Explore majors and careers
All students select a major when they apply to ASU. It’s commons to explore other majors even after making their initial selection. Many students change their major at least once, and sometimes several times. Explore now to get a head start on planning for your future and what you can do to make it happen!
Selecting a major and a career path can be overwhelming. There are so many career possibilities. In addition to the thousands of job titles that currently exist, completely new job titles, new career fields and new technologies will be created each year. How do you manage all of that? Do research to find a field – or two or three – that excite you. Take notes and keep a list of the things that appear interesting and exciting. Also pay attention to the things that sound boring and distasteful.
Do a self-assessment
- Find a major, degree program and career that fits you with me3®, an online interactive major and career quiz. Easily explore majors and careers that fit your interests and passions. Then chart an academic pathway to find a degree program that leads to a career so you can design the future you want.
- My Next Move can help answer questions about what type of work you may enjoy. Find your career direction in a few words!
- FINISH- Start now for a strong finish
Many people skip this step and end up jumping from one job to another, never finding career satisfaction. Approach career planning logically and systematically. Identify interests, skills, abilities, preferences and values. Students are more successful academically when interests are aligned to careers.
Learn about majors and careers
Research majors and careers
- Consider reviewing Major Exploration: What Can I Do? ASU’s self-paced short modules in Canvas.
- What can I do with this major? Whether you’re exploring majors or searching for information about your chosen field, this website will help you connect majors to careers. Learn about typical career areas and types of employers that hire people with each major.
- Career Cornerstone is a great resource for those pursuing careers in engineering, mathematics, information technology and the physical sciences. You can find “a day in the life of” and more.
- Discover more about your ASU major and other Fulton Schools of Engineering majors.
- Listen to industry panels where some engineering alumni shared what they are doing in industry. Check them out under the YouTube ASU Engineering Career Channel
Speak to others through Informational Interviewing
- Speak with other ASU students.
- A great way of doing that is to connect with members of Fulton student organizations. They are very willing to talk about what they are learning, applying and why they like it. There are a lot of organizations, so start with two or three.
- Fulton Ambassadors are engineering students who speak with other students about their majors. Connect with them at https://engineering.asu.edu/tempe-fulton-ambassadors/
- Talk to professionals who have careers you think you want at Career Exploration Night for First Year Students held each fall.
- LinkedIn contains a wealth of information about people, companies and jobs. Type in Arizona State University and the major you are interested in to find students and alumni. Send a few alumni LinkedIn messages asking if the person has some time to talk to you about their major and job because you are selecting or considering changing your major. Go to the LinkedIn Learning Center for student user guides.
Put it all together
View the first year checklist.
As you compile a list of potential jobs and career fields, consider how they fit with your abilities, skills, interests and values. Identify and plan to meet people who are doing the kinds of work you think you would like to do. Remember that your professors are very knowledgeable about these topics. Plan to visit them during their office hours.
Make it a goal to get a summer job, a part-time position or an internship working alongside professionals whose work is of interest to you.
You will most likely have more than one career and many jobs between college and retirement. Think of your professional life as a journey. It may have several forks in the road where you will make new choices. The road will probably have some turns and spots of rough terrain. The decision that you make now is only the first step!
