Many students select their University major, the field of study which represents their principal academic interest, at the time they fill out their University of California Undergraduate Application. Some students, however, are not ready to choose a major at the time they apply, and still others may wish to change to a different major after they have enrolled.
In preparation for choosing a major, students need to familiarize themselves as much as possible with UCI and its academic programs. Entering students are exposed to a wide range of areas of study, and it is not unusual for students to become enthusiastic about academic disciplines previously unfamiliar to them. At UCI a number of traditionally separate academic disciplines have strong interrelationships, so that the academic environment is influenced by broad interactions among disciplines. As a complement to classroom study, UCI encourages its students to become involved in a variety of educational experiences such as independent study, laboratory research, field study, writing workshops, computing, and fine arts productions. Such experiences can help students identify additional areas of interest.
The UCI General Catalogue is a good place to find specific information about programs available, requirements for majors, and course offerings. In addition to consulting the Catalogue, students are encouraged to talk to academic counselors and faculty advisors about the opportunities which are open to them. They may go to any department in order to learn more about its programs of study, its requirements for graduation, and possible enrollment limitations. (Some majors are impacted, that is, more students apply than can be accommodated. See the Undergraduate Admissions section for information.) While advisors may not be familiar with all fields, they can suggest ways to investigate other areas of study and be helpful in planning a lower-division program which will keep several options open. Courses and workshops designed to assist students in choosing a major are offered by the Career Planning and Placement Center and by the Division of Undergraduate Education, as well as by some of the academic units.
All students are required to choose a major by the time they reach junior status. It is important to look well ahead to this decision and to think about it carefully during the freshman and sophomore years. When considering possible majors, students should keep in mind that some major programs require quite specific preliminary study. At the same time, excessive early concentration could reduce a student's options and could cause the student to need more than four years to obtain the baccalaureate degree. Furthermore, courses required for graduation need to be considered. For these reasons, it is desirable for students to plan their programs carefully and thoughtfully, seeking a balance between exposure to a variety of academic areas and completion of courses which are prerequisite to a major under consideration. A qualified student interested in two areas of study may graduate with a double major by fulfilling the degree requirements of any two programs. Certain restrictions may apply; students interested in pursuing a double major should check with their academic advisor.
Each school or program has its own standards for change of major, and some majors are impacted, as indicated above. Once a student selects a major, or decides to change majors, the student should visit the academic counseling office for their prospective major to obtain current information about prerequisites, program planning, and policies and procedures. In addition, a form called the Undergraduate Petition for Change of Major must be completed. The form is available from academic counselors and the Registrar's Office.
Students who enter the University as freshmen or sophomores may be uncertain about which major they should choose and may not feel ready to declare their major until they have been on campus for a while. Such students participate in the General Studies Advising Program (GSAP) which is administered by the Division of Undergraduate Education. The goal of GSAP is to help students make the best informed and most rational choice of a major that is possible. All students at UCI are required to choose their major by the time they reach junior status.
To make a good decision about what major to declare, students should know what programs UCI offers and have some experience with them, have a good knowledge of their own abilities and interests, have clear educational goals, and have a good sense of their vocational goals and of the academic programs at UCI that will provide appropriate preparation. Students in GSAP receive individualized counseling that helps them explore the variety of course offerings on campus, become more aware of their own interests and abilities, formulate sound educational goals, and learn how to prepare for graduate education and/or possible careers.
To assist students in choosing a major, GSAP has created a two-quarter required course designed to expose undecided/undeclared students to a variety of opportunities and resources available to them on the campus, and to introduce students to each of the schools and majors offered. In addition, students learn about research and career opportunities within different disciplines.
GSAP is located in 256 Administration Building; telephone (714) 824-6987.
Courses in Undergraduate Education
University Studies 1A-B University Experience: Issues and Options for Undecided/Undeclared Students (2-2). Introduces new undecided/undeclared freshmen to university issues, resources, and options as they learn about the academic undergraduate culture at UCI. Two-quarter course emphasizes necessary skills and tools for being a successful student, followed by a systematic exploration of UCI's undergraduate majors with a focus on decision-making skills.
University Studies 192 Group Project for Discussion Leaders (2). For discussion leaders for University Studies 1A-B. Weekly discussion group training for leading effective groups in addition to evaluations of weekly discussion sections and completion of a special project on issues of freshman development. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Undergraduate students ought to keep the possibility of future graduate or professional study in mind as they plan their academic programs, and they should discuss their career goals with their advisors. Students who have an idea of the direction in which they would like to go should familiarize themselves with the basic requirements for postbaccalaureate study and keep those requirements in mind when selecting courses. Furthermore, students should supplement their undergraduate programs by anticipating foreign language or other special requirements at major graduate schools and by intensive work in areas outside their major that are of special relevance to their intended graduate work.
For information about graduate or professional study in a given field, students should consult the graduate advisor or academic counselor in the academic unit corresponding to the area of interest. Also, the Career and Life Planning Center frequently sponsors seminars on specific career areas and offers a number of services useful to those considering graduate or professional study.
Law schools want to produce lawyers to serve the entire legal spectrum (for example tax, criminal, entertainment, or immigration law), and this requires a wide range of academic backgrounds. Law schools look less for specific areas of study than they do for evidence of excellence in any academic program. A good record in physics or classics, for example, will be preferred over a mediocre record in history or political science. The majority of law schools give equal preference to students from all academic disciplines. Courses that help develop writing and analytical skills (logic, writing, mathematics, research methods, and statistics courses, for example) build skills that are the key to doing well on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), succeeding in law school, and entering the legal profession.
UCI offers a number of law-related courses that students in any major may take. The School of Humanities offers courses in logic and the philosophy of law. The School of Social Sciences offers courses in the study of law, international relations, and economics of law and recommends that students take some political science courses as well. The School of Social Ecology offers many law-related courses in both substantive law (such as environmental and criminal law) and in law and society and criminal justice. The School also offers its majors the opportunity to apply theories learned in the classroom to actual problems through its field study program.
Students interested in applying to law school after completing the baccalaureate degree should know that law schools look closely at five aspects of a student's application: grades, LSAT results, the applicant's statement of purpose, in-depth letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities and law-related work experience.
Students should be aware that not everyone who applies is admitted to law school. One consideration in selecting an undergraduate major is alternative career opportunities should one's career goals change or should experience with law school result in a decision not to enter the field of law.
Although leaders in health science education strongly recommend that students obtain a bachelor's degree prior to admission to the health sciences, there is no preferred major. Many UCI students who plan to enter the health professions major in Biological Sciences because much of the basic course work for that major is the same as the preparation required for medical school admission; however, students may major in any academic field as long as they also take the courses required by professional health science schools. The minimum amount of undergraduate preparation required by most medical and health-related schools includes one year each of English, biology with laboratory, general chemistry with laboratory, organic chemistry with laboratory, physics with laboratory, and college mathematics, especially calculus and statistics. Courses in cell or molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, developmental physiology or comparative anatomy, and vertebrate embryology are recommended, as is course work in computer science. In addition, some health sciences schools have certain nonscience course requirements or recommended courses in, for example, English and/or a foreign language. Facility with the Spanish language is very helpful in California medical schools and in other areas of the United States with large Hispanic populations.
Although many factors ultimately are considered when reviewing applicants for admission, admission committees look carefully at the following seven areas: college grade point average (science and nonscience grades are evaluated separately, and evidence of improvement in work during the undergraduate years is important); results of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the Dental Admission Test, and other aptitude examination scores; the student's personal essay and/or personal interview; in-depth letters of recommendation; practical experience in the health sciences, whether paid or volunteer, which is regarded favorably as an indication of exposure to and interest in the health sciences; extracurricular activities which demonstrate the applicant's ability to interact successfully with others; and research experience, especially in a biological, medical, or behavioral science.
Since medical programs cannot accommodate all qualified applicants and competition for entrance is keen, it is important to keep in mind alternative career opportunities should one not be accepted to medical, dental, pharmacy, optometry, podiatry, or veterinary school, or should one decide to pursue instead one of the expanding number of health-related programs now available.
The contemporary executive or manager must be a creative thinker, make complex decisions, and have the ability to perceive and participate in the full scope of an enterprise while understanding its role in the economy. Effective management requires leadership ability, strong problem-solving skills, the ability to successfully deploy and manage information technologies, effective oral and written communication skills, analytical skills, an understanding of global economic trends, and a basic knowledge of behavioral processes in organizations.
Although UCI does not offer a prebusiness program leading to an undergraduate degree in business, the Graduate School of Management offers a minor in Management as a supplement to any undergraduate major. This minor can provide students with a broad understanding of management theory and practice. In addition, it may be helpful to students in determining whether they wish to pursue a career in business or management or undertake further study in management at the graduate level.
Students can also supplement their major course work to develop the skills needed for business and management by taking electives such as calculus, statistics, economics, psychology, sociology, computer science, and political science. Students are encouraged to undertake intensive course work in the culture, history, geography, economy, politics, and language of specific foreign countries.
For admission purposes, the majority of graduate schools of business look at five areas: grades, scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), the applicant's statement of purpose, in-depth letters of recommendation, and evidence of leadership in school and community activities and work experience. Substantive work experience is becoming an increasingly important prerequisite for many programs.
Students from a variety of undergraduate disciplines including liberal arts, social sciences, physical or biological sciences, computer science, and engineering are encouraged to apply to UCI's Graduate School of Management.
The eight academic units at UCI which offer undergraduate education leading to the bachelor's degree provide students with a variety of opportunities to explore a wide range of interests leading to a career choice or to further education at the graduate or professional level. The lists which follow are meant to indicate to students the many and varied career areas pursued by UCI graduates, and to make students aware of some of the vast array of career choices available. Additional discussions of careers are presented in individual academic unit sections.
Any major can lead to any number of careers. Some examples of careers frequently led to by majors available within the academic units at UCI are listed below.
| Arts Career Areas | |
| Acting | Librarianship |
| Advertising | Lighting |
| Animation | Marketing |
| Arts Administration | Medical Illustration |
| Art Therapy | Performance |
| Broadcasting | Photography |
| Choreography | Physical Fitness |
| Composition | Printing |
| Conducting | Production |
| Conservation/Restoration | Publicity |
| Consulting | Public Relations |
| Criticism | Publishing |
| Curating | Set/Stage/Costume Design |
| Direction | Stage Management |
| Environmental Design | Teaching |
| Instrument Repair/Tuning | Tourism |
| Interior/Industrial Design | Visual Resources Management |
| Journalism | Writing |
The exceptionally talented School of the Arts graduate may choose to become a professional actor, art historian, artist, dancer, or musician. However, there are many other careers to explore in numerous arts-related areas, or the graduate may wish to combine part-time professional performance with supplemental work. The field of arts administration is an increasingly important career area, offering opportunities to work with opera and dance companies, repertory theatre companies, museums, state and local arts councils, community arts organizations, and arts festivals.
| Biological Sciences Career Areas | ||
| Bioanalysis | Oceanography | |
| Biochemistry | Optometry | |
| Biomedical Engineering | Osteopathy | |
| Cell Biology | Plant Biology | |
| Chiropractic Medicine | Pharmacology | |
| Dentistry | Pharmacy | |
| Developmental Biology | Physician's Assistant | |
| Dietetics | Physical Therapy | |
| Environmental Management | Podiatry | |
| Forestry | Public Health | |
| Genetic Engineering | Quality Control | |
| Health Administration | Research | |
| Industrial Hygiene | Sales | |
| Marine Biology | Speech Pathology | |
| Medical Technology | Teaching | |
| Medicine | Technical Writing and | |
| Microbiology | Editing | |
| Nurse Practitioner | Veterinary Medicine | |
| Occupational Therapy | ||
The health field is one of the fastest-growing career areas in the country. Work sites may include private corporations, educational institutions, hospitals, health care complexes, private foundations, city and county governments, state agencies, the federal government, and many others.
| Engineering Career Areas | ||
| Aerospace | Geotechnical | |
| Biochemical | High-Speed Image Processsing | |
| Biomedical | Hydraulics | |
| Biotechnology | Land Development and Urban | |
| Chemical Engineering | Planning | |
| Communications | Manufacturing Engineering | |
| Computer Architecture | Materials | |
| Computer Engineering | Process Control | |
| Computer Software | Propulsion and Power | |
| Control Systems | Public Works | |
| Digital Signal Processing | Reliability | |
| Earthquake Safety | Robotics | |
| Electric Power | Structures | |
| Electronics | Traffic | |
| Electro-optics | Transportation | |
| Environmental Control | Water Resources | |
| Environmental Engineering | Water Supply | |
| Flood Control | ||
These are some of the employment opportunities available to UCI engineering graduates. Their careers typically involve them in one or more of the following: design, research and development, manufacturing or construction, operations, consulting, applications and sales, management, or teaching. At UCI they will have had the choice of Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, or Mechanical Engineering, as well as a general program in Engineering. However, they will frequently find challenging positions in related areas such as biomedical or industrial engineering, for which their general and specialty course work at UCI, followed by formal or informal, on-the-job training will qualify them. Approximately half of UCI's engineering graduates eventually obtain advanced degrees (at UCI or elsewhere), and almost all engage in some sort of continuing education to keep abreast of advances in technology. Many engineering graduates have used their engineering background to enter graduate programs and obtain degrees in the fields of administration, law, medicine, physics, or mathematics.
| Humanities Career Areas | |
| Advertising | Personnel |
| Banking | Public Administration |
| Broadcasting | Public Relations |
| Business | Publicity |
| Foreign Service | Publishing |
| Government Service | Research |
| Human Resources | Retail Sales |
| Insurance | Social Welfare |
| International Relations | Teaching |
| Journalism | Technical Writing |
| Law | Tourism |
| Library Science | Translating/Interpreting |
| Management/Administration | Writing |
| Marketing | |
Diverse career fields available to Humanities graduates include entry-level positions in both the public and private sectors or professional-level opportunities combining the degree with further specialization. Humanities graduates may also elect to enter professional programs such as law, library science, medicine (with proper prerequisites), or public administration. Business and industry utilize Humanities graduates for management training programs in banking, retail sales, and insurance. Graduates with special skills in oral and written communications may look to positions with newspapers, advertising agencies, public relations firms, radio and television stations, and publishing houses.
Technical writers are currently in demand, particularly those who have had some preparation in engineering, computer science, and the sciences. Opportunities for graduates fluent in foreign languages exist in government, business, social service, counseling, foreign service, and international trade, among others.
| Information and Computer Science Career Areas | |||
| Applications Programming | Multimedia Applications | ||
| Computer-Aided Design | Parallel and Distributed Systems | ||
| Computer Animation | Research and Development | ||
| Computer Architecture | Software Design and Develop- | ||
| Computer Networks | ment | ||
| Computer Simulation | Software Management and Main- | ||
| Computer Systems Design | tenance | ||
| Databases | Supercomputing | ||
| Information Systems Design | Systems Administration | ||
| and Consulting | Systems Analysis and Design | ||
| Management Information | Systems Programming | ||
| Systems | |||
Graduates of the Department of Information and Computer Science pursue a variety of careers. Many graduates specify, design, and develop a variety of computer-based systems comprised of software and hardware in virtually every application domain, such as aerospace, automotive, biomedical, consumer products, engineering, entertainment, environmental, finance, investment, law, management, manufacturing, and pharmacology. ICS graduates also find jobs as members of research and development teams, developing advanced technologies, designing software and hardware systems, and specifying, designing, and maintaining computing infrastructures for a variety of institutions. Some work for established or start-up companies while others work as independent consultants. After a few years in industry, many move into management or advanced technical positions. Some ICS students also use the undergraduate major as preparation for graduate study in computer science or another field (e.g., medicine, law, engineering, management).
| Physical Sciences Career Areas | |
| Actuarial Science | Lasers |
| Aerospace | Materials Science |
| Analytical Chemistry | Medicine |
| Applied Physics and Chemistry | Nuclear Science |
| Astrophysics/Astronomy | Optical Devices |
| Bioscience | Organic Chemistry |
| Computers | Pharmacology |
| Energy Science | Physical Chemistry |
| Electronics | Plasma Physics |
| Engineering Applications | Quality Control |
| Environmental Science | Radiation Science |
| Food Chemistry | Radiology |
| Forensic Chemistry | Solid State Devices |
| Geoscience | Space Science |
| Inorganic Chemistry | Statistics |
| Instrumentation | Teaching |
| Laboratory Science | |
Graduates of the School of Physical Sciences have backgrounds appropriate to a variety of areas in research, teaching, and management. Career opportunities for physical scientists are found in federal, state, and local government as well as in private industry. Chemists may work in research and development and in jobs dealing with health, pollution, energy, fuel, drugs, and plastics. Water districts, crime labs, and major chemical and oil companies are also good resources for employment. Mathematics graduates find employment in both government and the private sector in such technical fields as operations research, computer programming, marketing research, actuarial work, banking, retail management, and scientific research. Physics graduates find professional positions in education, research and development, and in the electronic and aerospace industries. Possible careers include science teaching and writing, computer and electrical engineering, device and instrumentation development, nuclear and reactor physics, environmental and radiological science, laser and microchip development, astronomy, and geophysics.
| Social Ecology Career Areas | ||
| Administration | Housing Development | |
| Air Quality Control | Law | |
| Architecture | Management/Administration | |
| Biostatistics | Mental Health | |
| Clinical Psychology | Program Coordination | |
| Corrections/Probation | Psychology | |
| Counseling | Public Health Research | |
| Education Support Services | Public Relations | |
| Environmental Design | Real Estate/Development | |
| Environmental Planning | Research and Research Design | |
| and Consulting | Social Service | |
| Epidemiology | Teaching | |
| Government Service | Urban Planning | |
| Health Service | Urban Sociology | |
| Hospital Administration | Water Quality Control | |
Graduates of the School of Social Ecology may hold positions as urban planners, environmental consultants, juvenile probation officers, counselors, elementary and secondary school teachers, legal aides, coordinators of juvenile diversion programs, social workers, mental health workers, special education teachers, or architectural consultants. Many School of Social Ecology graduates have used their training to enter graduate programs and obtain degrees in the fields of law; clinical, community, social, developmental, and environmental psychology; public health; public and business administration; environmental studies; urban planning; social welfare; criminology; and the administration of justice.
| Social Sciences Career Areas | |
| Banking | Library Science |
| Correction/Probation | Management/Administration |
| Counseling | Marketing |
| Environmental Analysis | Personnel |
| Finance | Psychology |
| Foreign Service | Public Relations |
| Government Service | Publishing |
| Health Services | Real Estate |
| Human Services | Research |
| Industrial Relations | Sales |
| International Affairs | Statistical Analysis |
| Labor Relations | Teaching |
| Law | Writing |
Business and industry often look to social science graduates to fill positions in management, finance, marketing and advertising, personnel, production supervision, and general administration. In the public sector, a wide variety of opportunities are available in city, county, state, and federal government. Teaching is a frequently chosen career at all levels from professor to elementary school teacher. In addition, many graduates enter professional practice, becoming lawyers, psychologists, researchers, or consultants in various fields.
