How I Chose my Major — My Advice to Future NAU Students
Finding your perfect fit can be hard. We’re sharing Tarryn’s tips!
By Tarryn Weigand
Choosing your college major (and minor) can seem like a daunting process — but it’s also very rewarding when you find the perfect fit.
Do you like social media? Think advertising, or marketing.
Looking to go into a career in sports? Think athletic training, sports medicine, etc.
NAU offers more than 90 majors, so there are plenty of options to explore!
Before entering the college world, I had a general idea where I was headed. I also knew the upcoming years would give me time to work out who I wanted to be.
With my high school experience behind me, I knew I was interested in creative design and writing.
I was Student Body Secretary and enjoyed helping make digital advertisements for events. I knew my personal strengths could lie in journalism and graphic design.
An important piece for me was touring NAU with my mom, where we discovered the Strategic Communications department and were immediately intrigued.
I felt pulled to the other programs offered, and especially took an interest in learning more about Public Relations.
Whether you choose an emphasis in public relations, advertising, or both, you will experience hands-on learning, develop practical skills in creative design and writing, and gain an in-depth understanding of analytics and data management, all while working with real for-profit and non-profit clients. Further enhance your learning, build friendships, and create a professional network through our clubs: Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Ad Club, and the Northern Arizona Merchandising Association (NAMA). Strategic Communication majors enjoy a close-knit community with supportive and welcoming faculty, small class sizes, and ample opportunities to personalize your experience and gain your degree.
I was able to identify my major — Strategic Communications — early on and align my classes upon enrollment.
Once on campus, I found classes that would give me a basic understanding of the major. COM 101 (Communication Analysis), COM 200 (Communication Theory), and STR 272 (Intro to PR) gave a blanket overview of the next four years to come, and provided some flexibility to pivot to another major should I learn that Strat Comm was not a good fit.
I, however, learned quickly that it was an area strongly aligned with my career goals, and those classes could then be used to support my major course credits requirements.
Career opportunities within creative design, writing, and marketing strategy interested me most, so I had somewhat of an idea where I wanted to end up.
Luckily for me, Strat Comm offers classes well suited to those careers and has propelled me into the technical skills I will continue to work with as I begin the first step to my career path.
I used elective course requirements to explore other areas of academic interest, like Environmental Science courses and Humanities.
Although I was curious about degrees in these areas, I thought enhancing my Strat Comm focus with Public Relations and Political Science minors and adding an emphasis in Advertising would provide further flexibility when I began my job search.
This combination is the perfect choice for my academic interests, as well as my personal strengths.
The Political Science minor is my most recent addition, which is fueled by my interest in American government and encouragement from government employees in my immediate family.
I would encourage seeking internships in your focus area to obtain some real-world experience.
I secured an internship within the NAU School of Communication to build my skills and obtain transferable skills post graduation.
Still unsure about what major to choose?
My four tips
1. Use elective courses to explore different fields of interest.
College is a time to discover new passions. Exploring different fields can help you identify what excites you the most! Even if something isn’t in a area directly related to your course of study, don’t rule it out if you enjoy it!
2. Think about what subjects you excel at or enjoy.
Remember —
“If you love what you do, you won’t have to work a day in your life.”
Aligning your major to both your strengths and interests can lead to success and satisfaction in your future career.
3. Utilize NAU resources and seek advice from advisors and teachers.
If you talk to academic advisors, professors, and professionals in potential fields, you can gain additional perspective on career possibilities and how they align with your long-term goals.
Internships and job shadowing can also provide a real-world perspective on different career options.
4. You can also let your career guide your degree, by doing backwards planning.
If you have an idea about what you’d like to do after university, find the degree that is most suitable for that line of work. Some classes, like KJACK radio or NAZ Today can be career boosts later — especially for those who are also Comm students.
Lastly, remember a large portion of students will end up changing their major at least once in the first three years.
It is normal to change your major and explore multiple different areas until you find the one best suited for you!
Good luck, Jacks!
