How to Choose a Major | Crash Course | How to College

Summary

This Crash Course episode, 'How to College', humorously compares college to a video game, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right major as the main storyline. It explains majors as specialized fields of study, guiding students through structured paths with required and elective courses. The video advises on balancing course loads, considering general education requirements, and the flexibility of changing majors. It encourages students to explore options, seek advice, and utilize resources to make informed decisions about their academic journey.

Takeaways

• 🎮 A college major is like the main storyline in a video game, providing structure and significant milestones.
• 🎓 Majors guide the classes students take, helping them specialize in a particular field or skill set.
• 🗺️ Colleges require students to pick a major to create their unique educational journey.
• 📚 Major courses are designed to meet specific standards, but there are choices and electives within those courses.
• 🧭 Prerequisites and electives allow students to explore different topics and hone specific skills.
• 📝 Majors might include a thesis or capstone project, a challenging research project usually completed in the final year.
• 🤝 Academic advisors are crucial in helping students navigate major requirements and course selections.
• 🎓 General education (gen ed) requirements are introductory-level courses in a range of subjects, helping broaden students' knowledge.
• ⏰ Balancing major courses with gen eds and other obligations is essential to avoid burnout.
• 🔄 Switching majors is common, with about a third of students changing their major at some point.

Q & A

What is a major in the context of college?

A major is a student's intended area of study in college, guiding the classes they take and helping them specialize their knowledge in a particular discipline, field, career, or skill set.

Why is choosing a major considered an important decision?

Choosing a major is important because it determines the primary focus of a student's college education, influencing the courses they take and their potential career paths. It is also an investment of time and money.

What are some common requirements for completing a major?

Common requirements for completing a major include taking a series of core courses laid out by the department, completing prerequisite courses, and choosing electives that align with the major. Some majors also require a thesis or capstone project.

What are electives and how do they fit into a major?

Electives are courses that students can choose from a list, allowing them to dive deeper into a topic, hone a particular skill, or explore new areas. They can complement the core courses required for a major.

How do general education (gen ed) requirements differ from major courses?

General education (gen ed) requirements are introductory level courses in a range of subjects that all students must take, regardless of their major. They cover core academic areas like composition, social science, and math, broadening students' horizons and helping them discover potential majors.

What are credit hours and how do they impact a student's workload?

Credit hours indicate how many hours per week a student will spend in a class. For each credit hour, students can expect to spend additional time outside of class on homework and studying. This helps students manage their time and balance their course loads.

Is it common for students to switch majors in college?

Yes, it is common for students to switch majors. About a third of students change their majors during college. However, switching majors late in the game can require extra semesters and additional costs.

What is the benefit of starting at a community college before transferring to a 4-year institution?

Starting at a community college can save money and allow students to complete required courses before transferring. Community colleges offer flexibility and can help students get accustomed to college-level classes.

What resources are available to help students choose a major?

Resources to help students choose a major include academic advisors, professors, career services departments, admissions counselors, and online tools like College Navigator and Big Future. Students can also audit courses and consult with faculty and staff for guidance.

How can general education courses help in choosing a major?

General education courses can help students explore different fields and discover interests that may lead to choosing a major. They provide a broad foundation of knowledge and can make the decision-making process easier.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Majors as the Main Storyline in the Game of College

This paragraph introduces the concept of choosing a major in college as akin to following a main storyline in a video game. It emphasizes the importance of this decision, as it guides a student's academic journey through a series of classes and checkpoints, leading to the acquisition of a degree. The script mentions that while there are many side quests and achievements, the major provides a structured path with required and elective courses. It also touches on the flexibility within a major, allowing students to explore different paths to reach the ultimate goal of graduation. The paragraph concludes by highlighting the role of academic advisors in helping students navigate their major requirements.

05:00

📚 Navigating College Credits and Course Loads

The second paragraph delves into the practical aspects of college coursework, focusing on credit hours as the 'experience points' of college. It explains how credit hours correlate with the time spent in class and the expected workload outside of class. The summary outlines the balance students must strike between their major courses and general education requirements, which are designed to provide a well-rounded education. The paragraph also addresses the reality of being a full-time student, comparing it to having a full-time job due to the time commitment involved. It encourages students to consider part-time work and to plan their schedules accordingly, taking into account the varying levels of difficulty across different courses.

10:01

🚀 Choosing and Adjusting Your Academic Path

The final paragraph discusses the process of selecting a major and the flexibility inherent in this decision. It acknowledges that many students enter college unsure of their major and that it's perfectly acceptable to take time to explore options. The script covers the concept of being 'undeclared' and the formal process of declaring a major. It also addresses the common occurrence of students changing their majors, noting that this is a normal part of the college experience. The paragraph touches on the implications of late major changes on graduation timelines and costs, and it introduces the idea of community colleges as an alternative route, allowing students to complete general education requirements before committing to a specific major. The summary concludes by emphasizing the importance of reflection and planning in choosing a major and the various resources available to assist students in making this decision.

Keywords

💡Major

A 'Major' in the context of the video refers to the main academic focus or area of study that a student chooses in college. It serves as the central pathway guiding the student's educational journey, involving a series of specialized courses that lead to a degree. The video emphasizes the importance of selecting a major thoughtfully, as it is a significant investment of time and resources. For instance, the script mentions that a major becomes a guide for what classes one takes and where and how one spends their time.

💡Side Quests

In the video, 'side quests' metaphorically represent the elective or optional courses that students can take alongside their major requirements. These side quests, while not the main focus, offer opportunities for students to explore diverse interests, acquire additional skills, or delve deeper into a subject. The script uses this term to illustrate the flexibility within the college curriculum, where students have the freedom to choose from a variety of classes.

💡Savepoints

'Savepoints' in the video are likened to checkpoints in a video game, representing points in a student's academic journey where progress is marked, such as completing a semester or a significant course. The term is used to emphasize the structured nature of a college education, where students reach milestones that signify advancement in their studies.

💡Credits

In the context of the video, 'credits' are the units that represent the amount of work a student is expected to put into a course, both in and out of class. Each credit hour typically equates to one hour of class time per week and an additional one to two hours of outside work. Credits are crucial as they contribute to the total number of hours needed for a student to graduate, serving as 'experience points' in the metaphorical college video game.

💡Gen Eds

'Gen Eds' or general education requirements refer to a set of introductory courses that students must take outside of their major to gain a broad educational foundation. These courses cover a range of subjects such as composition, social science, and math. The video script explains that gen eds are designed to expose students to a variety of disciplines, potentially influencing their choice of major or sparking new interests.

💡Concentration

A 'Concentration' in the video is described as a more specialized area of study within a major. It allows students to focus on a specific aspect of their chosen field, enhancing their expertise and tailoring their education to their interests or career goals. For example, an English major might choose a concentration in creative writing to deepen their skills in that area.

💡Prerequisites

'Prerequisites' are courses that must be completed before a student can enroll in more advanced courses within their major. The script uses the analogy of needing to take Algebra I before Algebra II to explain this concept. Prerequisites ensure that students have the necessary foundational knowledge to succeed in higher-level classes.

💡Electives

In the video, 'Electives' are courses that students can choose from a list when selecting their classes. They offer flexibility within the curriculum, allowing students to explore new areas, hone specific skills, or delve deeper into a topic of interest. The script mentions that taking electives can also help students round out their education, as illustrated by the director Nick taking film courses as a Graphic Design major.

💡Thesis

A 'Thesis' in the video is described as a challenging research project that students in certain majors may undertake, often during their final year. It represents a significant academic endeavor, serving as the culmination of a student's degree. The script likens writing a thesis to a 'boss battle' in a video game, indicating its importance and difficulty.

💡Capstone Project

A 'Capstone Project' is another term used in the video to describe a comprehensive project that students may complete as part of their major, similar to a thesis. It is a final, integrative work that demonstrates the student's ability to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout their studies. The script suggests that such a project is a key part of the 'boss battle' of the college experience.

💡Transfer Credits

'Transfer Credits' refer to the credits a student can bring with them when they move from one educational institution to another. The video explains that these credits can be used to satisfy requirements at the new school, which can be particularly beneficial for students who transfer from a community college to a four-year institution.

💡Academic Advisor

An 'Academic Advisor' is a professional at a college or university who helps students plan their academic path, including choosing courses and meeting major requirements. The video script emphasizes the importance of consulting with academic advisors to navigate the college curriculum effectively and to create a feasible study plan.

💡Career Path

'Career Path' in the video refers to the professional trajectory a student may envision for themselves, which can influence their choice of major. The script suggests that while some careers may point directly to a specific major, such as a software engineer to computer science, others may not require a particular major, allowing for more flexibility in a student's academic choices.

Highlights

A college major is compared to the main storyline in a video game, guiding students' academic path.

Choosing a major is a significant decision that requires thoughtful consideration to avoid wasting time and resources.

Crash Course: How to College is a series presented in partnership with Arizona State University to guide students through college.

Hundreds of classes are available in college, necessitating a structured approach to help students navigate their choices.

A major is an area of study that includes a set of specialized classes leading to a degree.

Students' majors dictate the classes they take and can define their future career paths.

Majors are an investment of time, with students 'leveling up' their abilities through course completion.

Students often share some courses within a major, but there is room for electives to explore different interests.

Prerequisites are courses that must be taken before advancing to more advanced courses within a major.

Electives offer students the opportunity to delve deeper into a topic or explore new areas of study.

Concentrations within a major allow for even more specialization in a chosen field of study.

Thesis or capstone projects are challenging culminations of a degree, often completed in the final year.

Academic advisors are essential for planning a course of study to meet major requirements effectively.

Balancing course load and general education requirements is crucial for managing time and avoiding burnout.

Credit hours represent the workload of college courses, both in class and outside for homework and studying.

Being 'undeclared' is common for first-year students, allowing time to explore options before choosing a major.

Majors can be changed, but it's important to consider the implications on graduation timeline and costs.

Community colleges offer flexible options, including the ability to transfer credits to four-year institutions.

Students can benefit from various resources, including online tools and sitting in on courses to explore majors.

Choosing a major is about investing in one's future, with the ultimate goal of developing passions into marketable skills.

Study Hall, a program by Crash Course and Arizona State University, provides additional resources for college navigation.

Transcripts

If college were a video game, a major would be like the main storyline.

Sure, there are plenty of side quests, surprises, and achievements to earn,

but a major gives us an overall route, where we take classes to reach significant plot

points and checkpoints.

And savepoints.

Hopefully lots of savepoints.

It’s a major choice—and a pretty important one,

so students tend to put a lot of thought into it.

That can be a hard thing to figure out on your own.

Spending too much time in a major that isn’t the right fit for you can waste time and money.

Luckily, you have us.

Hi, I’m Erica Brozovsky and this is Crash Course: How to College,

a Study Hall series presented in partnership with Arizona State University.

Today we’re going to talk about how to decide what to dedicate your entire life to --

just kidding, that would probably take a lot longer than 10 minutes.

But we are going to talk about how to decide what to spend your college life doing.

In college, there are hundreds, sometimes even thousands,

of different classes to choose from!

So with such a long list of possibilities,

colleges build in some structure to help us wade through and create our own unique journeys:

For instance, most colleges require students to pick a major,

which is a student’s intended area of study.

When we choose a major, we take a set of classes that help us specialize our knowledge in a

particular discipline,

field, career, or skill set.

Our major becomes a guide for what classes we take and where and how we spend our time.

In fact, a major is really what we get a degree in.

So on our diplomas it might say Bachelor’s of Linguistics or Associate’s in Nursing.

Like my major was linguistics, so I focused on English sociolinguistics

and learned skills and knowledge that I could use in a future career.

And this is true for all different types of majors

- Finance majors learn to analyze budgets and investment strategies,

English majors learn to write persuasively and interpret texts,

and computer science majors learn to code and use software to solve problems.

Ultimately, a major is an investment of our time.

And that investment pays off and we “level up” our abilities

by completing different segments that our college has set to guide our major journey.

The biggest segment will be the series of courses a department or school lays out

for a major so that every student meets more or less the same standards.

So students of the same major may take some of the same courses,

like an introductory course or a course on a special method used in their field.

Business majors may be required to take accounting,

chemistry majors may be required to take lab courses,

or philosophy majors may be required to take ethics.

But there is still some choice involved, because many times there are several different paths

through a major to reach the ultimate power up: graduating with your degree.

So some major courses may have prerequisites, which is a course you must take

before you are allowed to take a more advanced course.

It’s just like how usually we have to take Algebra I before we take Algebra II.

Other major courses are electives, which means students

are free to choose from a list when selecting courses.

Electives can help students dive deeper into a topic or hone a particular skill,

or just explore a new area.

For example, our director Nick was a Graphic Design major, but took film courses to round

out his education.

Electives can also be helpful if a major has the opportunity to choose a concentration,

or an even more specialized area of study within a field.

One of our editors, Shep, majored in English but concentrated on creative writing.

Majors might also have the option of completing a thesis or capstone project.

Writing a thesis or completing a capstone is kind of like a boss battle.

It’s a challenging research project that serves as the culmination of the degree,

usually completed during your final year.

So even if they have the same major, not every student will take exactly the same path.

It’s best for students to talk through their plan for completing the major’s requirements

with an academic advisor because advisors can explain when certain courses

are offered and propose a game plan.

Though you can usually also do your own research by reading about required courses

for each major on the department’s website.

Some even have a “major map” to help college students see what courses they need to take

and when.

At this point, the path from introductory classes to more advanced levels

probably already sounds like a lot.

Fortunately, there are ways to plan and manage your time and course load

to try and avoid being overwhelmed or burnt out.

As college students, we generally get to decide what exactly our schedules look like.

For that reason, it’s best to strike a balance.

As we navigate major requirements and other obligations,

it’s important to make sure the schedule we choose is feasible.

One way to do that is to balance your course load,

because major courses are usually not the only required courses in college.

Most schools will also have general education, or “gen ed,” requirements,

which are introductory level courses in a range of required subjects.

Gen eds tend to cover core academic areas,

like composition, social science, or math.

Sometimes, gen ed classes can broaden our horizons or help us discover potential majors.

In the best case scenario, gen ed classes will feel like a useful and interesting adventure,

rather than an unskippable cutscene.

Some students may find that one gen ed class is more difficult than another,

so choose classes wisely.

If you are already taking some challenging courses for your major,

maybe pick a gen ed that you’ll find easier.

Think about it like prioritizing your quests.

Ultimately, major courses and gen eds are helping us chip away

at the total number of credit hours we need to graduate.

Credit hours are like the experience points of college courses

-- each course is worth a certain number, and they indicate

how many hours per week students will spend in that class.

So a 3-credit hour course means that the class meets roughly 3 hours each week.

Credit hours can also give us a sense of how much time

we can expect to spend working outside of class.

A good rule of thumb is that for every hour you spend in a class,

you’ll spend one to two hours outside of class doing homework,

studying for exams, or writing papers.

So, if a student is enrolled in 15 credit hours,

they can expect to spend 15 hours a week in class and 15 to 30 hours per week on classwork.

Which is why being a full-time student is like having a full-time job

even though you’re not in class 40 hours a week!

Of course different classes require different amounts of work,

but credit hours can be a useful gauge for managing your time each semester.

And if you plan to work part-time while in college,

you can use this method to figure out how much time you can expect to spend on classes

so that you can set a realistic work schedule.

So really, all that’s left is to actually choose your classes and major!

It’s a big decision, but not one that has to be overly stressful.

Even before starting college you’ll probably hear the question

“What are you studying?”

all the time, and it’s totally okay to say “I’m not sure yet!”

A lot of people start college without knowing what they want to major in,

and there's nothing wrong with taking some time to weigh our options.

In fact, some departments already have suggested classes for first-year students.

Some engineering programs, for example, may want new students to take calculus

so they know what to expect later on.

And some students select a desired major on their application, but it’s normal to remain

“undeclared”

for our first one or two semesters of full-time enrollment.

In “academic speak,” being undecided means that you haven’t yet declared a major,

which is when you yell your favorite subject as loud as you can from your window.

Just kidding!

Declaring a major actually usually just means formally telling the college

what path you plan on taking by submitting some paperwork.

But even if you do shout it from the rooftops, don’t worry.

Your major isn’t necessarily set in stone.

Many students switch majors when they change their career plans or simply change their

mind.

In fact, about a third of students end up switching majors.

So pivoting is not unusual in college, but you should still think through the options

because it’s not always possible to switch just like that.

At 4-year colleges, switching your path late in the game might mean having to stay for

extra semesters.

And extra semesters means extra dollars.

And trade schools often specialize in degree programs or certificates for a set of careers.

So if you start out wanting to be a chef and enroll in culinary school

but then decide your passion was really heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems,

that’s going to be tricky–but not impossible with planning!

Community colleges can also provide several different routes.

One option is to enroll as a degree-seeking student

and earn an Associate’s degree in an area of study.

But we could also enroll to take college-level courses without committing to a degree.

In either case, it’s possible for students to transfer from community college

to a 4-year institution and save the progress they’ve made so far.

When a student transfers, or switches schools,

they can often use the credits they earned at their previous school

to satisfy requirements at their next one.

These are called transfer credits.

For students undecided on a career path,

the transfer track at a community college can be a great option

as it gets lots of required classes out of the way.

Plus, you can get acquainted with the experience of taking college-level

classes before you declare a major.

However, the sooner you know where you'd like to transfer,

the sooner you know which courses will transfer for credit.

Generally, public schools are more accepting of credits earned elsewhere than private schools.

But no matter where you go, choosing a major can require lots of reflection and planning.

Sometimes, our career plan points us in the right direction.

Like if you want to become a software engineer,

the computer science major is likely pretty high on your list.

But some of us are not yet sure what career we want to pursue.

And some careers don’t require us to choose one specific major at all.

Many first-year students are surprised to learn that pre-med and pre-law

aren't themselves majors,

but programs to make sure you take all the required classes for med or law school

that can be done with virtually any major.

So it’s worth thinking through your choices.

A major may be the main storyline of our college career,

but it doesn’t have to be a single-player game.

There are many resources available to help us decide what story will be ours

and how to navigate its twists and turns.

Let’s go to the Thought Bubble.

Say Jordan is trying to decide whether to major in English Literature or Economics.

When deciding on a major,

one of the best options is to get advice from people we admire or whose careers we find

exciting.

We can also rely on admissions counselors, career services departments, or academic advisors.

Professors can help too, whether you’ve taken a class with them or not.

Don’t be shy.

It’s okay to email a professor and make an appointment,

and then ask questions about their field or their department’s majors.

Faculty and staff want to see their students succeed, and it’s always possible

to ask for coaching from the experts.

There are tons of great online resources for choosing a major, as well.

Check out our Study Hall channel where you’ll find

Fast Guides to College Majors which takes a closer look at many different

areas of study and what career paths those majors can open for you.

Click the card or the link in the description.

You can also use websites like College Navigator or Big Future to learn about degree programs.

And students sometimes try sitting in on a course

in order to get a better sense of how a topic is taught and what a given department teaches.

When a student sits in on a course for an entire semester, that’s called auditing,

and it can be a useful tool for making decisions about what to study next

–although it’s worth mentioning that you need prior permission from the course instructor

to do this.

As you satisfy gen ed requirements, you may find yourself wanting

to take one or two more courses in that topic.

That can be helpful as well, and if you don’t end up using those courses to count towards

your major,

they could always become part of a minor,

or a secondary area of focus.

Taking classes and talking to professors is always going to be a great option to learn

about majors.

Thanks, Thought Bubble.

Remember, a major is an investment.

One day, when interviewing for a job, the major you choose

might help you explain how you developed your passions

and interests into marketable skills.

And no matter how many wrong turns you make

or how many classes and credit hours you squeeze in,

remember ultimately college is teaching us how to learn --

which we’ll keep doing for the rest of our lives.

Thanks for watching this episode of Crash Course How to College.

This series is part of an expanded program called Study Hall.

Crash Course has partnered with Arizona State University to launch Study Hall on its own

channel.

Check out youtube.com/studyhall where you’ll find more tips about navigating college,

choosing a major, plus foundational courses connected to college credit courses

that students struggle most with in their first 2 years.

We hope to see you over there!