Finding Your Direction: A Guide to Choosing Your Major

Choosing a major is one of the most exciting choices in your academic career at Wesleyan. Your major helps determine your course of study and the path of your liberal arts undergraduate education.

Whether you are having trouble eliminating options, don't see any options that interest you yet, or aren't sure where to begin, this guide is designed to help you examine and evaluate your academic priorities, even if you believe you have already reached a decision.

Exercise 1: The Three-Column Discovery Method

If you are unsure where to start, use this simple sorting exercise in WesMaps to pinpoint your interests across departments.

Step 1: Create Your List

Grab a piece of paper (or open a blank document on a computer) and create three columns:

· Must Have
· Interested
· Not Interested

Browse course entries on WesMaps, including departments you haven’t considered before, and add courses to these columns.

Step 2: Analyze Your Patterns

Look closely at the courses in each column and ask yourself:

· Similarities and Differences: What are the similarities between the courses in each column? What are the differences?

· Department and Division: Do these courses cluster in a specific department, program or division (HA, SBS, NSM)?

· Prior Experience: Have you taken classes in these departments before?

· Skills: Do these classes rely on similar strengths (e.g.: intensive reading, lab work, creative writing, research)?

· Motivation: What drew you to these subjects (e.g.: specific professors, topics, hands-on projects)?

Key Takeaways:

· Not Interested Column: Realizing what you don’t want proves you are well on your way to narrowing down 45+ options to just one or two.

· Must Have Column: Look for common themes. If your interests span multiple fields, consider an interdisciplinary major, a double major, or taking elective courses outside your major for intellectual diversity in your junior and senior years.

Exercise 2: “I Want Too Many Things!” (Curriculum Overload)

If almost every course ended up on your “Must Have” or “Interested” column, ask yourself these questions to help organize your priorities:

· Graduate School: Which discipline would you consider pursuing in a graduate program?

· Independent Reading: Which subject would you comfortably read about on your own?

· Work Experience: Which field could you learn about through an internship or job?

· Immediate Focus: Which discipline can you imagine devoting yourself to this coming year?

· Electives: What areas could you explore by taking just one or two courses before graduation?

· Faculty Engagement: Which professors across different disciplines can you take courses with, or engage in discussion with about shared topics of interest?

Remember: You don’t have to major in everything you find interesting. A strong liberal arts degree prepares you for a wide range of professional and scholarly paths after college.

Exercise 3: Remaining Semester Reality Check

Draft a tentative schedule for your remaining semesters at Wesleyan, then evaluate it:
  1.  Is it doable and exciting? If not, step back and try a different combination of courses.
  2.  Look back as a graduate: Pretend you are reviewing this final transcript after graduation. 
a. How do you feel about it?
b. Does it represent a true liberal arts education?
c. Did you take advantage of the diversity of the Wesleyan curriculum?
d. How can you continue your education in these areas after graduation?

What If No Major Fits Your Interests? 

Finding Your True Interests

Pay attention to what sparks your curiosity: What are you passionate about? What are your academic distractions? When procrastinating, what do you read for pleasure?

Pro Tip: Avoid the “Perfect Choice” myth. Don’t wait for a major to “call” you as if it’s the single perfect choice. Focus on what you find genuinely engaging and fulfilling. Where have you cared deeply about the issues at hand? When reviewing the work of a scientist, anthropologist, writer, economist, or artist, how have you felt inspired to do similar work?

Alternative Paths

· The University Major: If your goals cross disciplines, you can design a custom University Major combining methodologies from two or more fields.

         Note: Proposals require solid preparation and are not automatically approved. Interested students can contact the Dean of Social Sciences for guidance and support. 

· Taking a Leave of Absence: If you are unsure why you are in college, taking time away from Wesleyan can provide clarity. You can use a leave productively through internships or community opportunities. Talk with your Class Dean and visit the Gordon Career Center to explore your options.

Key Advising Resources and Publications

Core Campus Publications

· Stellic and WesMaps: These are curriculum tools for planning your program of study, identifying themes across departments, and finding up-to-date course listings.

· Department Home Pages: The best resource for specific major requirements, gateway courses, and department contacts.

· Academic Regulations: Details about academic regulations and graduation requirements.

People Who Can Help

· Faculty and Advisors: Faculty were once in your shoes. Ask your liberal arts advisor or your professors how they chose their major, what they are currently researching, or for book/journal recommendations to learn more about their field.
· Gordon Career Center: Meet with professional career counselors or peer advisors (via drop in or appointment) to connect majors to post-graduation plans, internship searches, or graduate school applications.
· Academic Peer Advisors (APAs): Connect with trained upperclassmen who may have already navigated the major declaration process themselves. APAs can share candid insights on balancing major requirements, choosing electives, approaching professors, and managing your academic workload from a student’s perspective.
· Class Dean: Schedule an appointment with your Class Dean to talk through your options with an objective advisor outside your academic department of interest.