Being Undeclared at UW-Eau Claire
If you choose to be an undeclared major you will be welcomed, understood and supported at UW-Eau Claire. In recent years 25 to 30 percent of incoming new students selected this option. The Advising office will assign you to an academic adviser who has the curricular and career expertise to serve students who are exploring majors. Many students want more information about themselves, more information about the university environment and more information about careers before they decide about their major. The Advising office provides the necessary advice, programs and support as you take time to explore your options.
Why choose to be undeclared?
You may have lots of interests and are having trouble narrowing down your choice of a major. You may be unsure about whether you will like or be good at a subject at the college level. You may not have found any particular subject or career that interests you yet. Or you may just want to explore all the university has to offer before you choose a major. These are all good reasons to enter the university as an undeclared student. It is far better to systematically decide on a major than to jump into one prematurely.
If you work with your adviser from the time you arrive at UW-Eau Claire, you will be able to finish most majors within four years.
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Learn about the advantages of being undeclared at UW-Eau Claire. |
How do I choose a major?
The major selection process is usually made up of three components:
- Learning more about yourself
- Learning about academic disciplines at the university level
- Learning about careers available to you
You then need to analyze this information and follow a logical decision making process.
How can your adviser help?
If you are undeclared you will be assigned to an adviser in the Advising office (Schofield Hall, Room 226) 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. Because this takes time, you need to see your adviser several times each semester in addition to the required appointment for course selection.
Resources available to help you choose a major
- The Career Discovery Lab, located in Schofield Hall, Room 226 right next to the Advising office, has information – books, pamphlets, videos, computer programs – about all majors at UW-Eau Claire and hundreds of careers.
- The “Majors Fair,” sponsored by the Advising office, has representatives from every department on campus.
- We administer the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator as well as other paper and pencil 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 staffs 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.
High school preparation
- All students who enroll at UW-Eau Claire are required to have a minimum of 17 college preparatory units including:
– 4 years of English (at least 3 composition and literature)
– 2 years of a single foreign language
– 3 years of math (algebra, geometry, 1 advanced college preparatory math)
– 3 years of natural science
– 3 years of social science (1 must be world or American history)
– 2 additional units in the areas already mentioned or other academic areas
- Students who are uncertain about their major should take a broad range of courses suggested for college preparation, including more than the minimum required to get into UW-Eau Claire, since this will help you keep your options open for almost any field.
- Specifically you should take as much mathematics as possible, continue in a foreign language and hone your writing skills.
- If you excel in any one academic area you should take advanced coursework in it as well as courses in related areas. For example if you like science, make sure you complement it with mathematics.
- You should take Advanced Placement courses if you are offered the opportunity.
- You should explore the fine arts or applied courses that are interesting to you.
- You should get involved in extracurricular activities. These will help you broaden your experiences and help you identify areas that are enjoyable to you.
- You should volunteer and/or job shadow in areas that seem interesting.
Freshman course work
Most students take 30 credits (15 per semester) in the first year. Courses commonly include those that meet the university graduation requirements and general education. For example:
- English 110 – Introduction to College Writing
- Foreign Language course – depending on placement and programs of interest
- Kinesiology and Wellness course
- Mathematics course – depending on placement and program
- General Education courses in the sciences, social sciences and humanities
For more information
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