Undeclared
(Printable version)
If you choose to be an undeclared major you will be welcomed, understood and supported at UW-Eau Claire. Through the Advising Office you will have an academic adviser who has the curricular and career expertise to help you explore majors. Many students want more information about themselves, the university environment and potential careers before they decide on their major.
Unsure of a major? You are not alone
About one third of new freshmen are undeclared. Of the remaining two thirds who arrive at the university with a declared major, 60% will change their major at least once before graduating. So, most students are undecided at some point in their college career!
How to choose
It is far better to systematically decide on a major than to jump into one prematurely. The major selection process is usually made up of three components: First learning more about yourself; second, learning about academic disciplines at the university level; and finally learning about careers available to you. You can analyze this information and follow a logical decision making process.
Expert adviser
As an undeclared student you will be assigned to an adviser in the Advising office who understands academic policies and the curricular requirements for every major on campus. Your adviser will help you to meet the university graduation requirements and suggest courses for general education that fulfill requirements in a number of majors. You will be advised based on the academic areas you are considering and encouraged to explore courses in a major or directed to a department to meet with a faculty member. At the same time, your adviser will help you through a process of research, analysis and decision making that will lead to an informed decision about a major.
Expected graduation
If you work with an adviser from the time you arrive at UW-Eau Claire, you will be able to finish most majors within four years.
Suggested freshman curriculum
- Introduction to College
Writing
- Foreign language course
- Kinesiology and
wellness course
- Mathematics course
- General education
courses in the sciences,
social sciences and
humanities
Advising information
Contact Information
advising@uwec.edu
715-836-3487
Undeclared? Get United!
United Undeclared is a student organization designed for students exploring majors. It’s mission is to bring positive recognition to undeclared students by providing academic, social, and leadership opportunities. United Undeclared introduces you to resources which help you make your academic decisions and it provides a place for you to connect with other students so you can support one another. Chart your course, join Undeclared United!
Available resources
- The Career Discovery Lab, located in Schofield Hall, Room 226, right next to theAdvising office, has information - books, pamphlets, videos, computer programs -
about all majors at UW-Eau Claire and hundred of careers.
- The “Majors Fair” held each semester, has representatives from every
department on campus.
- We administer the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator
as well as other inventories to help you identify your interests, values, skills and
personality traits. While you may already have had a “career test” that didn’t help
you much, you can rest assured that the staff in Advising and Career Services will
help you understand the results so that they are meaningful to you.
- A one-credit course, Gen 250: Academic and Career Exploration, helps you
explore yourself and gain information about the world of work while receiving
academic credit.
- Check out this website for more information on Academic Advising:
www.uwec.edu/advising
