Exploration Resources

Self-Awareness

As you explore potential major or career paths, it is important to know who you are and what is important to you. This greater self-awareness can help inform the decisions you make down the road. We encourage you to explore your:

Interests
Skills
Values
Purpose
Decision-making

To get you started, our partner office the Career Exploration Center has a list of Self-Awareness resources!

Go to Self-Awareness Resources

Strategic Exploration

Exploring majors is a normal part of the college experience for many students. You are not alone!

Whether you know your intended major or are considering many options – you will have the opportunity to strategically explore.

Strategic Exploration means choosing classes that will fulfill graduation requirements (keeping you on track for a timely graduation) AND that will allow you to explore and experience many different things.

A common – and valid – question we sometimes hear from students (and their supporters) is that if a student begins college without a major in mind, will they be able to graduate in 4 years? Yes, you can!

A college education is a large financial commitment, and we understand this concern. Years of data we’ve collected and continue to collect shows that students who begin their college career with CCAS as exploring students, and meet with their assigned advisor regularly, graduate on time or sooner compared to their peers.

There are several different requirements a student must complete as part of their degree and we assist students in intentionally choosing coursework that allows them to explore an academic area of interest, while also fulfilling those requirements they need to graduate. At CCAS, our professional academic advisors are knowledgeable about all the majors and programs offered on campus.

Strategic Exploration can include the following:

Taking courses in subjects you are interested in while completing degree requirements
Researching information online
Using career exploration resources
Meeting with your CCAS advisor and different major advisors
Participating in student organizations
Exploring student organizations, jobs, and volunteering

diagram showing the elements of strategic exploration

Your Strategic Exploration Puzzle is unique to you!

We will help show you all the different puzzle pieces to help determine what pieces will best help you and your path. The end goal is using all these pieces together to help you feel ready to declare a major.

Explore Academic Opportunities

UW-Madison has 140+ undergraduate majors and 90+ certificates across the eight undergraduate schools and colleges. There are many ways to explore them all! As an exploring student, it is exciting to discover what you can do at UW-Madison.

Use the following resources below to explore UW-Madison’s academic opportunities:

What is a major?

A major is a specific area of study to specialize in while in college, and typically consists of 30-40 credits. Majors include defined core classes and electives ranging from introductory to advanced coursework.

What is a certificate?

A certificate is an optional path of study that allows students to gain skills and knowledge in a specific subject or integrate multiple subject areas. These are similar to minors at other colleges & universities in the United States. Certificates are typically between 15-24 credits.

How many credits do I need to complete a degree?

You need a minimum of 120 course credits to graduate with a bachelors degree from UW-Madison. Degrees at UW-Madison consist of the following:

Major coursework
General education courses
Liberal studies or breadth requirements
Electives

The number of credits you must complete beyond major courses depends on the school/college that houses your major. You can learn more under the Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees section of the Guide.

Go to the Guide

The Guide

The Undergraduate Guide website is the essential resource for information about each major and certificate. You can explore each major and certificate individually or by interest area. The Guide is updated regularly and has the most current information about each academic program.

Each Guide page has a detailed overview of its content, process, and requirements. The Guide gives you an understanding of each program from their department’s perspective. Reviewing each tab will provide great information to help you understand the fullness of each program. This will help you determine if the major or certificate could be a good fit for you. Each page has the following tabs:

Overview – An official description of the major/certificate.
How to Get In – What students must do to declare the major/certificate.
Requirements – The list of all requirements and course descriptions.
Learning Outcomes – What students gain from the major/certificate.
Four-Year Plan – A tool giving a sample outline for completing the course requirements
Advising and Careers – Information about its specific advising and career resources.

decorative screenshot of the UW Guide homepage

Go to The Guide

Majors and Certificates by Interest Sheets

Looking for a way to identify specific programs as you look through The Guide? The following sheets categorize each major and certificate by broad interest areas. We encourage you to create a list of all the ones that stand out to you and then review their Guide pages to learn more. If you are interested in taking most of the required courses, it could be a good fit!

Limited Enrollment Programs

Some majors have limited space available and students must apply to enroll in that program. These are known as limited enrollment programs. Limited enrollment programs are competitive and have selective criteria such as: prerequisite coursework, minimum GPA requirements, auditions, and personal essays.

Direct Entry Programs (when applying to UW-Madison)

Four of these programs allow students to apply directly as part of their overall admission application to UW-Madison. These Direct Entry Programs are: Business, Engineering, Dance, and Music. If you are interested in applying for one of these programs, it is important to review the specific admission requirements below and contact the Office of Admissions with any questions. Students who are not directly admitted to these programs can be eligible to apply again when they are an enrolled student at UW-Madison. Some programs also limit the number of times that enrolled students can apply.

Business Engineering. Dance. Music

All Limited Enrollment Programs (when enrolled at UW-Madison)

Many students interested in UW-Madison’s limited enrollment programs below will work with us at CCAS as they prepare to apply and explore their options. You will start making an exploration plan with your CCAS advisor during SOAR and build on that plan together over time. If you are interested in one of these programs, follow the links below to review their UW Guide pages for more information!

Majors

All majors in the following schools and colleges:
- College of Engineering*
  - *CCAS is the designated advising office for students intending to apply to the College of Engineering who were not directly admitted.
- School of Business
- School of Journalism
- Mead Witter School of Music
- School of Nursing
Dance
Elementary Education
Landscape Architecture
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Physical Education
Social Work

Updated: March 28, 2024

Check the Guide for the most up-to-date information about how to enter these programs.

Certificates

Accounting (Business students only)
Biology Core Curriculum Honors (BioCore)
Biology in Engineering for Engineering Majors
Business
Dance
Engineering Data Analytics (Engineering students only)
Engineering for Energy Sustainability
Engineering Thermal Energy Systems
Integrated Studies in Science, Engineering and Society (ISSuES)
International Business (Business students only)
International Engineering (Engineering students only)
Spanish Studies for Business Students
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Technical Communication

Updated: March 28, 2024

Check the Guide for the most up-to-date information about how to enter these programs.

Early Declaration Majors

In these programs, students are strongly encouraged to start as early as possible. This is most often due to the structure and sequencing of the coursework. Students pursuing one of these programs will most often declare in their first year.

If you are interested in one of these majors, we are happy to discuss your options!

Updated: March 28, 2024

Career Resources

Exploring majors may also involve exploring career options at the same time. It is important to remember that your major does not equal your career. Your major provides a foundation for your professional journey. While a major may align with certain career paths, your major also gives you transferrable skills that can apply across different jobs. Using career services empowers students to explore and experience a wide range of career opportunities, regardless of major. We also encourage you to connect with career advisors to consider your long-term goals.

Exploring majors & careers? The CEC can help!

Meet with the Career Exploration Center (CEC) for support with career and major exploration! There’s a lot of information to navigate when considering your academic path and career interests. Sometimes the connection between academics and careers can feel confusing, so the CEC is here to help you strategically explore your options and identify your next steps. We know that each student has their own unique set of interests, values, and skills, and the CEC can help you incorporate those important qualities into your career journey. We hope you will connect with the CEC early and often!

Learn more about the CEC

Topics CEC advisors can help you navigate:

Exploring career and major options
Connecting your academic interests and career goals
Getting involved and gaining experience
And much more!

The CEC offers many ways for you to explore:

One-on-one appointments
Career and major exploration events
Online resources and assessments
Open study space to use Monday–Friday

Career Resources across Campus

Career Services at UW-Madison are organized and delivered by several units across campus and provide comprehensive career services including career advising and workshops, job postings, career fairs, on-campus interviews, and more!