Read the catalog.
Read the college catalog. Sounds funny right? But studying the course descriptions can help give you ideas about courses that might be of interest to you. Go through all the course descriptions, highlight those that interest you, then, group together under a discipline (ie: sociology) or general field (physical sciences). Take at least one course in the areas that interest you.

Talk to Faculty and upperclassmen in the majors that interest you.
They probably taught or took the courses that you highlighted. What do they like most about their field? Least? What do you have in common with them? Gather information from several individuals to get a full idea of the field.

Do an Informational Interview.
(Additional Information is available on this subject). You will be amazed at the range of career fields represented by a single major. Find out what people working in that field thought was helpful for their career preparation. Find out what they would change if they could do it all over again.

Consider the requirements for the degree.
Read in the college catalog or use the Elliot Center's Program Planning Sheets to get a full idea of the requirements for each field of interest. Tip: Do not let a required course you would like to avoid keep you from a major you would otherwise enjoy. Meet with a faculty member or academic advisor to discuss the possibilities.

Use Assessment Instruments
These are available through the Academic & Career Advising Center. Possibilities include the Self-Directed Search and the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator).

Consider These Possibilities

Dual Major. Students may graduate with a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree with two majors by successfully completing all requirements for both of the majors.

Major/Minor Combinations. Creative combinations of disciplines offer opportunities to broaden and strengthen your program of study.

Elective Credits. Students may select courses that are not required for their major or minor but may support their educational objectives or career interests.

Field Experience. Students may pursue internship/cooperative education experiences in their field of study to augment their academic preparation.

Individualized Major. This is an interdisciplinary program designed to satisfy an individual student's educational interests or career objectives by integrating content from two or more academic disciplines. The major is designed with the help of faculty advisors and approved by the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. For more information, contact the Elliot Center.

Declaring a Major
Keene State College policy requires that you officially declare your major on a Declaration of Major form. This process may be completed at any time after your arrival at KSC, but you must complete the process by the time you have earned 60 credits. If you are having trouble choosing your major, visit Academic & Career Advising.

1. Obtain a Declaration of Major form from the Elliot Center.
2. Take the form to the department chair, or a faculty advisor in your specific major and have him/her sign the form acknowledging that he/she is now your advisor of record.
3. You must sign the form acknowledging that you have selected a specific major and faculty advisor.
4. Return the completed form to the Elliot Center to complete the process.

You retain the right to change your major and/or advisor at any time according to College policy and procedure. Changing your major may or may not impact the completion date of your degree. Consult an advisor to determine what impact a change in major might have.

Related Links
Exploring Majors
What Can I Do With a Major in . . .