FAQs
Common questions, detailed answers.
Please review these common questions about the major exploration process
Remember, there is not one right major and it is important for students to investigate their options so that they can make an informed decision and reach their academic goals.
Prospective Students
We recommend that you first reach out to the advisor for that specific major to learn more. You can find all advisor contact information on the Advising Resource Center’s website. If you learn more about the major and are still confused, feel free to make an appointment with an advisor in The A Center.
We are sorry you were not admitted to your first choice of major prior to orientation; however, you are welcome to start with The A Center as Undeclared while you work towards completing the requirements for your preferred major and reapplying.
No, not at all! You recognize that you need more time to make a decision on your major, and The A Center is here to help. We recommend taking a look at the Common Thoughts in our Starting Undeclared section.
We are excited you have decided to explore your options first with us. When applying to the University of Arizona, you are welcome to select the Undeclared option on your admissions application.
If you have already been admitted and want to choose Undeclared, you can do so by selecting it in your Next Steps Center. You also have the opportunity to choose Undeclared during your orientation session. If you decide to change majors after Orientation, please reach out to the academic advisor for that specific major.
Yes! Inventories cannot tell you what to major in or what career suits you best, but most of the time inventories can help you confirm your self-understanding and can provide suggestions of areas to consider. Inventories can also help you learn more about different career fields, the skills they require, and the types of majors that help you develop those skills.
The Office of Student Engagement and Career Development offers a number of inventories you can take that focus on interests, abilities, and values. AzCIS is one particular site that offers many inventories in one location. We also have a section on our website called Beginning the Process on Your Own, which houses some inventories and activities to help you explore.
Yes! Degree Search lists all majors and their respective emphases/concentrations. You can also narrow your search down by language and math requirements, college, and areas of interests. Additionally, check out the Advising Resource Center, which has information about the advisors for each major and minor, as well as information to set up appointments with these advisors and degree plans.
Absolutely! We would love to talk with you about major options and what it’s like to be a student at the University of Arizona. We won’t be able to talk about classes until orientation, when all your placement exams are in and you’ve reviewed the general education structure. If you have a University of Arizona student ID number, you can schedule an appointment here. If not, please call (520) 621-7763 to schedule.
If you have AP/IB/ Dual Enrollment/ CLEP credit, you should make sure that the official score reports are received by The University of Arizona Registrar's Office so that it shows on your record when you attend orientation. That way an advisor can give you an accurate number of general education courses you have left to complete. If you do not have your AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/CLEP credit submitted by the time of your orientation session, please have a list of your courses or test credit (with scores) so we can give you an estimate of your remaining general education courses. You should check back in with your advisor when your credit or test scores have been submitted. AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/CLEP credit may mean that you have fewer general education courses to complete and that you need to declare a major sooner than a student coming in without credit. But that’s okay, you have time and we will work with you. Check out our resources for major self-exploration or schedule an appointment for major exploration with an advisor in The A Center.
First, know there isn’t one specific major for Pre-Health or Pre-Law students. You can major in anything and go into these careers, so we’re so happy you’re starting with us. In The A Center, we have dedicated Pre-Health advisors and a Pre-Law advisor who can help you on your way. For Pre-Health students, we’ll work with you during orientation to help you enroll in classes that fulfill prerequisites for the health field you want to study. For Pre-Law, we’ll help you select courses that interest you as law schools look closely at academic performance. As you continue your academic career at The University of Arizona, you should maintain a relationship with your Pre-Health or Pre-Law advisors for assistance with course selection, personal statements, and readying your application.
The A Center offers peer mentors to first-year students interested in finding connection with an Undeclared or previously Undeclared student. Peer mentors meet with students throughout the semester and talk about time management, study tips, involvement, and how to navigate U of A. They also know what it’s like to be Undeclared as they all started with The A Center, so they can help you feel comfortable in this experience. If you are interested in working with a peer mentor, be sure to speak to your advisor for more information about the program.
Current Students
We recommend that you reach out to the advisor for that specific major to learn more. You can find all advisor contact information on the Advising Resource Center’s website . If you learn more about the major and are still confused, feel free to make an appointment with an advisor in The A Center.
Yes! However, there are few things to consider...
Inventories alone cannot tell you what to major in or what career suits you best, but most of the time inventories can help you confirm your self-understanding and can provide suggestions of areas to consider. Inventories can also help you learn more about different career fields, the skills they require, and the types of majors that will help you develop those skills.
The Office of Student Engagement and Career Development offers a number of inventories you can take that focus on interests, abilities, and values. AzCIS is one particular site that offers many inventories in one location. We also have a section on our website called Beginning the Process on Your Own, which houses some inventories and activities to help you explore.
Yes, Degree Search lists all majors and their respective emphases/concentrations. You can also narrow your search down by language and math requirements, college, and areas of interests. Additionally, check out the Advising Resource Center, which has information about the advisors for each major and minor, as well as information to set up appointments with these advisors and degree plans.
Congratulations on picking your major! Each major has different steps to declare; we recommend visiting the Advising Resource Center to find out more information about that process for your chosen major. Some of the next steps could include meeting with an advisor, filling out a form, completing an information session/quiz, attending a workshop, or completing an application. Please keep in mind that some majors do not declare students during priority registration and/or students that are under a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
We realize this move may have been frustrating or sudden, but we are here to help you! The first thing we recommend is to meet with your new advisor in The A Center to discuss a plan moving forward. Please visit the Students in Major Transition section of our website for more information.
Yes! You are welcome to meet with an advisor in The A Center to discuss the option of moving to Undeclared. Depending on where you are in your college career, we might give other suggestions or options, in addition to moving to Undeclared. Regardless, we would like to talk to you about your goals and options!
Yes, absolutely! We will meet with any student needing help on their major selection, regardless of if they are Undeclared or not. Please feel free to make an appointment with us.
Yes, talk to an advisor in The A Center about SERP 197P. It is a graded, two-unit, major exploration class offered in every academic session.
To declare a second major, we recommend starting with the Advising Resource Center to find out more information. You may need to schedule an appointment, fill out a form, or complete an information session. After you declare, work with both of your major advisors to determine which classes you need to take each semester so you stay on track for graduation.
Declaring minors is a similar process. Go to the Advising Resource Center page and search the Academic Advisor Directory for minors. You may need to schedule an appointment or fill out a form to declare a minor.
Please keep in mind that some majors/minors do not declare students during priority registration and/or students that are under a 2.0 cumulative GPA. They may have other requirements as well. If you get confused along the way, contact your major advisor and they will point you in the right direction.
First, know there isn’t one specific major for Pre-Health or Pre-Law students. You can major in anything and go into these careers, so we’re so happy you’re starting with us. In The A Center, we have dedicated Pre-Health advisors and a Pre-Law advisor who can help you on your way. The Pre-Health track requires students to take certain prerequisite courses towards the health-related career of their choice. As you continue your academic career at The University of Arizona, you should maintain a relationship with your Pre-Health or Pre-Law advisors for assistance with course selection, personal statements, and reading your application.
Parents, Families and Supporters
We are here to support your student through a variety of avenues. If your student begins in The A Center, we have a first-year pathway towards success, which provides a structured advising appointment schedule along with events, programs, and activities throughout the first-year.
This is a great question and one we receive often!
Even though a student is starting Undeclared, we will work with them to maximize their schedule so that they can choose a variety of pathways. For example, if your student identifies science as a potential option, we will plan on math and lab science courses as being a part of your student’s schedule. There are a few majors on campus that might be better to start with first, and we are happy to talk with you about the options if you have questions. We recommend looking at the Supporting Your Student with Major Exploration section to learn more about how to help your student.
We understand wanting to support your student through their college experience. As a college student, your student’s academic information is protected due to federal FERPA regulations. A student can opt to sign a FERPA waiver with their advisor, which would allow us to speak with you more specifically about your student’s academic record. Please feel free to ask us questions, and we will help in the ways we can.
We’ve got you covered! We have an entire page dedicated to campus resources such as the Disability Resource Center, Think Tank, and cultural and resource centers. In addition, The A Center also offers peer mentors to first-year students interested in finding connection with an Undeclared or previously Undeclared student. Peer mentors meet with students throughout the semester and talk about time management, study tips, involvement, and how to navigate U of A. They also know what it’s like to be Undeclared as they all started with The A Center, so they can help your student feel comfortable in this experience. If your student would like to connect with a peer mentor, please have them reach out to their academic advisor for more information.
If your student has AP/IB/ Dual Enrollment/ CLEP credit, they should make sure that the official score reports or transcripts have been sent to and received by The University of Arizona's Registrar Office, prior to orientation. This way, the scores or credits will show on their record when they attend orientation. Then, an advisor can give the student an accurate number of general education courses they have left to complete.
If a student doesn’t have their AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/CLEP credit or scores submitted by the time of their orientation session, they should have a list of their courses or test credit (with scores) so we can give them an estimate of their remaining general education courses. The student should check back in with their advisor when the credit or test scores have been submitted.
AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/CLEP credit may mean that your student has fewer general education courses to complete and that they need to declare a major sooner than a student coming in without credit. But that’s okay, they have time and we will work with them. Students can check out our resources for major self-exploration or schedule an appointment for major exploration with an advisor in The A Center.
We recommend your student schedule their advising appointments to get them comfortable with the process and to further promote the development of self-advocacy skills.
You are welcome to attend your student’s advising appointment as long as they have given permission and there is a signed FERPA wavier on file. If your student does not have one on file, they student will be called back to fill one out before you can join the appointment. We cannot speak to specifics (grades, classes, etc.) without a completed FERPA form signed by the student. We recommend your student schedule the appointment to get them comfortable with self-advocacy.
University of Arizona Advisors, Faculty and Staff
We are happy to help with your student. First and foremost, we recommend the student come in for an appointment with an advisor in The A Center. If they are not ready for an appointment, we recommend looking at the Beginning the Process on Your Own page.
We realize that sometimes a student's current major is not the best fit. At the end of the fall and spring semesters, we offer a program change option for colleges looking to help their students transition into a different major path. However, we recommend checking with us before making the program change. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or if would like to partner with The A Center to provide major exploration workshops for your student population.
We do accept students below a 2.0 GPA, however, the student should schedule an appointment with an advisor in The A Center to discuss the change into our program. If they are looking to be readmitted, they should schedule an appointment as well so that we can discuss the process and determine the best course of action (such as Second Start).
Not necessarily. For a major change, the student can go to the Advising Resource Center website to find out more information about the major of their choice, including how to declare it. It may require attending an information session, submitting a form, or scheduling an appointment with an advisor. However, if they’re unsure of what major to declare then they should schedule a major exploration appointment with an advisor in The A Center. Major exploration appointments are for exploring options rather than declaring.
In The A Center, we have dedicated Pre-Health advisors and a Pre-Law advisor who can help your student on their way. The Pre-Health track requires students to take certain prerequisites toward the health-career of their choice. The student should work closely with a Pre-Health advisor to determine which courses to take each semester, in addition to their major advisor.
Pre-Law students should work with the Pre-Law advisor, meeting with them regularly. As they continue their academic career at The University of Arizona, they should keep a relationship with their Pre-Health or Pre-Law advisor as those advisors can assist in course selection, personal statements, and readying the student’s application.
There are two ways to promote your major with The A Center and Undeclared students. First, join us for the Meet Your Major Fair, an event allowing Undeclared students to peruse all majors on campus in one room. The Meet Your Major Fair is held annually in the Fall and is a great way for students to be introduced to your major. Second, you can work with us to organize a panel of students, faculty, and advisors for a Learn S’More event. At this panel, students are invited to join us for s’more brownies, coffee, and conversation about a major or group of majors. If you’re interested in either of these events, please contact us!
We would love to come to your classroom and give a short presentation about major exploration! We have many different types of presentations and will work with you to tailor one for your class. To set up a presentation, please contact us.