Module 2: Planning for Academic Success (Part 7)

Choosing a College Major

Introduction

Objective: Students will explore the topic of choosing a college major and list three potential majors that may be of interest to them. Students will demonstrate understanding of grade configuration for two different classes that have different assignment types and percentages.

Estimated time 45 minutes

Materials included:

Additional materials needed:

  •  Internet access
  • Transition Notebook from Module 1 Part 2

Optional materials:

  • Interest and Abilities Profiler from the CFNC website listed in Module 2 Part 1 in the “Digging Deeper” section.

Curriculum Link:

This section corresponds with Module 2 Activity 4 in the College Bound Transition curriculum resources.

Learn About It

In this activity you will access the website listed on the “Choosing a College Major” worksheet, read the articles listed, and complete the “Choosing a College Major” worksheet. Be prepared to discuss your answers with your parents upon completion of the activity.

Choosing a College Major

Visit https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers/majors and read the articles listed below:

  • The College Major: What It Is and How to Choose One
  • College Majors: FAQs
  • 8 Video Tips for Finding Majors and Careers (This article is presented as a slide show of videos. You will need to use the small arrows on the sides of the video window to navigate to all 8 videos. At minimum, you need to read all 8 tips listed on the slides. However, watching the full videos is recommended, and you can read the transcripts if the videos won’t load on your computer.)

After you’ve read the articles and viewed the video tips, answer the questions on the “Choosing a College Major” worksheet below. Click on the picture of the worksheet to access it.

Parents Chime In

  • You may want to read the articles and review the video tips from the website, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers/college-majors, before discussing the topic with your child.
  • As you discuss the questions from the “Choosing a College Major” worksheet, share some of your experiences or those of another family member or friend with choosing a college major.
  • If your child completed the interest and abilities profiler from the CFNC website listed in Digging Deeper in Module 2 Part 1, you may want to refer back to their strengths and challenges in reference to a career choice.

Objective Check

Have you accomplished today’s objective?

Objective: Students will explore the topic of choosing a college major and list three potential majors that may be of interest to them.

If so, congratulations!

If not, , review the answer key for the “Choosing a College Major” worksheet that is included at the end of this lesson and review the articles and video tips.

For more information…Digging Deeper

  • Visit the section at https://www1.cfnc.org/Plan/_default.aspx on Exploring Programs and Majors.
  • The website, http://www.mynextmove.org/, has a wealth of information about choosing a career. The O*NET Interest Profiler can help you find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work. You can find out what you like to do. The O*NET Interest Profiler helps you decide what kinds of careers you might want to explore. This is good information to have when choosing a college major.
  • Http://www.mappingyourfuture.org/planyourcareer/skills.cfm also has information on choosing a career based on your interests and abilities.