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Center for Advisement and Student Success

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Steps to Finding a Major

  1. Meet with a C.A.S.S. advisor. Come to walk-in advising hours in the UC 108 on Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 4:30pm. You can also schedule an appointment by calling (423) 425-4573. We will help you get started on the process and create a plan of action.
  2. Visit Counseling & Career Planning. They have walk-in hours Monday through Friday from 9am-12pm and 1-4pm in the UC 338. A counselor can discuss taking interest inventories or other assessments.
  3. See what Majors are available at UTC. You cannot make an informed choice if you do not know what your options are! You can print off this list and cross out any majors you have no interest in, circle possible majors, and highlight any you need to research and learn more about.
  4. Follow-up with your advisor. Make an appointment or walk-in to see your advisor. We can check your progress towards finding a major, reviewed your selected majors of interest, and see what questions you may have.
  5. Review departmental websites, your catalog, and "What Can I Do with This Major." These sites will teach you about major requirements, careers, and more. Narrow down your majors list as you gather information
  6. Meet with faculty members. Schedule meetings with faculty advisors and professors in the various departments you are interested in majoring in. They can provide you with further information on major coursework as well as careers in the field.
  7. Make a decision once you have gathered all of this information. Counselors and advisors are here to assist you, but you will ultimately be responsible for making the call. Remember, you can always change your major later on.
  8. Declare your major online. You should contact your major department directly to be assigned an academic advisor. It's a good idea to meet with this advisor soon - you need to be aware of the requirements ahead and any steps you might need to take. Don't wait until registration time!
  9. Start getting ready for work. Visit Placement & Student Employment to learn about job search preparation and resources they can provide for you as you near graduation. Don't wait until your senior year - start early!
  10. Explore all possibilities at UTC. Join a student organization. Study abroad. Find ways to enhance both your college experience as well as give you a competitive edge when you graduate.

Other Tips

  • Take a class. Use general education requirements as a chance to enroll in courses of interest. Look for introductory courses in various departments for electives. Advisors can help direct you towards appropriate beginning courses so you can preview the major and material.
  • Talk to other students. You can learn a great deal about majors this way. Ask your roommates and classmates about their majors and why they chose them. If you don't know anyone in a particular major, email a faculty member to see if they can refer you to a current student. Also, check out our podcasts online of some UTC students talking about their majors.
  • Keep your grades up. You don't want to spend months deciding on a major only to find you are not academically eligible. Aim to keep all doors open.
  • Volunteer. These opportunities provide you invaluable experience, look great on your resume, and may lead you to a new career.
  • Browse the UTC bookstore. Review books from various courses to get an overview of content covered in different majors.
  • Explore the world of work. Interview people in jobs you find appealing, job shadow someone for a day, or find a part-time job.
  • Search the internet. There is a vast amount of information on majors and careers online so take a 10 minute break from Facebook.