1. Choosing Your Major & Career Career Advising Southern Connecticut State University

2. How to Choose Your Major What are your interests? Social, Creative, Entrepreneur? What is your personality type? Caring, Ambitious, Listener, Artistic, Imaginative, Mechanical? Dream Job? Do you have a dream job in mind? Choose a major that will prepare you for that specific career path or advanced study. Big $$$$$? Are you interested in making a lot of money when you are older? Considering a major that can reach you to a career that gives you the salary you want Passion Project? If there is a subject that you love, you may want to choose a major that coincides with your passion. If you love what you’re studying, you’re more likely to full engage with your classes and college experience Free Spirit? If you have no idea what to study, don’t panic… Talk to professors, advisors, department heads, & make the most out of your general education courses.

3. FOCUS FOCUS is a self-paced online tool that will help you explore career paths and select the major area of study to support your career goals. You can learn about different career opportunities and gain insight into the "day in the life" for a specific job and even compare occupations you are considering. Basically, FOCUS will help you "focus" on what kind of career you may want to pursue. Use your MySCSU email address when registering for FOCUS. Get started today.Get started today. Use the Access Code "owls" Helpful Tip: Take Course CTR200: Career Concepts & Exploration

4. Four Year Career Planning Guide This guide will help highlight important actions you should take beginning in your first year & moving throughout your final year Steps to Choosing a Major This 5 step plan will help you choose a major and will provide resources for each step

5. Gain Experience Informational Recruitment- Join employers that come to SCSU to find out more about their company and/or job opportunities. Great way to meet employers in person! Volunteer- Gain experience by volunteering free time to take part in valuable practice. Take on tasks, responsibility, or a project without any form of payment. Cooperative Education- Gain valuable career-related experience while earning academic credit and money. After graduation, students usually find that their co-op position makes them more attractive to prospective employers. In addition, they often receive higher salary offers than students without co-op experience. Internships- Gain experience with an employer for a limited period of time. This is an opportunity to gain exposure in the working environment, often within a specific industry, which relates to field of study

6. Final Tips for Choosing a Major Seek help- It is extremely beneficial to utilize your school’s resources when it comes to choosing a major Explore- Take classes that interest you to help narrow down your major Be introspective- Get to know yourself better and you can do this by taking different courses Be proactive- Attend academic meetings or clubs that interest you. Speak with other students who are enrolled in the departments/majors you are considering. Helpful link: http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/majors/ http://www.southernct.edu/student-life/academic-success/career-services/students- resources/Job%20Opportunities.htmlhttp://www.southernct.edu/student-life/academic-success/career-services/students- resources/Job%20Opportunities.html http://www.naceweb.org/salary-survey-data/

7. CONTACTUSCONTACTUS Search: Career Services Aimee Piccin Associate Director of Academic and Career Advising PiccinA1@SouthernCT.edu Wintergreen Building (203) 392-6517 PiccinA1@SouthernCT.edu All juniors, seniors, and graduate students Kelianna Bonn Graduate Assistant BonnK2@SouthernCT.edu Wintergreen Building (203) 392-6539 BonnK2@SouthernCT.edu All freshmen and sophomore students