Let's bust the myth that you should know your major at 17 or 18. It's great if you do, but it's common to not know or to change majors in college. We're here to help you along your journey. At Western, you'll have the option to get a strong academic foundation through WMU Essential Studies, a core curriculum program that allows you to identify classes that interest you.
The curriculum is designed to prepare you with the skills that employers most value. You'll develop the ability to solve complex problems, become a critical thinker and good decision-maker, and enhance your emotional intelligence, among other sought-after professional skills.
In addition to giving you a solid knowledge base, we also provide academic and career counseling to help you discover your passion and guide you to creating a professional pathway to pursue it.
At Western, we encourage you to explore your choices. We’re here to provide support so you can find success.
Check out your career options
![A nursing student practicing on a dummy with an instructor watching.](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/styles/hero_12_5/public/images/u3800/2024/nurse_1.jpg?h=5e582eb3&itok=nH-oE2jL)
When you study at Western, you’re getting prepared for lifelong learning for a changing world. That means we'll help you translate your interests and passions into a promising career. To get started, explore our resources to help with finding the major that's right for you.
- Explore undergraduate majors.
- Review degree requirements in WMU undergraduate catalog.
- Take general education classes in areas of interest (check with an advisor).
- Meet with an academic advisor that specializes in your possible career of interest.
The interest that (faculty and staff) take in what you're interested in, what you want to do with your life, what you want to do with your career—I think that's really where Western inspires and motivates people to find the strength within themselves to push on and get back up (when challenges arise).
We make finding your career path easy
Explore majors and minors:
Talk to a career advisor:
Research career opportunities:
Take the career exploration course:
Questions to ask my academic advisor
Do you have names of graduates of this program who would be willing to talk with me about the program and employment opportunities?
![Students at a computer, in discussion.](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/images/u171/2023/Broncoexpress2_2.jpg)
Declaring your major
Congratulations on deciding which major to pursue!
The next action you want to take is to meet with your departmental advisor, who will help you fill out the necessary paperwork to make things official.
Make the most of your major
WMU Signature
This program is a designed for students to showcase a cumulative integrative learning project that expresses their unique experience and solution-oriented approach to a real-world problem.
Career and Student Employment Services
This is your go-to place for career exploration, jobs and internships, and improving your interview and negotiating skills.