Exploratory Major Change

If you would like to change your major to one of the Exploratory designations, please contact the Mānoa Advising Center to set up an appointment to discuss your major change and complete the form.

Are you an exploratory student?

If you have not been fully admitted to a college or a school within UHM and have not decided on your major, you are considered an exploratory student.

Steps to Selecting a Major: Finding the right major requires a lot of conscious effort – self-reflection, self-evaluation, researching and information gathering.  The following is the general steps that help you find a major that fits you best.

Steps	What you need to do:	Tips & Suggestions
1. Assess you interests, abilities, and values	Ask yourself: • What are your passions? • What are you interested in? • What are you good at? • What subjects did you enjoy? • What kinds of things are important to you and in what order? • What are your educational and career goals?	• Talk to those who know you best: family, friends, teachers, employers • Take career assessments and interest inventories at CSDC (QLC 307)
2. Know the major options available at UHM & gather information	• Review ‘degrees, minors and certificates offered at UHM’ in the UHM catalog • Mark any majors that appeal to you. • Read descriptions of those majors: º What the field is about º Requirements (e.g., prerequisite courses, total credits, required major courses, GPA, admission requirements, official application to the program) º Titles and courses descriptions of required courses and electives	• Visit Mānoa Career Center (QLC 212) to learn what you can do with various majors • Check the website of your potential major departments • Ask upperclassmen and classmates how they chose their majors
3. Explore your major options & do more research	• Take an introductory course in the subject of your interest • If you like it, take additional courses in the field • Meet with your academic advisor to: º Review your degree requirements º Discuss exploratory course options º Discuss strategies to fulfill general education requirements while exploring º Discuss campus resources that would help narrow down your options	• Attend information sessions of your potential majors (if offered) • Visit undergraduate advisors for each major and ask more about the field (e.g., scholarship, research, internships, career options, student organization) • Plan ahead: some majors (e.g., natural sciences, art, theater, languages, music) require an early start for timely graduation
4. Evaluate & narrow down your options	• Ask yourself honestly: º Did you enjoy the subject? º Did you do well in intro-level and prerequisite courses? º Have you met or are you close to meeting the admission requirements? º Look at both pros and cons of your options • Discuss your decision with your academic advisor and develop an academic plan	• Make a timely decision! • Make sure that you are eligible to apply into the major program (e.g., test scores, field experience, personal statement, etc.) • Send an application before application deadlines (if applicable)
	Declare a major by junior year (60cr)!