Students at Florida A&M University have the opportunity to switch majors in order to add value to their career goals and prepare them for their future endeavors.
FAMU’s Center for Academic Advising and Student Success held an ongoing virtual forum onzoom every afternoon this week — the sessions end Friday — with students to answer questions and to assist with information about the change of major process.
When in doubt students are encouraged to give their assigned academic advisers a shout. These representatives can be found in most colleges and schools on campus.
Loyal Henderson, an academic adviser, said he and colleagues realized there was a need for the forum.
“We noticed during one-stop-shop where students were not clear on the change of major process between changing their majors and selective access programs. So, we decided to host a forum for students to come in to ask more detailed questions with the help from different representatives,” Henderson said.
Students develop different interests during their time in school, and they then have to think strategically about declaring a different major during their undergraduate career.
Avia Cesarone, a FAMU student, said switching majors impacted her experience.
“I just lost total interest in my journalism classes. I dreaded completing assignments and procrastinated on every single one of them. I had to be real with myself and figure out what I wanted to do, and so, criminal justice was the right fit for me because I have always been interested in the law. I have been doing well in my major classes ever since I made the change,” Cesarone said.
Once a student decides to change a major, the first step is to meet with an academic adviser in the program they are interested in switching to.
Bobby Lolley, an academic adviser for students in the School of Allied Health Sciences, explained the process in order to qualify.
“I would say the most important first step would be to meet with an academic adviser in the program that you are interested in switching to, and that academic adviser will have resources at their disposal, notably, what we call the ‘what if’ report; where they will be able to look at your academic record along with your credits to see how this change of major will impact your goal of graduating within four years,” Lolley said.
Each adviser who participated in the forum was receptive to answering questions about major change forums, decision-making strategies, and possible suggestions to consider.
Students do not always want to change their major but instead want to change their degree, which can potentially be misunderstood with respect to what steps one should take.
Karen Parker, an academic adviser for English, fine arts, music and theater majors, said students seeking to change their degree are required to go through the change of major process.
“From what I was told by my lead adviser, and I could reconnect with her again, if a student is trying to change from a bachelor of associates to a bachelor of science degree, they still are required to go through a change of major process by completing the form,” Parker said.