Exploring UAZ Majors

What are your choices, and how do you find out which is right for you?

Identifying your choices is an essential part of the major exploration process, as is having the tools to compare and contrast your “major” contenders.

There are many ways to get information about majors; here are some of your options:

  • Academic advisors: available for all majors at the University of Arizona; advisors are your best resource for getting questions answered, including how to declare majors of interest. Here is the directory of academic advisors by major.
  • Degree Search: offers the opportunity to search by types of majors and includes information on course requirements, career opportunities, and more. Here is the link to Degree Search.
  • Information Sessions: available for many majors (e.g., Education, Retailing and Consumer Science, Psychology, Political Science, Global Studies, and Eller business majors). Some are online, some are in-person. Attending an information session does not obligate you to declare the major (though it often gives you the opportunity to do so) and it's a great way to learn more. To find out if a major of interest to you offers information sessions, find the major advisor here and click on the “Declaring a Major” link, if available.
  • College or Departmental websites: Contact information for each college or department is available and you can look for more information under their “Academic Programs” or “Undergraduate Programs” to get started. Here is a directory to help begin your search.

Different majors vary not only by academic focus and courses, but also by how to declare, when to declare, levels of math and second language required, course availability, and more. Getting the information you need to make an informed decision is essential.

Here are some questions to consider further:

Design thinking your way to a major

Major to Career Relationship

Exploring UArizona majors

choosing a Major

maximizing general education requirements

 

Sometimes your major interests will be met by the overall major (e.g., Psychology). Other times your major interests are more specifically met by a concentration or emphasis within a major (e.g., Criminal Justice within Public Management and Policy, Global Health and Development within Global Studies). All of these options can be found on Degree Search.

While the UA does have a Law major, we do not have pre-med majors – and neither a pre-law nor a pre-med major is required to go onto one of these post-graduate schools. You can choose any major and go to law school. The same is true for medical school, or any health related professional school, provided you complete essential core science and prerequisite courses. The UAZ has award-winning pre-law and pre-health advising offered from The A Center.

Do yourself the favor of utilizing their services - both as you’re exploring majors and once you’ve chosen the right one(s) for you – to make sure you are doing all that you can to prepare for admission to law school or health professional programs.

Among the most important things to know are how to declare (e.g., by application, appointment, or information Session), when to declare (e.g., any time, within certain time frames, by a firm deadlines), and course availability (find out if courses are open to non-majors).

A list of Top 10 Questions that The A Center advisors suggest you ask is available here or at The A Center. You’ll no doubt have other questions of your own to add to the list! The best places to get these questions answered are by talking to academic advisors for your areas of interest.

*Please note: some majors only accept applicants once a year; some restrict courses to existing majors only; some have specific course sequences that you’ll need to know about to plan your time as an undergraduate. Understanding the specifics about the majors you’re interested in is essential to making the best choice.