Selecting a College Major: Exploration and Decision Making

This revision of Selecting a College Major is a tremendous resource in assisting students with their search for a future that fits their strengths and interests. This new and updated edition uses 14 Fields of Study as a framework for exploring academic possibilities. It will help not only the "undecided" student with selecting a major, but also the "major-changer" who is exploring alternative options.

A systematic process leads students through personal and academic assessment as well as occupational information searches. Through thought-provoking activities, they can explore their academic, career, and personal interests and goals. Students can investigate academic majors from many perspectives, including a search of majors in general, majors on their campus, and majors based on their academic and occupational interests. Highlights include:

• A Natural Decision-Making Progression. Students are directly and personally involved in activities that involve exploration, reflection, and choice.
• Extensive Major Exploration. Three distinct approaches provide students with thorough exploration of the majors decision
• Incorporation of Academic and Career Interests, Abilities, and Values. Expanded self-assessment gives students information on which to base their choice of a major with in the 14 Fields of Study..
• Formulation of a Graduation Plan. Students use their academic transcripts to summarize all they have Learned and develop a plan for the future.

Visit the Student Success Supersite (www.prenhall.com/success), where students and faculty will find an array of resources.

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www.MyStudentSuccessLab.com

This book greatly simplifies the complex process of choosing a major by leading students through personal, academic and occupational information searches. It offers a natural progression for decision making by using thought-provoking activities to explore themselves before exploring majors. Whether choosing or changing a major, the discovery process examines different perspectives, such as relating interests, skills and values to academic fields of study, searching a national system that identifies many academic majors, and exploring majors available at their own institution. Once specific academic alternatives are identified, a search of occupational information helps students examine the career possibilities that specifically relate to the majors they are considering.

Virginia N. Gordon is Assistant Dean Emeritus and faculty member at The Ohio State University. She has extensive experience in teaching, administration and counseling in higher education settings. Her bibliography includes many books, book chapters, monographs and journal articles on higher education topics including academic and career counseling.

Susan J. Sears is an educational consultant and emeritus faculty member from The Ohio State University where she taught career development courses for both undergraduate and graduate students. She has written numerous books, book chapters, and journal articles focusing on the career development of adolescents and young adults.