How to choose a Major:

Explore the resources below to help you narrow down some majors you may be interested in.

• Areas of Interest Survey: 
  • This survey should be paired with the Exploration Packet so you can explore which UW-W majors relate to an area that interests you.
    • UWW Major Interest Survey 
• My Major in Navigate:
  • The Major Explorer feature in the Navigate Student app (also accessible at uww.navigate.eab.com) is another tool to help you explore best-fit majors based on your interests and goals. The document below will give you information on how to use the feature within the navigate app.
    • My Major- Navigate help sheet
• Exploring O*Net 
  • O*Net is a website dedicated to career information sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration. Identify your own interests and skills through assessment tests and interest inventories. Learn about job duties, education and training, outlook and pay. The document below will help walk you through how to use the O*Net. 
    • O*Net help sheet

Once you explore these resources:

1. Review the Example Semester Layout section of the Exploration Packet.
2. Set up a meeting with an AAEC staff member to discuss your results by calling 262-472-4646 or emailing advising@uww.edu.

Other helpful tips:

• Explore student groups and organizations and try one that feels right for you.
  • ConnectUWW 
• Shadow or interview someone working within a desired career field.
  •  Write a list of questions to ask during a job shadow or informational interview.
    • Informational Interview tips and questions article
• Check out the list of Undergraduate Programs to see what majors are available at UW-Whitewater.
  • UW-W Undergraduate Programs
• Meet with college or department contact person to learn more about majors within your area(s) of interest and related careers.
  •  Example questions to use during your meeting
  • Academic Departments Contacts

What can I do with my Major?

Have you decided on a major but are unsure what careers you can pursue with it? Use the resources below to explore different career options.  

• O*Net 
  • O*Net is a website dedicated to career information sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration. Identify your own interests and skills through assessment tests and interest inventories. Learn about job duties, education and training, outlook and pay. The document below will help walk you through how to use the O*Net.
    • O*Net Help Sheet
• What can I do with this Major?
  • This website outlines common career areas you can enter with different majors, typical employers that hire in this field, and strategies designed to maximize career opportunities.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
  • Provides information about job outlook, pay, education level, and other details about careers.  
• CareerOneStop's Toolkit
  • Provides national and state specific occupational information.
• College Requirements 
  • Some departments or programs require a higher GPA than the 2.0 standard requirements to graduate. 
• Meet with Career Services
  

Other Helpful tips:

• Explore student groups and organizations and try one that feels right for you.
  • ConnectUWW 
• Shadow or interview someone working within a desired career field.
  •  Write a list of questions to ask during a job shadow or informational interview.
    • Informational Interview tips and questions article
• Meet with college or department contact person from area(s) of interest to discuss career opportunities related to your major.
  • Example questions to use during your meeting  
  • Academic Departments Contact

How to choose a minor:

• What is a minor 

• • • A minor is your secondary field of study for your undergraduate degree. A minor is typically 21-24 units and must be combined with a major. Most majors at UW-W require a minor but some don’t. 
      • Reference the Undergraduate Programs for a full list of available minors. Look for “Minor” listed under Type column.

• Factors to consider 

• • • A minor can compliment your major
      • Examples:  A Biology major chooses to minor in Chemistry since there is a lot of overlap and both sciences are very related.  A Social Work major picks Family/Health/Disability Studies for her minor because she hopes to work in the areas of adoption or child services.
    • A minor can be another interest area that you want incorporated into your future career/occupation 
      • Examples:  A Psychology major chooses to minor in Marketing because he plans to go to graduate school for organizational psychology and having some business knowledge will be helpful. A Political Science major chooses to minor in Race and Ethnic Studies because they hope to make a change within our criminal justice system. 
    • A minor can be solely out of interest/passion for a particular subject or hobby
      • Examples:  A Geography major chooses to minor in Dance because she has been dancing all of her life and wants to continue to be involved in that hobby.  A criminology major picks Japanese Studies for his minor because he has always been fascinated with Asian culture and plans to study abroad there. 

• Additional minor resources 

• • How to declare/change your major or minor
  • Approved minors for Elementary/Middle Education majors: Adaptive Education, ESL/Bilingual,Library/Media, Mathematics Elementary Education, General Science Elementary Education, Computer Science, Social Studies Elementary Education, English Education, or a World Language.
  • College of Business & Economics Minors and Certificates
  • College of Education & Professional Studies Minors
  • College of Letters and Science Minors
  • College of Arts and Communication
    • Choosing a Minor as a Communication or Journalism Major?