Major/Minor Exploration

A few questions to ask yourself…

• What subjects/classes do I enjoy most? And what subjects/classes do I do well in? (Note that these may not be the same!)
• What types of assignments interest me? Which ones do I enjoy doing the most?
• What conversations (in print, online, with peers, elders, and/or younger people) do I want to be part of and contribute to?
• What topics in current affairs do I care about?
• What topics could I spend hours learning about?
• What big questions draw my attention over time?
• What sections of bookstores/online media do I enjoy spending time in?

Take time to review majors available at Lewis & Clark and choose a handful that focus on topics that incorporate some of the areas you’ve identified above. Include both those that you have taken courses in and those that you have yet to study. This will give you a chance to think broadly about the types of fields that exist while thinking through which might be a good match for you.

Some activities that may help you identify a good set of potential majors include:

• Talk to your College Advisor or pre-major Faculty Advisor!
• Browse through our list of majors/minors and learn more about the respective program through their departmental website.
• Browse through major requirements in the undergraduate course catalog (don’t forget to choose the catalog for the year that you started at L&C).
• Attend major informational sessions and/or departmental events.
• Talk to a faculty member who has taught a class you have enjoyed. The class doesn’t need to be in a subject you are considering majoring in.
• Join a student organization/club related to a major of interest.
• Consult with peers in the major of interest.
• Seek input from family members or friends — sometimes it can be helpful to talk through your major ideas with someone you trust.

Congratulations! Follow these two easy steps to officially declare your major.*

1. Ask a faculty member from your chosen major if they are willing to serve as your Faculty Advisor. If you’re unsure who to ask, try reaching out to the chair of the major’s department to ask which faculty are taking advisees (or if they themselves can serve as your Faculty Advisor).
2. Fill out and submit the major/minor declaration form on the Registrar’s website. Once the form has been processed by the Registrar’s office, you will be officially declared.

*You will follow these steps if you also want to declare a second major or a minor.

Students at Lewis & Clark are not required to complete a minor for graduation.

Rather, students are expected to devote roughly one-third of their studies to fulfilling major requirements and one-third to General Education requirements. This leaves one-third available for electives, which can be applied to a minor. Minors consist of a group of required and elective courses, and are often about half the credit amount of a major (most majors require 10 or 11 classes, while most minors require 5 or 6 classes).

Considering a minor, but not sure? Talk with your advisor about the value of a minor!