At The University of Iowa, that’s not a problem. About 20 percent of new students entering the University each year haven’t made a final choice about their major or their career. These students usually enroll in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, declaring their major as “open major.” They plan to choose a major after taking courses in the General Education Program or elective courses in fields of possible interest.

You’ll have more than 100 areas of study (including majors, minors, and certificate programs) to consider at Iowa, and sorting through them can be a challenging process. Our goal is to provide a wealth of information and resources to help you review your options, explore the areas that interest you, and help you make the best choices for your future. The following are a few of those resources and opportunities.

• Academic Advising
• Pomerantz Career Center
• Internships/Externships
• Undergraduate Research
• Other Exploration Options
• Online Resources

Academic Advising

Students who declare an open major are assigned an advisor at the Academic Advising Center. Your academic advisor can:

• Answer questions about areas of study.
• Provide information about majors’ specific application requirements.
• Work with you to identify academic and vocational interests.
• Assist you in course selection to explore possible majors.
• Help you discover experiences outside the classroom that can further define your interests.
• Introduce you to other resources that can be helpful to your decision-making process.

You may not immediately declare a particular major because you want to explore your interests before choosing a major. Your advisor can help you choose courses that will keep your options open, especially if you are considering a limited-admission major that requires prerequisite courses.

If you are interested in Iowa’s Four-Year Graduation Plan, you’ll also need to work closely with your advisor. Most of the majors at Iowa are eligible for the four-year plan, and some have checkpoints that must be met in the first year. It may be possible to graduate in four years if you don’t choose your major by the end of your first year, but careful planning will be required.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requires all students to declare a major by the time they have completed 72 semester hours. This policy helps to ensure that everyone stays on track for graduation.

The Academic Advising Center web site will lead you to more information that can help you.

Pomerantz Career Center
The Pomerantz Career Center assists students who are searching for a major and career. Students are encouraged to stop in and take online interest inventories, meet with a career advisor, and learn about possible internships and externships in an online recruiting system.

The process of learning about career fields begins at the career center. Many liberal arts and sciences graduates end up in careers quite different from their major area. However, working with career center staff can help you to clarify your direction, and that will help you choose a career and major.

The center hosts multiple career fairs, thousands of interviews, and other events each year. Students also can enroll in one of several career courses including the Career Leadership Academy, a program designed to help students develop leadership and employee-readiness skills.

Internships/Externships
One of the best ways to gain firsthand knowledge of career fields is through internships or externships, which can be arranged with assistance from the Pomerantz Career Center and some academic departments.

Internships are short-term work experiences (usually ranging from a few weeks up to a year) that are in some way related to your area of study or career path. They can be full-time or part-time, paid or unpaid, and sometimes may earn you academic credit. They are valuable opportunities to apply what’s learned in class to a supervised work situation and allow you to prove your abilities in a professional situation. Many employers stress the importance of having quality internships on one’s résumé. The Pomerantz Career Center sponsors several unique experiences such as the Des Moines Center, Walt Disney College Program, Experience Iowa, and the Washington Center internship programs.

Iowa students recently have participated in internships with Newsweek magazine, Viacom/MTV Networks, Rockwell Collins, the U.S. government, Wells Fargo Financial, John Deere, Walt Disney World, Merrill Lynch, and the American Council of Young Political Leaders.

Job shadowing a neurosurgeon in New York City, the president of a Midwestern television station, or an Intel marketing manager in California are all examples of externships. They provide on-the-job experience, often during winter or spring breaks.

The career center and the UI Alumni Association offer these types of opportunities for students to interact with successful Iowa graduates through a career exploration program called ICE-Net, a collection of more than 500 Iowa alumni who have volunteered to help students with career networking.

Undergraduate Research
The University of Iowa is classified as a “Research I” university, meaning its professors are on the cutting edge of research in their fields. Whether the area is biology, geology, psychology, medicine, engineering, business, or another area of the arts or sciences, getting involved in research as an undergraduate can be great preparation for a career. It also can help students who have not declared a major to decide whether a particular field is appropriate for them. Students at Iowa have remarkable opportunities in this area. Not all colleges and universities offer research opportunities to undergraduates.

Students who are active in research as undergraduates are more likely to get into a graduate or professional program. Also, research involvement can provide credit hours toward graduation, money for education, and important letters of recommendation.

Many campus programs support students interested in academic and scientific research, including the University of Iowa Honors Program, Iowa Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program, Undergraduate Scholar Assistantship Program, and Iowa Biosciences Advantage (for underrepresented minority students).

Other Exploration Options
The University holds an Exploring Majors Fair each fall semester to provide more information on the many areas of study.

Joining one of the University’s numerous student organizations—whether academic or recreational in nature—can provide ways to learn more about majors and careers. So can volunteering with University and community service agencies and organizations.

Online Resources
You can already begin considering which areas of study appeal to you and narrowing your choices.

Review the list of Majors and Programs on the admissions web site.

Check out the Major Exploration Guide on the Academic Advising Center web site. It explains more than 20 things you can do to help choose a major.

Explore the Occupational Outlook Handbook, a nationally recognized source of career information provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations.