Undeclared Major

The process of choosing a major looks different for every student. Some students choose a major based on the classes they enjoyed most in High School. Other students have a very specific career plan and they know, or discover, what major best fits into that plan. Other students choose to be undeclared because they are unsure of what they want and don’t want to make a poor decision.

Regardless of which category you fall into, The Advising Center is here to serve you. We have full time Academic Advisors specifically assigned to guiding Undeclared students through the process of exploring majors. You can schedule an appointment with your advisor by coming to The Advising Center or calling 562.906.4576.

Here are a few things to consider during your process of exploring majors:

Your major does not dictate your life’s path

If you don’t have a specific career aspiration, that is perfectly fine. What you need to focus on is using college to refine skills that will help you in the career world. Skills like: writing, communicating, working collaboratively with people, organizational skills, etc. Be diligent in this, seek God’s will and direction proactively and He will guide you.

The best major at Biola

The best major is the one that will engage you the most. You don’t want to do a major because it’s "easy" or "practical." You want to do it because: 1) The content intrigues you. College will be very difficult if every class you have is boring and unsatisfying. 2) You are challenged by it. College is a time to grow, a time to challenge yourself and in the process learn more about yourself. If your classes don’t challenge you, the outside world will. Biola is a great place to be challenged because you have the support of your friends, floor mates, RAs, faculty, The Advising Center, etc. 3) You enjoy the people. Your peers and faculty are going to play an integral role in your academic experience. You want to be sure that these are people you respect and can learn from.

Know Thyself

In order to know what major will fit you well, you have to understand yourself. This is a lifelong process, but Biola does have resources to help you start this process. Career Services is an amazing resource for any Biola student seeking to understand themselves better.

You’re never stuck in a major

If you declare a major and realize that it is not the best fit for your learning style or vocational ideas, change. Of course you want to make sure that you have enough time to complete whatever major you are going into, and The Advising Center is always here to help you with that. The sooner you discover whether a major is for you or not, the better.

No one is going to tell you what to do

You have to choose your major. The Advising Center is not here to declare your major for you. We want to come along side you and guide you through this process of discovery. Ultimately though, it is your decision and YOU have to take responsibility for whatever your choose to do.

It will take some work

If you want to choose the so-called right major, you are going to have to put the effort in. You’ll need to do the research, go talk to departments, look at the course descriptions in the Catalog, and set up appointments with The Advising Center. If you do this, the result will be extremely gratifying and you’ll flourish in your academics.

You are not alone

13 percent of the 2009 incoming class was Undeclared. The Advising Center has resources and people dedicated to guiding you through this process.

You’re not in control

Ultimately God is going to do with your life whatever He chooses to do. Let this comfort you because He is in control. Just focus on enjoying today and glorifying Him with what you are doing.

It’s good to know:

  • What the majors are: Majors at Biola
  • What can I do with a major in...
  • What classes I'd be taking: University Catalog
  • Most students can remain undeclared at Biola for three semesters. If you transfer any coursework from other colleges or have credit from A.P. exams, this time will be shorter for you. We do not recommend the undeclared major for Torrey Honors students or students considering any Science major, Nursing, Art, or Business. Due to the heavy demands of the major coursework for these programs, undeclared students who eventually choose these majors may need additional time to graduate.

Resources Available to Undeclared Students:

  • The Advising Center - If you Undeclared your Academic Advisor works in the Advising Center. There are also upper classmen called Peer Academic Advisors who are available for you to meet with.

  • The Career Center - They have several personality inventories you can take to give you a little more insight into your interests, values, strengths, and skills. Some of these might steer you towards certain majors or fields of study.

  • The Major Fair - As a part of the First Year Seminar for Undeclared students, each fall there is a Major Fair where you can sit in presentations given by various academic departments. This is a good opportunity to have questions answered by faculty in specific majors.

  • Major Departments - Faculty and Advisors in each department are great resources to students seeking to learn more about specific majors. Faculty Advisors are often available to sit down with inquiring students and talk about what it is like to be in that major or what it might look like after graduation. This is one of the most important steps in the major decision making process.

It’s good to know:

  • What the majors are: Majors at Biola
  • What can I do with a major in...
  • What classes I'd be taking: University Catalog
  • Most students can remain undeclared at Biola for three semesters. If you transfer any coursework from other colleges or have credit from A.P. exams, this time will be shorter for you. We do not recommend the undeclared major for Torrey Honors students or students considering any Science major, Nursing, Art, or Business. Due to the heavy demands of the major coursework for these programs, undeclared students who eventually choose these majors may need additional time to graduate.