-time employment • College catalog

Career Services provides resources to help you make informed career decisions and services to prepare you for a job search, including: • Computerized career assessments and

inventories • Current labor market information, including

job descriptions, salaries, and job outlook MAIN CAMPUS

• Resume preparation information • Interviewing techniques

1202 West Thomas Road Phoenix, AZ 85013 (602) 285-7500

• Job search strategies • On and off campus job listings • Access to the Maricopa Career Network

(PC’s free online job listing service) • Career Fairs

P C D OW N TOW N C A M P U S

640 North 1st Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85003 (602) 223-4000 Phoenix College and the Maricopa County Community College District are EEO/AA Institutions.