Major and Career Exploration
Index for this page
I Know My Career but What Major Should I Choose?
Other Resources for Career Explorations
Career Planning Approach
I Know My Career but what major should I choose?
- Choosing a career is a big step! Note that most people don’t stay in the same career for the duration of their lives. Career change is common and expected. The key is finding your starting point.
- Visit the Career Center and speak to a career counselor that can help you make an informed decision.
- Once you have narrowed down your career options, you will want to research each option. Start by visiting the Occupational Outlook Handbook at bls.gov. You will be able to find the following information: job requirements, salary, expected job growth, and what degrees, certifications and licensures are needed.
- Conduct an information interview by speaking with professionals in the field to find out what major/degree of study he/she pursued. Ask the individual questions about likes and dislikes of their career field. Also, check out Candid Career.
- Visit the University of North Alabama’s website to find a list of current majors. Research the majors offered by reading about them in the University catalog. Be informed about the courses needed in order to meet degree requirements.
- Visit the department that houses the major in which you are interested to gather information from faculty members about careers pursued by graduates within that major.
What are my options?
Focus 2 Provides:
- Career assessments
- Occupational information
- Videos about various career fields
- Career planning tools
- Career options by education level
- Side-by-side occupational comparisons
To optimize your use of Focus 2, be sure to:
- Complete the self-assessment section within the program
- Schedule an appointment with the Career Center to review your results.
Remember, choosing a program of study and career path is your own responsibility and no assessment or career advisor can make these difficult decisions for you. However, Focus 2 is a great place to start, and the Career Center is here to help you weigh your options.
To access Focus 2, log in using your UNA Portal username and password.
Below are additional self-assessment tools you can access regarding interests, likes, dislikes, values, traits, and skills.- Interest Profiler:
- Personality Assessment:
- Career Search:
- Visit https://una.edu/academics/majors/#/for a current list of all possible majors.
- Make a list of all of the majors that interest you. Also, look at “What Can I Do With My Major?” (available on the current page).
- Visit the Career Center and let our career counselors help you.
- Use your University catalog to read about the degree requirements for each major. Read the course descriptions in the back of the catalog.
- Talk to your family and friends. Ask individuals currently working what he/she likes and dislikes about their current occupation.
- Visit departments on campus that house majors that interest you and speak to the faculty and staff.
- Ultimately, you are the only person who can decide on your major and your future career. Know that you are only selecting a starting point and not your final destination.
What Can I Do with My Major?
Are you curious about what career opportunities are available to you within your major? Filter by college and click on your major down below to browse various areas, employers, and information/strategies related to careers within your major. You may also browse through majors of interest to you that are not currently offered at UNA.
Candid Career is a great resource that allows you to watch short, informational videos related to careers and the hiring process. You will find videos for specific jobs, majors and industries, developmental skills, and more.
School of the Arts
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Cinematic
- Arts and Theatre
- Entertainment Industry
- Music
- Art
- Interior Architecture and Design
- Fashion Merchandising and Design
- Culinary Arts Management
- Hospitality and Events Management
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Communication Arts
- Public Relations
- Journalism and Digital Media Production
- English
- Foreign Language
- History
- Social Science
- Criminal Justice
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Social Work
- Family and Community Services
School of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics
Teaching, Learning, and Leadership
Kinesiology
Networking
Other Resources for Career Exploration
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Career Fairs –Attend these types of recruiting events in your freshman and sophomore years to explore your options. Ask lots of questions; learn what employers are in your area, what types of positions are in demand, and what credentials are expected of applicants. Ask what the position entails and what other opportunities exist in that field.
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Use Your Network –Talk with people about what they do for a living, what they like and dislike about their work, and what they studied in school. In addition to offering insight in the exploration phase, these same individuals can be helpful when you’re ready to begin applying for jobs. Don’t forget to talk with members of your family, friends, neighbors, professors, and advisors. Most people love talking about themselves and will be glad to share their experiences with you!
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Job Shadowing – Observing people in their work setting can be the best way to learn what is truly involved with their occupation. Arrange to spend a day or an afternoon observing someone in a line of work that interests you. Being in the environment and witnessing the day-to-day happenings and job responsibilities will offer realistic insight that is difficult to gain in any other manner.
- Information Interviewing - Information interviewing is a technique used to explore and research occupations and organizations. It has several benefits, including:
- Discovering first-hand knowledge and perspective about an occupation or job.
- Providing access to the “hidden” job market. Only 20% of all job openings are advertised! Direct contact and networking are essential to finding out about unadvertised job openings. Information interviewing is not a job interview, but it will establish your interest and can be a helpful first step in eliciting information about a prospective employer.
- Improving your self-confidence and interviewing skills.
The steps below explain how to set-up and conduct an information interview. The more prepared you are, the more you will get out of it!
Send an email or call to arrange an appointment with the target individual. Be clear that you’re not looking for a job currently and only trying to obtain information. You might begin your conversation like this:
Student: “Hello, Ms. Smith, my name is _________________ and I am a University of North Alabama student. I am very interested in marketing and I am trying to learn as much as I can about careers in marketing. I have read a lot about the subject, but I really feel it might help to talk to someone who works in the field. If you have the time, I would appreciate meeting with you to discuss this occupation. The interview would only take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. My schedule is flexible and I can meet with you at your convenience.”
- What is a typical day in the life of a ________?
- How did you get interested in this occupation?
- What do you like and dislike about your occupation?
- What is a typical career path in this occupation?
- What kind of academic/training preparation do you recommend for this occupation?
- What is the projected growth for this occupation?
- What skills should I be developing?
- Would you recommend participating in any particular clubs or organizations?
- What is the organizational structure and where does your position fit in the organization?
- Is there someone else you can suggest for me to contact?
- If you were going to hire a new entry level person, what would a highly qualified candidate be like?
- What are the major challenges/problems that your organization is facing in the upcoming year?
Based on the information gained, ask yourself the following questions:
- What did I learn about this occupation?
- What did I learn from the experience in general?
- What did I like about the job? What didn’t I like about the job?
- Am I still interested in this career?
- Am I willing to do what is necessary to be successful in this career?
- Did I learn of any related careers that I should explore?
- How can I make the next information interview more successful?
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Student Employment FAQs
* Symplicity is only for our UNA students and alumni and therefore we limit access and need to ensure students are currently enrolled before accessing accounts.
Ans. All on campus positions require an *approved resume, and some also request a cover letter. Students should read each job description carefully.
*Resumes must be submitted for review and approval by Career Center staff. Please refer to these samples to create your resume on our Writing Resumes and Cover Letter page.
It is recommended that you prepare your resume prior to gaining access to Symplicity so that the approval process will be more efficient.
FWS – Students are determined eligible for FWS by completing the FAFSA and checking the box regarding Federal Work Study. You must receive notification from Student Financial Services via your portal.
UWS – All students (including those who qualify for FWS) are eligible for University Work Study positions.
However, both categories are considered student employment on campus.
Ans. Once hired, your supervisor will email you all the electronic forms to complete including I-9, tax and direct deposit. You will also be required to provide one photo ID (Driver License or School ID) AND secondary ID (Birth Certificate or Social Security Card).
If you have additional questions about Symplicity, please contact the UNA Career Center at 256-765-4276 or email careercenter@una.edu.
For additional information about Student Employment at the University of North Alabama, please visit this site: https://www.una.edu/humanresources/student-employment.html.