Career Exploration
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Not sure about your major and career options?
Having trouble declaring your major? Did you know that some careers require a specific undergraduate major and others do not? We are here to help. While some careers require a specific undergraduate major, many do not. Nursing and Accounting are examples of careers which require a specific undergraduate major. Meanwhile, a degree in Liberal Arts (for example, History, Humanities, Chicano/a Studies) might take you in several directions.
You can begin exploring the connection between majors and careers by using the information in this section as a starting point. Download our Two Year and Four Year Plans to help you stay on track and keep your career goals a priority.
The Decision Process
1. Self-Assessment
- Identify important skills, interests and values
- Make an appointment with a career coach in the Career Center for career coaching and vocational assessments
- Use our Focus 2 program, a helpful online assessment tool
(Your access code is "gotoros") - Meet with an academic advisor for additional guidance
2. Researching Majors and Careers
- Use the O*Net Career Information Program
- Learn about job requirements, employment trends, and appropriate majors
- Attend job fairs and use the Career Center Digital Career Toolkit to learn more about potential career paths
- Obtain internship experience, either paid or unpaid
3. Analyzing Your Results
- Organize and evaluate all your information
- Consider possible outcomes, consequences, and probability
- Identify the best alternatives
- Conduct additional research if necessary
- Develop a short list of possible careers/majors
4. Choosing Options
- Select a primary and secondary career option, based on what career is best suited for you at this time in your life
- Discuss your findings with a career coach
- Maintain an open mind to new and changing factors that may impact your career choices
- Remember: What you decide today will probably not be your lifelong career; it's just the beginning!