The EDGE Special Edition | Issue 1 | 2022

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5 Steps to Choosing a Major Universities, Schools, and Majors, Oh My! UC Irvine Campus Map by Schools UC Irvine School of Education Education Sciences Major Student Spotlights: School of Education UC Irvine School of Humanities Majors Within the School of Humanities Student Spotlights: School of Humanities

Dear Student, Welcome to this special edition of The Edge! The team

at UC Irvine has been hard at work to continue to support you on your college journey. We are excited to bring you this first-ever edition focused on helping you select a major. This issue is in direct response to your feedback because at this stage in your journey, you face two big decisions: where you should go to college and what you should major in.

It may seem daunting to imagine what the classes will be like in college and what long-term opportunities and careers you want to prepare for. We know these choices can weigh heavily on your mind, and we are here to help! In this issue, we provide you guidance, questions to ask yourself, and information to demystify this process. We also break down how majors and schools are organized at UC Irvine. Although this will vary at each institution, understanding how academic units and programs are structured will help you map your options at any university you choose. In addition, we spotlight a few majors you may not have considered and hear directly from students on the other side of these choices to learn from them.

Happy reading!

UC Irvine School of Social Sciences Majors Within the Schoolof Social Sciences Psychology Story Student Spotlights: School of Social Sciences Parting Thoughts

SPECIAL EDITION FALL 2022

Stephanie Reyes-Tuccio, Ph.D. Assistant Vice Chancellor of Educational Partnerships, University of California, Irvine

5 STEPS TO CHOOSING A MAJOR

by Jody Cajudo, M.S., Program Coordinator, EAOP, UC Irvine

To receive a degree or certificate from a college or university, a student must declare a major. A major is a specific area of study that a student chooses to focus their course of study. We recognize that selecting a major is not always a simple task.

So, whether you are 99% sure of your choice or have no idea where to start, we encourage you to use the following steps to select a major that is right for YOU!

Step 1: Assess Yourself The more you understand yourself, the easier it is to identify your goals and ways to achieve them. Assessments are a great tool to learn more about yourself and your core values. Consider taking any of these assessments to help you get started: Myers-Briggs & 16 Personalities, Value Sort, or CliftonStrengths. The results you get are personal to you and can help you uncover majors that align with your strengths and values. After completing an assessment, we encourage you to connect with a trusted adult, teacher, or counselor to reflect on your results and understand their meaning.

possible majors of interest with your counselor, a teacher, a mentor, or an academic advisor at your school.

These individuals can assist you in finding and learning about each institution's different opportunities.

Step 3: Evaluate and

Make Your Major Decision Put together all the information you gather from Steps 1 & 2 and create a list of two or three potential majors.

We then encourage you to meet with an academic counselor who can help you evaluate the information you have gathered and offer suggestions on the next steps you can take.

Step 4: Take Action

Choosing a major requires you to be proactive! Select student activities, internships, volunteer work, and/or part-time employment that can help you further develop skills in the areas that interest you. This is a great way to find out first-hand whether or not you can see yourself doing this in the future.

Talk to people who work in the career

fields you are considering and see if there are any opportunities they would recommend that you get involved with throughout the school year or during the summer.

Step 5: Apply for Your Major

You will be prompted to select a major on your college application(s). Keep in mind that many students change their major while in college. If you are unsure about your major, selecting “undeclared” or “undecided” on your college application and declaring your major later on, is okay. This gives you a chance to take some time and explore.

Once you declare your major, you are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor from the college or school at least twice a year to remain on track to complete your degree.

Step 2: Gather Information and Explore Options Research majors at different universities and make a list of your interests. You may also work backwards! Explore job descriptions of careers that interest you and see what majors are most common within the field. We encourage you to discuss

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UNIVERSITY, SCHOOLS, AND MAJORS, OH MY!

by Ashley Cheri, Ed.D., Director, EAOP, UC Irvine

The University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) offers an abundance of Major options.

However, before you choose a major, we wanted to let you in on a little secret; within every college or university, there are schools or academic units. At UC Irvine, we have 14 schools offering undergraduate degrees and two offering graduate degrees. So if you were to apply to UC Irvine and choose to major in African American Studies, you are applying to the University of California, Irvine, School of Humanities with a major in African American Studies.

It might sound a little confusing now, but not to worry; it will make more sense when you get here. In the meantime, this magazine intends to help you understand the basics. With that said, here is a snapshot of all the schools at UC Irvine:

School of the Arts

School of Biological Sciences

School of Business

School of Education

School of Engineering

School of Humanities

School of Information & Computer Sciences

Interdisciplinary Science

UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC UNITS GRADUATE ACADEMIC UNITS

School of Social Ecology

School of Social Sciences

School of Physical Sciences School of Law

School of Medicine

Now, to the good stuff! In this first edition, you will learn about majors within the Schools of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Upcoming editions will focus on UC Irvine's College of Health Sciences, School of Engineering, and other academic units in future editions. Eventually, we will have all of UC Irvine’s Schools (academic units) and their respective majors in this magazine for you to flip through and learn more about!

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College of Health Sciences

School of Nursing School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Population and Public Health

UC IRVINE CAMPUS MAP BY SCHOOLS School of the Arts

School of Engineering

School of Social Ecology

School of Biological Sciences

School of Humanities

School of Social Sciences

School of Business

School of Information & Computer Sciences

School of Physical Sciences

School of Education

Interdisciplinary Science

College of Health Sciences

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School of Education

by Janice Hansen, Ph.D, Director of Undergraduate Programs, School of Education, UC Irvine Drew Bailey, Ph.D., Associate Professor & Faculty Director of Undergraduate Programs, School of Education, UC Irvine

When most people think of education, they picture fourth-graders learning to add fractions in a classroom, which is fundamental, but there is so much more to the field than that! At UC Irvine, the Education Sciences major promotes the study of education as an academic discipline

and focuses on five key concepts:

• Learning • Teaching • Schools as Organizations • Social Structures and Stratification • Policymaking

Students engage in an interdisciplinary exploration of the field that extends beyond classroom teaching and learning.

For example, Education Science majors not only learn best practices for teaching a fourth grader how to add fractions but also explore how and why policymakers decide what fourth-graders should learn about fractions. Education Science students also learn how curriculum is designed and selected while considering what students face and the social structures that create barriers or opportunities for their learning. Students who major in Education Sciences can then look beyond the classroom to think about how a child might learn fractions from school, through video games, an online app, or in real-world context, like cooking brownies.

In addition to learning about the core concepts, Education Science majors also participate in fieldwork related to their interests. For example, some majors work in research labs, gathering and analyzing data, or exploring new technologies.

Others work in community outreach or tutoring centers. A few have worked with local lawmakers, listening and responding to constituent concerns about education. Many work in schools; some even teach fourth graders how to add fractions! Fieldwork gives Education Sciences majors a chance to see education in action, identify problems, and be part of solutions.

A Bachelor's in Education Sciences will give you the skills and confidence that you need to find out and decide for yourself what the newest and best educational research has to say about the most effective ways to improve students' learning. In addition, Education Sciences graduates can have productive conversations about education with all kinds of stakeholders in the education system, which in this country means just about anyone!

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EDUCATION SCIENCES MAJOR

by Rosa Garcia Lizarraga, Program Coordinator, EAOP, UC Irvine

As discussed, the field of education goes beyond learning to add fractions in the classroom. The Education Sciences major at UC Irvine

aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to think outside the box and engage in productive conversations within their schools, communities, and society.

Education Sciences is unique as it stands alone as a major and a minor within the School of Education. Let’s take a deeper look into the major and explore some of the learning outcomes, involvement opportunities, and career options you could potentially have!

You may be asking yourself, “What is it like being an Education Sciences Major?” Next we will take a look at what current UC Irvine students have to say about their experience:

Litzi Ocampo | 4th year Education Sciences and Bilingual Education minor “The education major has a lot of different routes to it.

When you hear 'Education,' it doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be working with students.”

LEARNING OUTCOMES Application: This is the ability to apply educational theories to help understand people’s decisions, processes, and outcomes.

Lisa Gomez Delgado | 4th year

Example: Understanding why your school decided to provide free lunch for all its students.

“All my classes are very interactive and I learn so many different perspectives on different topics. This major just goes so well with everything. Even if someday I came to the conclusion that I didn’t want to be in education, I feel like the major has prepared me to do almost anything.”

Methodological Practices and Research Design: Students can analyze and critically think about educational research through these practices.

Education Sciences, Sociology major, minor in Psychology

Example: Participating in a study where you analyze how lack of sleep can negatively affect your grades.

Quantitative and Qualitative Data Literacy: This is the ability to have the tools necessary to look at and analyze educational and scientific data.

Example: Understanding why your school decided to introduce new attendance policies while, at the same time, comparing the attendance policies of other schools around you.

Public Skills and Citizenship: Students learn how to use knowledge from Education Sciences to inform themselves about debates surrounding educational policies and promote effective community engagement.

Example: Working with your town’s Mayor to inform and fix a problem within your high school, such as the lack of crosswalk safety for students during after-school hours.

Continued next page

Communication: This major teaches students to communicate to others about theories, practices, policies, and research from Education Sciences.

Example: Having the ability to give a presentation at an Education Conference about the benefits of volunteering at your local preschool.

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UC Irvine also offers an array of engagement opportunities that Education Sciences majors can take advantage of and become a part of: UCI CalTeach: UCI CalTeach is a blended undergraduate program that offers STEM students the opportunity to complete a bachelor's degree and a California Teaching Credential in just 4 years!

Graduates can choose from a variety of career opportunities including public education, government, community-based non-profits, research institutions, higher education, and education software development. Many graduates will pursue advanced degrees leading to K-12 teaching, public policy, social work, education research and school leadership.

SAGE Scholars Program: The Student Achievement Guided by Experience (SAGE) Scholars Program is a leadership and career development program for UC Irvine’s talented, high-achieving undergraduate students who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and demonstrate a strong financial need.

Bilingual Teacher Student Association: BTSA is open to all bilingual students interested in pursuing a bilingual teaching career by providing volunteer opportunities at various dual language immersion schools, mentorships, and attendance at various cultural events.

Teachers of Tomorrow: Teachers of Tomorrow at UCI is a club dedicated to providing a path for future educators to reach their goals of becoming a part of our country's education system.

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP):

TEACHING COUNSELING

Encourages and facilitates research and creative activities by undergraduates from all schools and academic disciplines at UC Irvine.

The B.A. in Education Sciences is not a professional degree.

However, graduates are well prepared to pursue teacher training. Students interested in teaching middle or high school are encouraged to meet with an Academic Advisor to combine the major with a minor or second major, aiming for proficiency in the content area in which they plan to teach (e.g. History).

All students in the Education Sciences major are required to complete a minimum of 40 fieldwork hours in an educational setting.

WHAT JOB ARE AVAILABLE FOR AN EDUCATION SCIENCES MAJOR?

ADMINISTRATORS

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES HIGHER EDUCATION STAFF/FACULTY EDUCATION CONSULTANT

Teaching Counseling Administrators Student Support Services Higher Education Staff/Faculty Education Consultant Community Outreach Data and Technology Analysts Policy-Making

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH DATA AND TECHNOLOGY ANALYSIS POLICY-MAKING

STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS: SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

by Ash Cruz, Presentation Team, EAOP, UC Irvine

A bilingual teacher, community college counselor, and education policy analyst - these are a few of the many paths that Education Sciences students are striving to become in the future. But

what is the Education Sciences major really like?

Chances are, a course within the School of Education at UC Irvine is unlike any other class you’ve taken.

The classroom environment is collaborative, where learning is more than just sitting still in a lecture for hours, trying to write every word a professor says. Instead, you’ll receive innovative learning methods and see how your educational journey and struggles are reflected in the curriculum. There is an understanding that students not only learn from the professor but from each other as well.

The final result is a highly engaging and multidisciplinary classroom experience.

As students, you know that your instructor plays a huge role in how much you enjoy a class. Lisa Gomez Delgado, changed her major to Education Sciences from Biology and drew some comparisons:

“The professors are more understanding and fun. Since they’re educators, I think they’re very motivated to create more educators.”

my peers, which can be hard. The class structure and grading systems are so different from high school,” said Veronica Sanchez.

Whether you are thinking of teaching, advising students, or leading revolutionary educational research, there are classes designed to ensure you succeed in various educational careers – along with professors that will support you no matter what you choose. There are also a couple of things you can do to prepare yourself before you arrive to college:

Get Involved/Volunteer

Take College Level Courses While in high school, you might be able to enroll in community college courses through Dual Enrollment, which allows you to earn college credit.

Speak to your counselor to see if this opportunity is available. If so, consider taking a college course during the school year or summer break. While the availability of education-related courses can vary, just taking a college class is a great way to start familiarizing yourself with college-level curriculum. Then, when you do get to college, you have an idea of what to expect, and it won’t be as overwhelming. “[With Dual Enrollment], I was able to get that first-time exposure to how professors work and collaborate with

Volunteering is another excellent way to explore your options. Figuring out what age group you would want to focus on can be a lengthy process, so it is encouraged to start as early as possible. Litzi Ocampo, recommends looking into high school peer mentoring, academic tutoring, and afterschool programs. Try working with students from various grades; even preschools might be looking for volunteers! All of this will help you learn how to interact with different age groups and enhance your leadership skills.

The Education Sciences major at UC Irvine provides such a unique experience. With engaging classrooms, amazing professors, and limitless research opportunities, this major truly encompasses a passion for learning and serving others. If you’re feeling a little indecisive, I encourage you to get out there and start working with different communities and students.

Whatever your career choice, know that you are in excellent hands at the School of Education at UC Irvine.

Lisa Gomez Delgado 4th Year Transfer

Veronica Sanchez 3rd Year

Litzi Ocampo 4th Year

Education Sciences; Sociology; minor in Psychological Sciences (transfer, East LACC)

Education Sciences; minor in Psychology

Education Sciences, Bilingual Education minor

EAOP Student Coordinator

EAOP Student Coordinator

SAGE Scholar

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School of Humanities

by Judy Tzu-Chun Wu, Director of Humanities, School of Humanities, UC Irvine

I recently went to my 30th college reunion and remembered how excited and anxious I was when I first arrived at the university. How would I fit in? Would I be smart

enough to keep up with the other students? How will my time here shape me as a person? Looking back, I appreciate the opportunities to explore ideas, make new friends, and develop my ability to think and communicate analytically and creatively. Most importantly, I discovered my moral center.

My parents wanted me to be a doctor, or an engineer, or maybe a lawyer.

I decided to major in American Studies because it allowed me to take various classes in different fields like history and literature and to center the exploration of race. When I was a second year in college, there was an attack against the Black theme dorm, where people could learn about the history and culture of the African diaspora. Some folks didn’t think that such a space should exist. I was not living there, but I believed a university should be a place where people of different backgrounds should come together and learn about each other’s diverse histories and cultures.

I currently direct the Humanities Center at the University of California, Irvine, and also am a professor of Asian American studies with a specialization in history, but you may ask, what are the Humanities?

To me, these are the fields that help us understand what it means to be Human. How have people created works of art and literature in diverse languages and traditions to understand themselves and the world around them? How have human societies (and even non-human communities and ecologies) evolved over time and in relationship with one another? These are fundamental questions to understand who we are, our past, and our future.

People of color have not been considered quite human for much of western civilization. This attitude has justified slavery, genocide, immigration and citizenship exclusion, and incarceration. So, we need to understand how these exclusionary ideas and institutions emerged and offer an alternative vision of how we might live together with respect and justice.

I believe this is my mission as director of UC Irvine’s Humanities Center. I hope you will join me!

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MAJORS WITHIN THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES

by Paola Sotelo, Assistant Director, EAOP, UC Irvine

UC Irvine's School of Humanities is where future leaders, communicators, scholars, CEOs, storytellers, creatives, directors, writers, and entrepreneurs come to get their start. Humanities courses are designed to challenge your thinking and prepare you for some of the world's most desired professional positions. As Dr. Wu mentioned, these fields can help you understand how to be human. To allow yourself the opportunity to think critically and understand who we are, our past, and our future.

Let's take a deeper look into the 22 majors the School of Humanities at UC Irvine can offer you!

African American Studies Are you interested in investigating the African American experience? This program allows you to study those societies and cultures established by the people of the African diaspora.

Art History Have you ever looked at a photograph, a painting, a building, a sculpture, or even a billboard advertisement and found it so beautiful or disturbing to the point where you could not take your eyes off it? While art history is for people who find images compelling and historically significant, our program also provides skills that go far beyond art appreciation.

Asian American Studies Ever had an interest in Asian American Studies? This major explores the intersections of race, gender, citizenship, ethnicity, and dis/ability within Asian American histories, experience, and cultural production.

Chinese Studies Brings both theoretical sophistication and scholarly rigor to the study of

literature and cultures of East Asia.

The department focuses on China, Korea, and Japan but also stresses the larger regional and global dynamics of transformation in which these cultures participate.

Classics Have you ever questioned the limits of human nature, the role of religion in human life, the purpose and scope of social and political organizations, and the place of literature, myth, and history in society? Classics is interdisciplinary by nature, involving the study of some of the greatest and most influential western literature and art, political and military history, social issues such as gender roles and sexuality, religion, and the development of legal systems and slavery.

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Comparative Literature Do you believe in a space of openness and risk? A space that's good for thinking, collectivity, and contestation? Well, the department of Comparative Literature includes the possibilities for engaging in politics broadly speaking, for rethinking the present and unmapping a world that seems to be already mapped through disciplinary structures such as area studies, and for the interanimating scholarship, teaching, and activism.

East Asian Cultures Brings both theoretical sophistication and scholarly rigor to the study of the literature and cultures of East Asia.

The department focuses on China, Korea, and Japan but also stresses the larger regional and global dynamics of transformation in which these cultures participate.

English If you love stories, enjoy arguing about the meaning of movies with your friends, write poetry, or love thinking about the complexity and www.cfep.uci.edu

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richness of language, then studying English Literature might be the right major for you! The English major provides its students with a variety of setting seminars, workshops, lectures, tutorials, and journals in which you learn about the ways writers and translators in English, from the AngloSaxon kingdom of Wessex to West LA, have understood, imagined, and expressed.

navigate the complex film, broadcast, and digital media landscape.

Jessica Chi, is Double majoring in Education Sciences and English with a minor in Chinese Studies and Business & Innovation. Can you give me an overview or explanation of what you learn in English? "Being an English major is really learning about your own worldview, your own perspective of the world, and where you stand in it and how you can through your writing and your thinking as well as the back and forth with other people how that can change the world, how that can bring new ideas to more people."

The program has been dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of gender and sexuality in their complex articulations with race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, and socioeconomic class.

European Studies Do you believe that Europe is a geographical place and an idea that has changed throughout history? Has it had different meanings at different times and in different places? The study of Europe thus requires an open, pluralistic, and interdisciplinary curriculum that takes a critical approach to the idea (or ideas of) Europe. The program provides a multidisciplinary view of Europe and its historical, political, and cultural formation and global implications.

It also focuses on a specific area of European experience that cuts across traditional disciplinary and national boundaries.

Film and Media Studies Do you want to be taught by awardwinning faculty leaders in TV and broadcast media, gaming, and new media? Students within Film and Media Studies gain theoretical, visual, historical, and cultural analysis skills and broad knowledge of the history of moving image studies, broadcast policy, popular culture, and social media. This provides students with a strong liberal arts background by combining theory and practice, giving our majors the tools necessary to

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French The program offers various French and Francophone literature, history, philosophy, and film courses. We take an interdisciplinary approach, stressing the aesthetic, political, and ethical relations.

Gender and Sexuality Studies

German Studies German fosters a combination of disciplinary specialization and interdisciplinary cooperation. Just at the geopolitical level, the nations of Europe maintain their national identities within an international union. UC Irvine's program in German maintains its course of study while recognizing the need for students to relate German's rich literary, cultural, and philosophical tradition to an international and multidisciplinary context.

Global Cultures The program's mission is to explore globalization's problems and processes from a humanistic perspective. The major equips our students with twentyfirst-century analytical skills and knowledge critical to understanding the complexities of the diverse world in which we live.

Global Middle East Studies The Global Middle East Studies (GMES) major was created to meet the needs of the growing number of students on campus who wish to gain an in-depth, interdisciplinary grounding in the histories and present-day realities of the Middle East in a global context.

History The major offers exciting classes from antiquity to the present and across the globe: Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and more. We have particular strengths in transnational and world history, and we offer classes

in a range of thematic fields: histories of gender and sexuality; science and medicine; global migrations, race, and diasporas; religion and environment.

Japanese Language and Literature Brings both theoretical sophistication and scholarly rigor to the study of the literature and cultures of East Asia.

The department focuses on China, Korea, and Japan but also stresses the larger regional and global dynamics of transformation in which these cultures participate.

Korean Literature and Culture Brings both theoretical sophistication and scholarly rigor to the study of the literature and cultures of East Asia.

The department focuses on China, Korea, and Japan but also stresses the larger regional and global dynamics of transformation in which these cultures participate.

Literary Journalism UC Irvine is the only undergraduate degree in journalism offered in the entire UC system and the only literary journalism major offered in the nation.

Philosophy Do traditional philosophical questions interest you? The Philosophy program focuses on three main areas.  History of philosophy, including ancient, modern, and contemporary philosophy, both analytic and continental  Epistemology, philosophy of mind, and metaphysics are pursued with analytic methodologies but are open to the influences of the continental tradition.  ethics, legal and political philosophy, social and value theory Remember that you don't always have to major in that area of study; you can always add it as a minor like Elijah Tadros, 3rd year, a double major in Criminology, Law, and Society, and Philosophy. Why did you choose to add this minor? "Philosophy is everywhere, whether we're conscious of it or not.

If I can get a better understanding of how that philosophy works, I'm going to have an advantage. I'm going to have more skills. I'm going to be in a better

position to understand everything else.

Once you get a taste of philosophy, you're not going to want to stop. I chose philosophy because there really was no other option that I could do. I could have taken any other major, but my personal interest and my passion would not have been satisfied unless I majored in philosophy."

Religious Studies

WHAT JOB ARE AVAILABLE FOR A HUMANITIES MAJOR? Graphic Designer High School Teacher Sign Language Interpreter Editor Travel Agent

Have you ever wondered why different people, across space and through time, have developed their values, intellectual systems, rituals, and traditions in response to the fundamental questions of human existence? The study of religion calls for systematic, empathetic, and critical inquiry into religion's histories, philosophies, kinds of literature, and practices. It seeks to understand the role of religion in human experience and thought.

Technical Writer Sales Representative Human Resources Specialist Copywriter Archeologist Psychologist

Spanish & Portuguese Students receive a well-rounded education with special emphasis on understanding cultural differences and developing independent critical thinking. Now hear from Ashley Lopez, a 4th-year math major specializing in Spanish English Bilingual Education.

Why did you choose to add this minor?

"I just want to preserve the language, and that would not only help me keep practicing it but the fact that I can help other students, especially students who come to this country and don't speak any English, and help with Spanish."

As you have seen, many of our students can double major and even double minor. The opportunities to learn across multiple programs and disciplines are endless.

As a high school student, there might be additional pressure to know what you want to do for the rest of your life, but know that it is okay not to know and continue to explore. Continue to be open-minded and take classes to see what sparks your interest. Maybe you will find some surprising things. One thing is for sure, UC Irvine's School of Humanities has many options for you to explore!

www.cfep.uci.edu

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES

by Joanna Echeverria Martinez, Presentation Team, EAOP, UC Irvine

Wouldn’t it be nice to take courses where there can be multiple answers to one question? Where your views and

perspective are considered as long as you provide sufficient reasoning to justify your claim? Well, there is!

The School of Humanities opens an exciting learning experience that fosters critical thinking and collaborative learning! Courses within the Humanities challenge what we think and know, opening the door to various perspectives, interpretations, and arguments that can be justified.

Being a Humanities major means investigating the deeper meaning of topics, where you can make justifiable conclusions on your own. Elijah Tadros states that being a Humanities major is very different from STEM, for example.

Rather than studying HOW things happen within the Humanities, the importance lies in the WHY things are.

As various perspectives are explored, you also get to learn about yourself in the process. Jessica Cai used to think that students majoring in English spent their time learning grammar and writing skills, but that is far from the truth!

“As an English major within the Humanities, I have learned the importance of critical thinking skills and how my perspective of the world, and where I stand in it, is just as critical.” - Jessica Cai As a Humanities major, you will be given the opportunity to express your thoughts, position, and perspectives on topics and issues through discussions with peers and professors. For many students, these discussions are their favorite part of their major because it allows them to share their viewpoints while recognizing opposing ones and bouncing ideas off one another.

These discussions are so valuable and impactful because they create a

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safe space to be open-minded and reflective.

Advice for Incoming Students:

“You have to be willing to be open, you can’t be so closed-minded to where you think your side is the only one that is correct” - Elijah Tadros Although there are many majors you can pursue, students choose the School of Humanities because they have a true passion for the field.

This passion can drive a student’s thinking and expand their knowledge.

Deyaneria Chic and Ashley Lopez decided to study Spanish to improve their confidence and knowledge in their first language. They also wanted to feel connected to their cultural roots while enriching and preserving their culture. For both, being able to communicate with more than one student population and their families is important because they recognize the struggle of coming to a country without the ability to communicate in English and the difficulties it creates for students’ academic trajectories. This is why choosing a major that will continue cultivating your passions is important!

The School of Humanities strives to assist and provide students with the skills and knowledge to succeed academically, professionally, and personally. As you strengthen your critical thinking skills, you simultaneously improve your reading, writing, and speaking skills, which are all important skills you will utilize in your future profession.

As you take this next step towards deciding what major to pursue, remember to explore your interests!

Consider taking courses in different academic disciplines because you may be surprised at what interests you may find. Be open to the possibilities and seek support from your academic advisors, professors, and resources available to you!

Elijah Tadros 3rd Year Criminology, Law, & Society and Philosophy double major “Use your General Education requirements to your advantage and take a variety of different courses. By doing so you can determine, ‘Hey, I don't like this’ or ‘Hey, I love this let me continue to do more things like this.’”

Ashley Lopez 4th Year Spanish/English Bilingual Education minor “There's so much out there that we don't know about, or take advantage of, but because you will be paying tuition and you should take advantage of everything that you have available.”

School of Social Sciences

by Jeanett Castellanos, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, School of Social Sciences, UC Irvine

Choosing a major can feel overwhelming, especially when given so many options. Some students worry

about picking the wrong major. Many articles will lead you to review earning potential for a major, but the strongest matches occur when students see themselves as professionals playing a central role in society.

UC Irvine’s School of Social Sciences is the largest academic unit with over 6,500 undergraduate students and awards over a quarter of UCI’s degrees. The school prides itself on its connections with computer science, engineering, humanities, and the arts. It also has interdisciplinary connections in law, medicine, and environmental science. Over 47% of Social Sciences majors are first-generation college students, and 58% are Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) students.

Our majors have a multitude of options. Business economics, psychology, and political science are some of the most popular majors.

Many of these students pursue finances, neuroscience, computer science, the law, or social policy. Other school majors: Anthropology, Chicano Studies, Global and International Studies, Sociology, Social Policy, and Public Service, offer curriculum where students study culture, community, social issues, policy, and social justice. We also have certificates in

cultural competency, Labor Studies, Veterans Studies, diversity and inequity, business, economy, and organizations.

[We will dive deeper into the majors and certificate opportunities mentioned in the following article.]

possible majors that can be a match for your interests.

A sneak peek at social science majors includes a day researching Latinx families and their citizenship process or the reasons why immigrants travel to the US. Other students examine homelessness, voting patterns, community leadership, Asian American family ties, and Black family values. Our majors also volunteer in community organizations where they learn about specific career options for the field.

2. What social issue do I want to address?

Specific career trajectories of Social Science alums include working as judges, attorneys, policy analysts, business leaders, policy social workers, non-profit directors, software designers, linguistic analysts, health care professionals, educators, and government officials.

A degree holds greater value when it’s meaningful. As you consider different majors, consider the following: Your Passion It is critical to do something you love.

If you pursue something, not in your heart, you can be good at it but not great. We can only be great at what drives us! What makes you thrive? Do you love people, community building, and mentoring youth? Write a list of

Change Agent | Ask three questions 1. What do I want to change in this world?

3. How can I be part of the solution?

Talk to your teachers, counselors, or advisors about these questions and identify majors that can facilitate your scholarly and professional development accounting for your responses.

Skills and Abilities Reflect on your academic strengths.

What comes naturally to you (math, science, writing, language)? Identify the classes that challenged you intellectually but were most personally fulfilling. Review the requirements for the potential majors that match your interests + skills.

Permission to Switch The journey to a major requires time and honesty. Between 20-50% of first-year students enter college as undecided. An estimated 80% of students change their majors at least once before graduation. Before applying, talk to professionals about their career trajectories, ask students about their majors, and volunteer in the field.

6,500+

>47%

58%

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS

BLACK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR

www.cfep.uci.edu

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MAJORS WITHIN THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

by Rosario Rizo, Program Coordinator, EAOP, UC Irvine

As you embark on your journey of choosing a major, it is important to remember that you will have the chance to explore different interests. These interests can be ones you have now or some that you’ll develop later. There are many fields you can learn about within the School of Social Sciences due to its focus on society.

As Dr. Castellanos mentioned in her article, obtaining a degree you are passionate about is more meaningful and impactful when you can do something you love. Within the School of Social Sciences, you can use your passions to make a difference in society, whether politically, socially, or economically.

Many UC Irvine students, some of whom you will learn more about, pursue majors within the School of Social Sciences to become lawyers to advocate for equality in minority communities or school counselors to better support students by understanding how humans function. UC Irvine students can also participate in research with well-renowned professors, engage in community service, and promote outreach to gain experience in their field of study. The School of Social Sciences is constantly changing to provide its students with the most unique, diverse, and hands-on experience.

The School of Social Sciences has 11 majors to choose from, which include: Anthropology (B.A.) If you are interested in a broad study of the histories and development of cultures and societies throughout past centuries to our present day, studying anthropology will provide you with the opportunity to learn about different cultures and societies all around the world. Students study different historical time periods, from ancient kingdoms to our present-day societies, and build knowledge about various regions globally.

Career Opportunities: Business, government and non-government organizations, historians, continued graduate fields Business Economics (B.A.) Students interested in entrepreneurship who want to run a business or start their own would enjoy studying business economics! Students in this field will analyze the supply and demand trends within our economy and learn about how conditions are affected, such as: unemployment, inflation, and economic growth, both nationally and internationally.

Career Opportunities: Finance & business analyst, accountant, financial consultant Chicano/Latino Studies (B.A.) If you are interested in Chicanx/Latinx community and would be interested in learning more about the history, social justice, and cultural development in society, this major would be a great choice for you! Students will learn about the historical and contemporary experiences of Americans of Latin American origin. Alongside that, students will learn about the accomplishments of Chicano/Latino communities centered on culture, sociology, politics, creative art and much more.

Career Opportunities: Policy advisors, educators, grant writers, research assistants, community liaisons Cognitive Sciences (B.S.) Students interested in how the mind works will learn about the brain, perception, cognition and behavior. This major strongly emphasizes research, providing students with the opportunity to work alongside professors to expand on further research within cognitive sciences.

Career Opportunities: Software developers, data analysts, UX designers, therapists International Studies (B.A.) If you have been keeping up with recent news and have found yourself interested in global politics, economic trends, cultures, and histories of national and international regions, this may be a great major choice for you! Students within this major choose a geographic and global focus, allowing you to learn broadly while also choosing a specific concentration.

Career Opportunities: Public policy analysts, international organizations, non-profit organizations, academic research

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Language Science (B.A.) If you are interested in the study of language and the way language is used in society, communication, and its complexity.

This would be a great major for you! Research and learning take place within areas such as linguistics, cognitive science, psychology, and much more!

Career Opportunities: Editors, copywriter, translator, further research in graduate education, professor Political Science (B.A.) Students interested in how politics work within our society at the individual, national, and international levels are best suited for this major. Students can focus on specific areas through internship fieldwork and political science programs such as UCDC or University’s Education Abroad program.

Career Opportunities: Lawyers, political consultants, lobbyists, government officials, professor Psychology (B.S.) If you are interested in the way the mind works and are fascinated by the science and chemistry makeup of our behaviors, this major is designed for you! This major establishes a strong foundation in psychology with a focus in science, physical, and biological sciences in the study of the mind and the brain.

Career Opportunities: Social worker, case manager, family, school, or marriage counselor, mental health counselor Quantitative Economics (B.A.) Have you ever been interested in learning more about market trends and what causes the trends to shift? Within this area of study, students will understand how to evaluate economic conditions that can influence inflation, unemployment, and monetary growth. Students will learn how to use software to analyze real data and evaluate economic conditions.

Career Opportunities: Finance analyst, economic forecaster, auditor, and financial planners Social Policy & Public Service (B.A.) If you have been interested in public relations with communities and understanding how laws impact specific communities, social policy and public service is a good choice for you! Students will understand the relationships between governance, social policy, and public service while participating in civic engagement and research.

Career Opportunities: Community development, education administration, non-profit organizations Sociology (B.A.) Students majoring in Sociology will study different societies while observing the inequalities and social organizations of families, communities, and workplaces. Students can embark on research within focus areas such as business, social problems, diversity, and inequality.

Career Opportunities: Educator/professor, counselors, paralegals, community outreach coordinators & more!

Many of the majors within the School of Social Science will allow students to participate in internships, research, and study abroad opportunities. If you are interested in creating positive change within society, economy, and human well-being, these are the majors for you!

www.cfep.uci.edu

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PSYCHOLOGY STORY

by Jennifer Young, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, UC Irvine Grad Division

Chances are, if you have gone through the school system in the United States, you have most certainly been asked the pointed question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. That question could mean a lot of different things. It could reference what kind of person you want to become, the kind

of life you want to live, and of course, what career path you want to choose. Most of us grow up with big dreams, optimistic goals, and the hope of positively impacting the world and beyond.

Helping others is important to many when choosing a career path, so it’s no surprise that teachers, doctors, firefighters, police officers, and scientists all fall within the top professions desired by kids ages 8 to 18*. This was no different for a then 10-year-old Jennifer Young, who now owns her private practice as a psychologist, which is based in Washington, D.C. Dr. Young currently provides teletherapy to those residing in D.C. and California, where she holds licenses to practice psychology. Dr. Young also works with humanitarian aid workers spread over five continents. Dr. Young earned her B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine, in 2003 and then later earned her Ph.D. in Psychology with an emphasis in Marital and Family Therapy from Alliant International University in 2009.

“I knew exactly what I wanted to do in fourth grade,” recalls Dr. Young. “I remember helping a friend through a tough time, and I naturally knew how to listen and what to say to her. As sad as it was seeing my friend go through that experience, I felt good about knowing I was able to make her feel less alone.”

As Young continued her educational journey, she saw all the different options as a psychologist after becoming close with her high school counselor.

“Back in those days, many of the high school academic counselors also served as emotional counselors,” says Young.

“I remember learning then that there were so many paths I could take for my career. I appreciated her support and thought I wanted to be like her.”

Before opening her private practice more than ten years ago, Dr. Young worked at counseling centers at the University of San Francisco, University of Southern California, Cal State University, Long Beach, and the U.S. Peace Corps. While she has made a few different jumps in her career, the mission is always the same.

“Helping people is the most rewarding part of my job, hands down,” Young says. “The first session with a client is almost like any doctor’s consultation because it’s my job to assess the issues of concern, their goals in therapy, and get to know them as a person by asking many questions. It’s rewarding to guide them through that journey.”

Mental health has never been as relevant as it is today, as people worldwide have dealt with many obstacles over the last couple of years during one of the more uncertain times in recent memory. Young’s practice has never been busier, and the need for more psychologists has never been greater. UC Irvine has some great options for students interested in studying psychology at the university level.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

by Isabel Villapando, Presentation Team, EAOP, UC Irvine

Have you ever experienced a sense of anger, sadness, or complete disbelief while watching a social issue erupt on the news or social media? Did the issue inspire you to take action or

Advice for Incoming Students:

advocate for change? Oftentimes, feelings we experience in moments like this can play a significant role in developing our passions and become our main source of inspiration.

What would you say if I told you that you could devote your studies, and possibly your career, to promote change in various social issues affecting our world today?

Perhaps you are like Maira, a third-year Social Policy and Public Service major who realized that people in her community were being mistreated and given limited opportunities due to their immigration status. She remembers when the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was being terminated and its effects on people she knew. With DACA being terminated, undocumented students would no longer be legally protected from deportation, and work permits would be inaccessible. This, in turn, would jeopardize the future of many undocumented students and their families. Maira’s awareness and passion for uplifting communities inspired her to pursue a Social Policy and Public Service major.

“I chose Social Policy and Public Service because I want to make a difference and provide equitable opportunities for [Undocumented] students.”

Many Social Science majors are passionate about advocating for others to help make a difference in people’s lives. Zitlalli Sanchez, is interested in becoming a lawyer to advocate for equity and equality for those in need. She is a first-generation student (the first in her family to attend college) and is determined to achieve her goal of becoming a lawyer.

There are also many students within the school of Social Sciences that choose to study two majors because it offers more career opportunities. A double major requires a student to take several courses in similar or completely different areas of interest. Paolo Contreras, decided to pursue these areas of study to gain different perspectives on how human behavior works. These majors allow him to pursue careers that support communities and their youth, aligning with his interest in becoming a school counselor.

If your schedule permits and you want to double major, talk to an advisor to guide you through the process. A triple major can also be an option and it’s not unheard of at UC Irvine!

As Dr. Castellanos previously mentioned, many students worry about choosing the wrong major and may decide that they want to change it, putting them back to square one. It is okay if you don’t know what you want to major in when entering college because sometimes it takes time to figure it out. Ask yourself, “are there social issues I want to address?”, “Do I want to make a change in the world?” If so, a major in Social Science may be the best choice for you.

www.cfep.uci.edu

Zitlalli Sanchez 3rd Year Political Science and Public Service in Education “Explore your interests and passions, test out one or two courses in the major you're interested in the first quarter to know if it is a good fit.”

Paolo Contreras 4th Year Psychology and Sociology “Meet with an advisor who can help you explore different careers.”

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FINAL REFLECTION

by Erick Espino, Assistant Director, Community College Programs, UC Irvine

You have reached the end of our first special edition of The Edge magazine! One of the key take aways I hope you learned about is the abundance of major opportunities The School of Education, The School of Humanites, and the School of Social Sciences have to offer. The second is the importance of choosing a major that is “Right For You”. If you didn’t quite connect to any of the majors within these schools, it is okay, as we have many more that we will cover in future editions. You can also think about it this way, if you didn’t find your major of interest here, crossing these schools off the list will put you one step closer to finding the one that is.

As you go into this exciting next step of your educational journey (for some of you it will be stressful before it gets exciting), I want you to think about some of the amazing advice that was given by our amazing UC Irvine staff, faculty, and current students:  Don’t be scared to explore your interest, this is your time to be curious  Reflect on your values and your hobbies and let that be your guiding factor  Gather information and start exploring different options with enough time  It is okay if it takes time for you to find the major that is right for you  Changing majors is way more common than people think  Student who are 100% certain of their major change their major too  Being Undecided/Undeclared or changing to it is okay!  Getting first hand experience is the best way to find out whether you enjoy, or completely dislike, the realm of work your major is preparing you for I’d like to close off by echoing a statement that Dr. Reyes Tuccio mentioned within her opening letter - “This issue [of THE EDGE magazine] is a direct response to your feedback.” – and would not have been possible if it wasn’t for YOU! Our hope is that you stay tuned for the our future editions which will highlight other schools at UC Irvine, the majors within them, along with student perspective and advice to help prepare you for this exciting time in your life!

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REFLECTION QUESTIONS Now that you have read through the magazine, we encourage you to use the following reflection questions to help guide your thinking and to begin to take necessary steps towards choosing a major that is right for YOU! What are 3 things that Inspire and/or Interest you?

What are some of your Strengths/Skills? (reflect on your academic strengths & involvements inside and outside of the classroom)

If you know you want to go to UC Irvine but you are unsure of what to major in, there is always the option to apply as Undecided/ Undeclared.

For more information, visit: https://uu.uci.edu/prospectivestudents/being-uu-at-uci/

DID YOU KNOW? Three out of every four students who starts

What are some potential majors that align with your Skills & Interest?

college each year has some level of uncertainty about their major.

Students who start undeclared are more

What are 3 things you learned from this edition of The Edge Magazine?

Which tips will you be taking with you as you embark on this exciting journey of selecting your major?

likely to graduate than students who start with a declared major.

Over 90% of employers do not care

what your major is, but they do care that you earn a degree and gain particular career transferrable skills.

You gain those skills through your experience as an undergraduate at UC Irvine in any major.

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YOUR NEXT DESTINATION

Nestled in the rolling coastal foothills of Orange County and five miles from pristine beaches, UC Irvine is home to global companies, a national airport (SNA), world-class performing arts venues and shopping centers, and nearby major league sports teams.

THE EDGE

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Special Edition Issue 1 2022 Editors: Ashley Cheri, Ed.D., Director, EAOP, UC Irvine Erick Espino, Assistant Director, Community College Programs, UC Irvine Contributors: Jody Cajudo, M.S., Program Coordinator, EAOP, UC Irvine Ashley Cheri, Ed.D., Director, EAOP, UC Irvine Janice Hansen, Ph.D, Director of Undergraduate Programs, School of Education, UC Irvine Drew Bailey, Ph.D., Associate Professor & Faculty Director of Undergraduate Programs, School of Education, UC Irvine Rosa Garcia Lizarraga, Program Coordinator, EAOP, UC Irvine Ash Cruz, Presentation Team, EAOP, UC Irvine Judy Tzu-Chun Wu, Director of Humanities, School of Humanities, UC Irvine Paola Sotelo, Assistant Director, EAOP, UC Irvine Joanna Echeverria Martinez, Presentation Team, EAOP, UC Irvine Jeanett Castellanos, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, School of Social Sciences, UC Irvine Rosario “Rosy” Rizo, Program Coordinator, EAOP, UC Irvine Jennifer Young, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, UCI Grad Division Isabel Villapando, Presentation Team, EAOP, UC Irvine Erick Espino, Assistant Director, Community College Programs, UC Irvine Design by: m2dg, inc. www.m2dg.com

Publication by: University of California, Irvine | Center for Educational Partnerships | School of Education Stephanie Reyes-Tuccio, Ph.D., Assistant Vice Chancellor, Educational Partnerships, UC Irvine Santana Ruiz, M.Ed., Deputy Director, Center for Educational Partnerships, UC Irvine

Helpful Internet Resources

www.cfep.uci.edu/theedge/online-resources