Choosing a Major -
Putting It All Together
What Am I Interested In? 
Think of hobbies or activities you've enjoyed.
- Take an interest inventory offered in the Center for Student Success.
- Consider the list of majors offered at UM-St. Louis.
- Read the descriptions for the required courses for majors you might consider.
- Speak with students already declared in majors of interest.
- Talk with professors about their areas of expertise and to learn more about the major.
- Attend a professional conference to learn more about the field.
- Read professional journals in areas of study you like.
- Follow issues in the news regarding your possible fields of study.
- Attend student club meetings to learn more and assess how well you "fit in" with the students who are also interested in these fields of study.
- Take an introductory course in a major that interests you.
What are my Strengths?
- When have I experienced:
- Rapid learning
- A deep sense of satisfaction about an achievement
- Hopes, dreams, and longings
- Performance at levels of excellence, even if for a short time
- A sense of destiny or "rightness"
- Doing something well and seemingly effortlessly
- Instant insights and understandings
- Consistent patterns of success in a particular role, context, or set of tasks
- Being passionate about something
- Joy and delight when engaged in an activity
What Am I Capable of Doing?- Think of classes you do well in and enjoy.
- Evaluate past work experience.
- Take an interest inventory. Evaluate abilities.
- Consider information about actual occupations at these websites: ONET and Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Speak with a coordinator in the Center for Student Success to review this information.
What Will Fit with Who I Am?- Take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality assessment.
- Take FOCUS 2, a free online Career Assessment.
- Speak with a coordinator.
What Major Should I Choose?- Consider your interests, strengths, values and personality.
- Speak with a coordinator in the Center for Student Success to evaluate your majors of interest and consider receiving Major and Career Exploration services.
What Courses Do I Need for My Major?- Speak with an academic advisor.
- Look at the UMSL Bulletin and course descriptions.
How Can I Apply My Major to a Career? - Look at relevant sections on the Career Services web site.
- Speak with a faculty member in your area of interest.
- Visit career library in Career Services.
- Speak with a coordinator in Career Services.
Next Steps - Meet with a coordinator in Career Services to make a plan.
- Register with Career Services.
- Prepare a resume.
- Do some informational interviews.
- Seek volunteer opportunities, internships, or employment.
- Consider graduate school.
Think of hobbies or activities you've enjoyed.
Take an interest inventory offered in the Center for Student Success.
Consider the list of majors offered at UM-St. Louis.
Read the descriptions for the required courses for majors you might consider.
Speak with students already declared in majors of interest.
Talk with professors about their areas of expertise and to learn more about the major.
Attend a professional conference to learn more about the field.
Read professional journals in areas of study you like.
Follow issues in the news regarding your possible fields of study.
Attend student club meetings to learn more and assess how well you "fit in" with the students who are also interested in these fields of study.
Take an introductory course in a major that interests you. Rapid learning
A deep sense of satisfaction about an achievement
Hopes, dreams, and longings
Performance at levels of excellence, even if for a short time
A sense of destiny or "rightness"
Doing something well and seemingly effortlessly
Instant insights and understandings
Consistent patterns of success in a particular role, context, or set of tasks
Being passionate about something
Joy and delight when engaged in an activity Think of classes you do well in and enjoy.
Evaluate past work experience.
Take an interest inventory. Evaluate abilities.
Consider information about actual occupations at these websites: ONET and Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Speak with a coordinator in the Center for Student Success to review this information. Take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality assessment.
Take FOCUS 2, a free online Career Assessment.
Speak with a coordinator. Consider your interests, strengths, values and personality.
Speak with a coordinator in the Center for Student Success to evaluate your majors of interest and consider receiving Major and Career Exploration services. Speak with an academic advisor.
Look at the UMSL Bulletin and course descriptions. Look at relevant sections on the Career Services web site.
Speak with a faculty member in your area of interest.
Visit career library in Career Services.
Speak with a coordinator in Career Services. Meet with a coordinator in Career Services to make a plan.
Register with Career Services.
Prepare a resume.
Do some informational interviews.
Seek volunteer opportunities, internships, or employment.
Consider graduate school.
