The College | Arts & Sciences

Academic Goals and Progress

Choose a Major
Some students have always known what they want to major in and a year at college has done nothing to shake that conviction. Many, however, either never fixed on a particular academic field or had ideas that have changed since they came to Washington University. If this is where you now find yourself, then sophomore year will be a time for finding your academic focus. You still have time to make up your mind—or change your mind—about what to major in, but it is critical that you work actively on figuring out your core intellectual interests.

A Major, Not a Career
Choosing a particular department to major in does not dictate your career path. Picking a certain career does not dictate your major. It is important to distinguish between the two.

In choosing a major, focus on finding topics and issues that you really care about and want to explore in depth. You are much better off pursuing your interests than trying to pick a major that will “guarantee” a job. The work you do in a major—any major—are the skills that you will be offering a future employer. You are much more likely to do well and learn the necessary skills of reading and thinking analytically and researching and writing effectively in courses in which you’re genuinely interested, in a major that you have a real passion for, than in courses you think might “look good” to someone down the road.

A Process, Not an Epiphany
Selecting a major will require some serious thought and exploration on your part and no one can do it for you. We can, however, help by giving you some ideas of how to define your interests and discover the right academic fit for you. Here are some tactics to try:

• Think about the courses you’ve already taken. The subjects you studied last year and the ones you chose to register for this year should give you some sense of what intrigues you and what classes you find most satisfying. What courses have you most enjoyed? Why?
  
• Attend a “Major” Decision Workshop, especially if you’re having trouble narrowing the candidate majors to a select few. It may give you some insight into your true academic preferences. It might also alert you to some interdisciplinary programs you hadn’t heard of that would suit you perfectly.
  
• Get more information about some of the majors you’re considering.
  
• Read the description of major requirements and courses offered by each department in the Bulletin of Undergraduate Studies or on department websites. Do you find yourself particularly interested in the descriptions of classes in certain departments?
  
• Register for advanced courses in the department, which give you a much truer idea than introductory courses of what it’s like to be a major in that area.
  
• Look online at department websites or drop by departmental offices to pick up brochures published by many of the departments.
  
• Make an appointment to discuss the curriculum with a department’s director of undergraduate studies (DUS).
  
• Talk to faculty, post-docs, graduate students or majors in departments you’re considering, asking them about each field and what makes it distinctive.
  
• Attend the Major/Minor Fair in October, where most, if not all, departments will be represented. It’s an efficient way to get information from a number of departments and talk to department representatives who are there for the purpose of talking to you.
  
• Factor in your own learning style. Do you prefer large lecture courses? Discussion-oriented seminars? Hands-on laboratory work? Look at the online course listings to check the size and descriptions of upper-level courses in departments you’re considering to see if what appeals to you is available in those departments. I
• f you’re hoping to Study Abroad, see how that fits with the majors you’re considering. Go to http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~overseas/ to see which overseas programs are approved for different departments.

Declaring a Major
The deadline to declare a major is Sophomore Convocation, February 19, 2008—but if you already know what you want to major in, declare it immediately. The sooner you declare, the sooner you will get the advantage of guidance from your major advisor. To declare a major, pick up from the College Office the form titled “Declaration of Prime or Second Major,” and follow the instructions on the form.

ACADEMIC PROGRESS
While thinking about your major, don’t lose sight of other academic responsibilities.

Credits
You should normally have 60 units of credit by the start of your junior year, and must have 57 units completed to register as a junior that fall.

Retakes
If you did particularly poorly in a class, you may be thinking of retaking the course. This may make sense but the effect of retaking a course can be easily overestimated. Here are some things to consider before deciding to retake a course:

• If the course is required for your major and requires a higher grade in order to be counted, it’s an obvious course for a retake.
  
• The effect of getting a higher grade in a class can be surprisingly modest. Someone with a GPA of 2.60 who retakes a course in which they got a “D” and gets a “B” will move up to a 2.65 GPA once all 120 units are completed by graduation, though the effect looks bigger during the sophomore year.
  
• There can be negative implications to retaking a course. Many graduate and professional schools assume that an “R” covers a failing grade. If you’re simply trying to improve from a “C”, that may not be the impression you want to give. Often, taking a more advanced course and getting a better grade can make a better impression than a retake.
  
• The medical school application service (AAMCAS) requires that all grades be calculated into the GPA. In courses that have been retaken, the first grade must still be reported.
  
• If you retake a course, the new grade will replace the lower grade and count in the GPA regardless if it is higher or lower than the original grade.

If you do choose to retake a course, get the retake form from the College Office and have it signed by the previous instructor BEFORE you retake the course.

Intellectual Challenges
A complete education in Arts and Sciences involves ongoing exploration of intellectual horizons beyond the major and beyond what is comfortable. Cultivate your appreciation of arts and literature, deepen your knowledge of history, science and current events, and expose yourself to unfamiliar cultures and perspectives. In doing so, you will not only satisfy distribution requirements, you will be stretching yourself in ways that will enrich you for the rest of your life.