Choose Your Own Major

By Elizabeth Chamberland, Campus Representative, University of Indiana

Many students have a difficult time choosing a major, oftentimes changing their minds several times. Switching majors often results in students taking more classes than needed due to differing requirements across programs. Options for students with varied interests include double majoring or adding minors to a primary degree of study. However, taking on this many extra credits can be a burden to students or entail additional semesters or years of classes to be taken.

To combat this issue and offer an endless amount of customizable majors, an increasing number of colleges are offering “make your own” majors. In an article in the Wall Street Journal, the College Board states 900 four-year colleges and universities are currently allowing students to create a personalized program. The article mentions that in the past ten years, Indiana University Bloomington has seen its participants in the individualized major program increase by fifteen percent.

Concerns that arise regarding individualized majors include lack of direction and employer recognition of developed programs, and increased faculty costs. Despite these potential difficulties, many students feel it can create an advantage after graduation. As long as the program is developed with one-on-one help from an advisor and continual guidance from professors, the concept seems to provide strong benefits for those who are interested.