What’s Important: Major and Academics

There are many factors that can influence your college decision. In our What’s Important series, we are unpacking seven common factors parents and students tell us are influential when they are choosing a university. This series will also provide resources for your college search based on the factors that are most important to you. Today’s factor is Major and Academics.

Choosing what you will study in college is a significant step for any student. If your major is your top priority when it comes to choosing a school, you want to pay attention to the majors a college or university offers. Do they have majors you are interested in? Do these majors allow you to specialize your study in a way that fits your career goals? You will also want to look deeper into what it takes to successfully earn a degree. Do the classes within your major sound interesting to you?

Even if you aren’t sure what major you will choose, finding a school with the right academic culture can be one of your top priorities. While in college, you may decide to change your major if your interests and goals change. In a school with a healthy academic culture, you will be set up for success regardless of the major you choose.

A school with a healthy academic culture might look something like this:

• Class size and student to faculty ratio are low, so professors truly know their students
• Interdisciplinary collaborations between departments are welcomed
• Research opportunities are open to undergraduates
• Accommodations for disabilities are accessible and helpful
• Tutoring services and writing help are readily available
• Study abroad opportunities are attainable
• University-sponsored guest lectures are plentiful

What to look for on a college website

Majors: Look for a centralized list of the degree programs the school offers. Many schools make their list searchable so you can filter by keyword, degree type, department, and more. From this list, you can access other pages with more information about specific majors.

Classes: Explore the academic catalog, which typically includes course descriptions. These brief descriptions will give you an idea of what you would study in your major(s) of interest. Also look for a “guide to typical programs,” a document (sometimes downloadable) that outlines what classes you will likely take each semester based on your major(s). 

Academic Culture: Find information about the school’s academic support services (often called the academic center, learning center, writing center, or tutoring center). Academic support services are an important part of academic culture, and they can be an incredible benefit to you.

Example questions to ask your admissions counselor

• What is the average class size for introductory and upper-level courses?
• Are there study abroad programs or exchange opportunities?
• Are there any unique academic programs or majors offered here?
• What support services are available for students, such as tutoring or career counseling?
• What resources are available for students with disabilities?
• Are there opportunities for on-campus or offsite undergraduate research or internships in the field I'm interested in?

What to look for on your college visit

• Meet with professors who teach classes in the major(s) you are interested in studying
• Talk with students who are in the major(s) you are interested in studying; ask them about what life is like as a ___ major
• Look around campus for flyers, television slides, and other announcements about upcoming lectures, plays, recitals, etc.; these events contribute to a school’s academic culture, and they are a great way to explore your interests or learn something new outside of class

Links to HU resources related to major and academics

• Our list of academic programs
• Our Academic Center for Excellence (also home to the Writing Center)
• Our one-of-a-kind Find Your Match quiz, which suggests majors based on your responses to a series of informal “agree” or “disagree” questions
• The Office of the Registrar webpage, which includes access to our Academic Catalog, descriptions of all the classes HU offers, and the typical progression of classes within each major

“I also opted to go to Huntington University because of its small class size, which promotes better learning for me for my learning style. In my program, I have benefitted so much from being able to reach out to my ever-willing professors when I need clarity on a course component or academic advice/counseling.”

Amarachi (2022)