Major Selection
Although declaring your major is an important decision, we want you to enjoy the experience as you discover what you want out of your education. Be sure to connect with your DGS advisor along the way.
1. Collect information
- Examine our Undergraduate Programs to see every available option at Illinois.
- Take the Career Center’s Interest Explorer inventory to find Illinois majors suited to your interests.
- Check out our Major Handbook to connect your major interests with potential careers.
- Research careers using O*Net OnLine to get a better understanding of what they involve.
- Attend an information meeting hosted by a department or college.
- Consider details about costs associated with each major and graduation outcomes.
2. Start talking
- Get conversations going with your DGS advisor.
- Talk to advisors from departments or colleges you’re interested in and utilize our Career Center coaches.
- To examine graduate programs and careers in health care, meet with pre-health advisors.
- To examine graduate programs and careers in law, meet with pre-law advisors.
- Attend our Majors & Minors Fair to talk to departmental advisors about the programs they offer.
- Conduct informational interviews with individuals in fields that interest you.
- Network and learn more from the people you know, including family and friends and others connected with them.
3. Get active
- Join registered student organizations that align with your potential career choices.
- Take advantage of volunteer opportunities related to your fields of interest.
- Pursue relevant internship opportunities or part-time employment.
- Attend Career Center workshops .
4. Take classes
- Examine the courses required to declare a specific major.
- Evaluate the requirements to complete any minors that interest you.
- Consider the course recommendations and requirements for pre-professional programs in health care or law.
- Take advantage of the opportunity to learn and participate in GS 101, which is designed specifically for you to explore your interests, skills, and values.
- Enroll in EPSY 220, a course that emphasizes career and life planning in an interactive format.
5. Declare a major
- Declare your new major during the intercollegiate transfer period.
- Congratulate yourself on finding the right major for you!