the undeclared major
an opportunity to explore
The Freedom to Explore The curriculum at Illinois Wesleyan is designed to allow for easy academic exploration. Unlike large universities that are segmented into several individual colleges with different requirements, just about any academic subject is available to the undeclared student in the College of Liberal Arts at IWU. If something grabs your attention, simply sign up for the class to check it out.
As a student beginning your college education, you will probably be asked one question more than any other:
“What’s your major?” It may surprise you to know that Illinois Wesleyan doesn’t expect you to have an answer. Not only do we LOVE to work with undeclared students, but we think we are one of the best colleges in the country in helping undeclared students find their academic passion and future success. Here are some reasons why…
A PAT H WAY TO
EXPLORATION No Wasted Time
15-20% undeclared majors
Up to 20 percent of Illinois Wesleyan’s entering students don’t declare a major initially. Students are not required to designate a major until the conclusion of the sophomore year, so you have plenty of time to explore. Some academic majors may require you to begin with a certain sequence in the first or second year, so you need to indicate any specific interests to your academic advisor.
The majority of entry level courses for academic majors satisfy a general education category. This means that if you try out a particular academic major by taking a course but then decide it’s not for you, you didn’t waste your time because the course can still satisfy a graduation requirement. And if it turns out that you really enjoyed the class, you’re already one class into the major!
The Major Myth Many students mistakenly believe you need a specific major for a specific job, but that simply isn’t the case for a majority of career fields. Illinois Wesleyan has more than 15,000 alumni living in all 50 states and 52 countries around the world and a high percentage of them are working in jobs that are not related to their major. Check out the Major to Career Connector at http://php.iwu.edu/careerfinder.
The Liberal Arts Advantage Regardless of the major you eventually choose, you’ll enjoy the benefit of gaining important 21st century skills: critical thinking, creative problem solving and effective communication, both speaking and writing. These important skills, which are a part of every Illinois Wesleyan area of study, are highly valued by employers as well as graduate and professional schools. This is why our graduates have some of the nation’s highest placement rates with major employers and are admitted to prestigious graduate programs and top professional schools, including medicine and law.
THE UNDECLARED MAJOR AND
SUCCESS
Highly Personalized Advising
The Academic Advising Center
Illinois Wesleyan faculty serve as academic advisors. You will have the opportunity to individually meet with faculty that are dedicated to teaching but also committed to assisting students in finding their passion. Your faculty advisor, who assists you in schedule planning and class registration, can also help you choose a major. By working together, you and your faculty advisor will define your personal interests and then choose the program that most closely matches them.
Many students who want to double major or minor or who remain “undeclared” into the sophomore year find the Academic Advising Center exceedingly helpful and a valuable resource. The Director of Academic Advising pays special attention to and coordinates advising for first-year, as well as undeclared students. However, students at any point in their educational career who are undecided about their major or contemplating changing a major are also encouraged to stop by the Academic Advising Center.
Still Graduate On Time! Undeclared students are able to explore multiple options and still graduate on time. Nearly 95 percent of Illinois Wesleyan students graduate in four years or less and many of them started their academic career as an undeclared student. Some of those students may have even picked up a second major or a minor before graduating!
F ROM AS PI RAT ION S TO
ACHIEVEMENTS
How Do You Get Started?
Hart Career Center
Once on campus, you can:
Some undeclared students may have an idea regarding a possible career, but they aren’t sure what major would provide the best preparation. Other undeclared students need help finding what careers might fit their particular skills and interests. The Hart Career Center provides the following services for students and alumni:
• Meet with the Director of Academic Advising in the Academic Advising Center. • Meet with a career counselor in the Hart Career Center. • Take classes in the academic areas that interest you right away.
• Interest, skill and personality assessments
• Talk to professors — including your firstyear advisor — about programs and majors that interest you.
• Numerous seminars and special programs on such • Internship fairs topics as: • Exploring your career • Job search assistance options • Titan CareerLink — • Internships connect with Illinois • Resume and Job Search Wesleyan alumni mentors Correspondence • Job fairs — for internships • Graduate school admissions and full-time employment • On-campus recruitment searches • Job searching • Practice interview programs • Succeeding at job fairs • Illinois Small College • Social media and your job Placement Association search • Career Resource Library
• Learn more about all of the majors and minors offered at Illinois Wesleyan at the annual Majors & Minors Fair held for current students. • Talk to upper class students about their majors, what they enjoy about them and career ideas they are considering. • Attend meetings of student and professional organizations. • Pursue co-curricular activities that expand your knowledge about fields of study.
Statements of Accreditation and Non-discrimination Illinois Wesleyan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Illinois Wesleyan University does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation including gender identity and expression, disability, or national origin in its admissions policies, educational programs and activities, or employment policies. Inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policy should be directed to the Office of the President, Illinois Wesleyan University, P.O. Box 2900, Bloomington, IL 61702-2900. Illinois Wesleyan expressly recognizes the requirements of Title IX legislation. Title IX complaints should be reported to the University’s Title IX coordinator, who is the Executive Assistant to the President (Holmes Hall 204, 309-556-3151). Illinois Wesleyan University does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities. The Vice President for Business and Finance, the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students, and the Associate Provost are designated by the University to coordinate all efforts to comply with Section 504 and its implementing regulation 34 C.F.R. Part 104 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All questions should be directed to the University compliance coordinators indicated above.
• For graduate planning — CollegeSearch — a web-based program allowing access to over 9,000 college catalogs
CONTACT IWU
If you have further questions or want to arrange a visit, please contact: Admissions Office Myers Welcome Center Illinois Wesleyan University 1211 Park Street Bloomington, Illinois 61701 email: iwuadmit@iwu.edu 309-556-3031
Academic Advising Center www.iwu.edu/advising 309-556-3231 Hart Career Center www.iwu.edu/ccenter 309-556-3071
www.iwu.edu/admissions