By Mary Leong
Only a small percentage of Arts students know exactly what they want to major in upon entering UBC. For the majority of us, selecting a major and minor can be a stressful process.
Help, I don’t know what’s out there!
At UBC, most students declare their major and minor in their second or third year. While you do not have to decide in your first year, you should start to look at which specializations interest you as you plan your courses.
Selecting a major or minor can be especially difficult if you do not know which specializations are offered in Arts. To ease this decision, start to familiarize yourself with the specializations and courses that are available to you at Arts UBC. If you are unsure of what a specialization entails, read the introductory descriptions on the CASS website or visit the departments’ websites.
If you still have any other questions regarding the courses available, set up an appointment with Arts Advising. Aside from explaining your options, Arts Advisors can also direct you to departmental advisors, who can provide you with information specific to each department.
Getting first-hand experience in a broad range of courses is a great way of gaining an understanding of each specialization. Take a wide range of courses in your first year to discover where your interests lie. Enroll in courses that you might not usually think of taking – you may end up enjoying it so much that you choose to make it your major!
“I was a confused Arts student until I had an amazing POLI 101 class with Dr. Paul Kopas. After that, I knew that I wanted to major in Political Science,” said Andre Coronado.
There’re too many to choose just one!
With over 70 specializations available in Arts, the thought of choosing just one can be quite overwhelming.
For the indecisive, interdisciplinary first-year programs such as Arts One and Coordinated Arts Program (CAP) provide a broad view of related topics. Arts One amalgamates literature, history, and philosophy, while CAP combines a number of different disciplines with a focus on the social sciences. These programs set a strong foundation for future years in university by encouraging students to examine the same issue from a variety of perspectives.
“Arts One allowed me to be exposed to professors in different disciplines,” said Katie Fedosenko, Arts One alumna. “Even though I ended up majoring in English Literature, I was able to connect with professors in Classical Studies, Asian Studies, which was very valuable in deciding what I wanted to focus on.”
Talking to professors and department advisors can provide a better understanding of the coursework that is involved in your major or minor. They will be able to describe the kind of classes you will need to take to complete your degree. You can also discover more learning opportunities outside the classroom, such as research projects or Work Learn and Work Study jobs.
Another specialization to consider is Interdisciplinary Studies, where you can customize your degree to your academic interests with the assistance of a faculty advisor. Alternatively, you can choose from pre-designed interdisciplinary programs such as International Relations or Canadian Studies.
“Interdisciplinary programs of study provide academic options for students whose interests don’t fit within the boundaries of traditional academic discipline,” said Kathryn Harrison, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts.
You may choose to major in interdisciplinary programs such as International Relations, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Cognitive Studies. Alternatively, you may choose to complement your ‘traditional’ major with an interdisciplinary minor such as Environment and Society, Canadian Studies, or Law and Society.
Gearing your degree for after graduation
For those of you with a career already in mind, you may be faced with deciding which major will best lead you to that career path. To find out what specializations will help move you closer to your dream job, talk to alumni who are already working in those fields or consult with Career Services. They may be able to provide advice on which majors and minors to choose to start your desired career path.
UBC Arts also provides programs to connect you with upper-level Arts students and alumni to talk about your major. Through Arts , you are paired up with an alumnus in your field of study that can provide more guidance with how your degree can translate into a job in that field. Alternatively, network with Arts Peer Mentors to learn more about what degrees upper-year Arts student leaders are pursuing and the careers those specializations may lead to.
