Undecided about your major? Attend the Major/Minor Fair!

The Major/Minor Fair, hosted by the SGA, will be held on October 16th from 11am – 2pm on Physicians Promenade. This is an great opportunity for you, the undecided student, to learn about the variety of majors and minors offered at CofC. Also, it’s a chance for you to speak with faculty and other students about their respective major(s) – Ask questions, pick up some info, and who knows what else you may walk away with (freebies?!)…

Even if you’re not truly undecided, but have an idea about which major you intend to declare (or just haven’t committed to it on paper because you don’t know where the department is located) – this event is for you, too! Stop by and check it out on the 16th.

If you’re still having difficulty choosing a major after attending the fair, please contact your academic advisor in the Academic Advising and Planning Center or contact us at the Career Center for an appointment – we’re here to help!

Physics: A Major

Exactly what is a Physics Major?

Once again the course catalog has a wonderful description of this major: “[Physics] investigates the properties, changes, and interactions of matter and energy. The study of physics does not involve following a recipe; rather, it entails developing an attitude or way of looking at phenomena and asking questions.” This is a great degree for anyone who loves science and solving problems. You learn to ask the right questions to determine the different phenomena around the world. Why is the sky blue? Why does the Earth travel around the sun? And other phenom

But where can you go with this degree? Anywhere! Over the next month we will be delving into the different aspects of the Physics degree and how you can utilize it. You will have the opportunity to learn more from alumni who chose this major. Other features will include loads of links to aid you in discovering the different possibilities. So take a moment and come discover the different quarks of the Physics degree.

Visit the Department of Physics and Astronomy website for lots of great information. The Alfred P Sloan Foundation has provided a great overview of the field of physics, click here for a pdf summarizes different opportunities.

 

Now What to Do with a Physics Degree

There are a lot of options for the physics major but you do have one choice to make first: do you want to work or do you want to go to graduate school? This decision will help you decide what you want to do later on in life. If your dream career is working at NASA then I do suggest going to graduate school. A lot of different career fields in the sciences require a higher degree beyond the bachelors.

While it is a little difficult to pinpoint actual job titles I can give you a taste of the different types of employers you can look forward to with a degree in physics.

o Colleges and universities

o Meteorological organizations

o Commercial industry

o National Aeronautics and Space Administration

o Research

o Planetariums

Resources for the Arts Management Major

One of the biggest resources a student in any discipline can have is their professors.  These are the people who have studied in certain areas to a great extent and have numerous contacts and resources in the field.  Please contact them for more in-depth information.

In the Career Center we have several print resources that have great information about possible career fields for the art major by Blythe Camenson.

• Careers in Art
• Great Jobs for Art Majors
• Great Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors

There are hundreds of others books that may also peak your interest.  Remember a major does not equal a career so even if you have that Arts Management degree you are not necessarily pointed at the art industry as seen in our alumni Arts Management majors.

The Internet is another great resource to use when trying to find more information about a field of study or career interest.  Here are some great websites that may interest you:

• The American Association of Museums
• South Carolina Arts Commission
• The New York Foundation for the Arts’
• Southern Arts Federation
• National Assembly for State Arts Agencies
• Americans for the Arts

These are only a few of the thousands of websites out there for the Art Management major.  Explore the links at the Arts Management Program for more great sites.  Do you know of other sites that may interest Arts Management majors?  Share them!

Majoring in School!

What is a major? Not a hard question to answer is it? According to Dictionary.com it is “a subject or field of study chosen by a student to represent his or her principal interest and upon which a large share of his or her efforts are concentrated.” For example, if you are majoring in Business then you will primarily be studying the business world including market trends, management, advertising, and much more!

But did you catch the first part of the definition? It says “principal interest.” This means you should find an interest in what you are studying. I have talked with several students who claim they chose their major because it was recommended to them by family or friends. Or they chose biology because it makes a great degree to get into medical school. You should not choose your major based on other people’s suggestions, likes and dislikes, but based on your likes and dislikes.

Remember that a major does not equal a career. Just because you choose to study journalism does not mean you have to go into that career field. While in school you will have the opportunity to study a variety of subjects to build your knowledge and skill base; opportunities to complete internships and study abroad trips. It is those activities that will help you land the job of your choice. So if you want to major in art, theater, or some other subject area that you find enjoyment in then do so. Just remember to gain relevant experience in your other activities because those will go a long way to help you with your career goals.

Here are some things to consider when you are choosing your major:

• What do you enjoy doing? Remember, you do not want to choose an area where you hate doing the work even if you are good at it.
• Research different majors. Talk with faculty, students, and your career counselor about different majors you are considering. Get all the facts.
• And last and most importantly remember that if you do not like your current major it is ok to change to another one. Most students switch majors while they are at school so you will not stick out if you do. Just remember the more you change your major the longer you may potentially be in school.

Have you had in Major dilemmas that you want to share?