Short answer – no! Long answer – no! You do not need a major to start college. While it does help to have some idea of where your interests or hobbies lie, it’s not necessary to pick something right out of the gate. And once you get here, UM has a ton of resources to help you make an informed decision about your future. Scroll below to discover some of the ways we'll help you discover your major interests:
No matter what major you end up choosing, all students take prerequisites. Prerequisites are a good taste of all things academic and it’s a great way to narrow down your interests and passions. These include math, science, English, psychology, history and more. You can use these classes as a springboard into an exploration of a more narrowed focus of study.
Learn More: Prerequisites | University of Montana
Another way to start smart without a major is to take career assessments. You can find many online with a quick Google search, but UM also has one you can find on the Office of Student Services website. These assessments ask about your academic interests, skills and values and match you to in-depth descriptions of careers that fit you best.
Discover Your Interests : Take the Assessment
The Office for Student Success (OSS) is a campus resource that helps students with their transition to college, remaining in college and graduating on time. They provide services and programs to support you in your academic and personal development while at UM. Plenty of resources fall under the OSS umbrella, including study jams, TRIO, Undergrad advising, exploratory studies, wellbeing and more.
Learn More: Office for Student Success | University of Montana
The undergraduate advising center is part of OSS and it provides each student with an advisor. These advisors know all majors offered at UM and can speak with you about trajectories, classes and what your four years could look like. They can give you a better understanding of what might fit you best based on your interests and career needs.
Learn More: Undergraduate Advising Center | University of Montana
The Exploratory Studies Program is an easy way to gain hands-on experience and explore potential options. You can explore multiple majors while still getting in your graduation requirements. The tracks you choose have recommendations for building your course schedules for the first three semesters. Be sure to discuss this with career counselors in ELCS or with your academic advisor.
Learn More: Exploratory Studies Program Website
ELCS is a wonderful resource for students because it provides services throughout college and beyond! You can schedule an appointment to discuss the majors and trajectories that might benefit you. They also have a page on their website providing information about domestic and foreign student internships, student jobs and finding a career when you graduate.
Learn More: Experiential Learning and Career Success | University of Montana
The list of majors is vast here at UM, so it can be hard to know all the different majors, minors and certificates offered. That’s why one of your initial steps in finding a major should be looking through the program finder! This useful tool delves into helpful information about what the major entails, alumni testimonies, career opportunities, clubs related to the major and more!
Discover More : Program Finder | University of Montana
Every September on The Oval, UM has a WelcomeFeast! At this event, students can play games and walk around to different tables to learn more about clubs, fraternities and sororities, volunteer opportunities, academic programs and more! This is a great opportunity to speak with people who work and teach in different programs and ask them questions about their department’s majors.
Dual Enrollment is for high school students who would like to earn college credit during their normal school day. Different options are available whether you are a Montana high school student or an out-of-state high school student, but typically everyone has the opportunity to take discounted classes at their high school or online. If you're in Montana, your first two classes are free, and you can take classes on our campus.
Read More: How I Save with Dual Enrollment (blog)
Like the exploratory studies program, auditing a class can help determine a major. While you forgo a class credit, this option is free. Auditing is where you sit in on one or two classes to get a feel for the subject, decide if you like it and want to pursue it or dip out without having to drop a class.