May 2004

Up for discussion: Help for navigating majors

	Dennis Beardsley (Debbie Aldridge/UC Davis)

The first stop for students on the road to a career may well be their choice of majors. And UC Davis offers many resources to help students choose a path.

"We have an extensive network of advising activities and opportunities on campus," said Dennis Beardsley, who spoke to Aggie Family Pack just before retiring as director of Advising Services at the end of April.

From peer advisers who give presentations at the residence halls to advisers in the undergraduate colleges and the Division of Biological Sciences, there are a variety of services to help students decide on a major.

Beardsley has always encouraged students to take advantage of these services on a regular basis. "We like students to get in the practice of seeking advice. It's part of what they've signed up for by being here," he said.

Choosing a major

Beardsley says about 60 percent to 65 percent of incoming freshmen have chosen a major. If your freshman or sophomore student hasn't yet decided on a major, don't panic. Campus policy is flexible in the first and second years.

But this summer may be the time to talk to your student about settling on a major. By the end of sophomore year, Beardsley said, students should start honing in on a major in order to graduate in a timely manner. The campus expects students to graduate in four years, he added.

Occasionally, a student may be well into a major and suddenly decide it's not for him or her. Beardsley said students should carefully consider whether changing their major is a good idea if they are into their third or fourth years. There is a limit to how many units a student can take without graduating.

Double majors and minors

About 10 percent of UC Davis students graduate with a double major. These are often in two similar areas, such as history and political science. There are many advantages to going this route, but Beardsley warned that the heavy academic workload requires careful consideration and early planning.

With UC Davis' quarter system, most majors require 50 to 90 units beyond lower-division requirements. A minor can be a great way to pursue an academic interest whether it relates to a major or not. Only about 24 to 30 units are required for a minor, and some students earn more than one.

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