Major Decision-Making

Choosing a major is a decision that each student comes to for their own reasons…and on their own timelines. Some students investigate options longer to make their decision and need assistance in the process. Sometimes students find a career of interest but aren’t sure of the major that will lead them there. And at other times, students think they know their path heading to college, something changes, and they are not sure how to update their path on their own. We understand and have resources to support you.

Enroll in ELN 1110: Exploring Majors Seminar for 1 semester hour. This course is taught each fall and spring. Students explore in depth their values, interests, goals, personality, and more; and how these relate to the majors and other academic experiences available at Elon.

Use the Academic Catalog to explore the academic programs available at Elon. Write down the names of any majors that intrigue you. You’re just exploring and not making a commitment, so write down the names of ones you know less about as well. We then encourage you to use the Majors & Minors link to your left. This will provide you quick links to our respective Colleges and Schools to learn more about each program. As you learn more, add or eliminate options from your list

Take the free MyPlan: Career and Personality Assessments. These four assessments are designed to help you understand your personality, values, interests, and skills. Access My Plan via the Student Professional Development Center website. Then schedule a meeting to discuss your results with an Academic Advisor.

Do some person-to-person research. Chat with students in majors of interest as well as faculty in the departments. If you need help finding a contact, talk to your ELN 101 instructor or consult with one of our Academic Advisors.

Access “What can I do with this major?” via the Student Professional Development Center website. This is offered by a partner institution but can help students see just how many places majors can take them.

Schedule a meeting with an Academic Advisor. Though we give some suggestions here, it can be helpful to talk through this important decision.

Research Your Options:

Elon University offers an incredible array of academic opportunities.

We encourage current and prospective students, staff, advisors, and family members to explore these opportunities through various campus resources. In the Office of Academic Advising, we are able to discuss the options you find, help you interpret these options, and help you create a graduation plan to accomplish these and other academic goals while at Elon.

A great starting point is Majors, Minors, & Programs. This website provides a handy list of all the academic opportunities Elon offers. Visitors to this site can search by Undergraduate Major or Undergraduate Minor. Following the information for each leads the visitor to the Elon University Academic Catalog.

The Office of the Registrar creates an annual online Academic Catalog, or Smart Catalog. Entering students must follow the latest up-to-date Academic Catalog for their academic requirements. This is true both for first-year and transfer students. Returning students may opt to use the Academic Catalog from when they entered Elon or a newer Academic Catalog.

Colleges and Schools at Elon: