Choosing a Major Based on Values or Skills

Students arrive at college with many previously developed skills, experiences, and values. You have the opportunity to expand on those values and skills through classes, outside of the classroom experiences, and independent learning. There can even be common themes for students who choose their major based on values or certain skills.

Priority steps to choose a major based on values or skills:

• Reflection is a starting point. What are your values?
  • From the following list of values, what is most important to you? 
  • Consider how your skills or values assist you with learning and possibly choosing a major or career. 
• Find Your Strengths. Take the StrengthsFinder Inventory 
  • Want more inventories? Speak with Career & Professional Development about TypeFocus and Traitify (scroll down the page to take the inventories for free!)
  • Using the Major Checksheets website, look at courses required for that major. 

Optional steps to choose a major based on values or skills:

• What Can I Do With a Major?
  
  • This website does not include all majors at Tech, but does include similar subjects and a list of career resources to help you research career fieldsMeet with Offices/Resources to align values/skills with possible majors
• Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor
• Need to change your major? Meet with Transitional Advising
  
• Meet with Career & Professional Services or Health Professions Advising
• Meet with faculty in the discipline or someone in the field
  1. This might require emailing or meeting with current faculty or emailing someone for the first time
• Consider an informational interview with someone in the field in which you want to pursue