This document provides information to students about why they are pursuing a college education and how to explore potential majors. It discusses the history of higher education in the United States from the Harvard era to the present exploratory era. It also describes different decision-making styles and factors that can influence the major selection process like support systems, career goals, and the role of general education requirements in a degree. The overall goal is to help students understand the purpose of college and feel less pressure in exploring and deciding on a major.

1. Unit One: Why are you here

2. Learning Objectives
• Explain why you are pursuing a college education
• Explain how you got to college
• Describe how the history of higher education applies
to you
• Define major exploration as it relates to you
• Explain your position in the major exploration process
• Identify and explain factors that influence your
decision-making process

3. Open the “Mind Mapping” exercise listed under content for
this unit. Keep this document open as you go through the
slide show and answer the questions as you go. You will
turn this in at the end of the unit.
First things first!

4. The first institution of higher learning in the U.S. was
established in 1636- Harvard!
Harvard was established to transform citizens in well-
rounded individuals and devout Christians.
The purpose of college has changed throughout the
centuries, but today, the mission of colleges and
universities is to produce well-rounded citizens again.
However, there is history in between we need to
consider.
Purpose of going to college

5. The history in between

6. Purpose of going to college
Harvard Era (1636-1860s)
• Purpose: to become devout Christians and well-rounded
citizens
• It was not expected that citizens went to college, but
helped build more educated members in society

7. Purpose of going to college
Vocational Era (1860s-1970s)
• Developed technical skills for jobs
• Studies were directed toward a specific career path
• Instead of employers using money to train employees, they sent them to
college to gain necessary skills
• Education started to be more attractive for employment, but not required
UA opened its doors in 1885 as
a part of the Vocational Era.
In our first year, we only had
FOUR majors.

8. Purpose of going to college
Support Era (1950s-2000s)
• Expanded general education courses,
and general education became
valued at institutions across the U.S.
• More students attending school
creates need for support
programming
• The G.I. Bill and other federal
legislation provides funding for more
citizens to attend colleges/universities
• During this time, there is an explosion
of majors available
• It becomes a societal expectation that
citizens attend college/university
• Education is more valued in
employment because of the critical
thinking skills college graduates
demonstrate, and employers begin to
see the value of sending their
employees to college to become
trained

9. Purpose of going to college
Exploratory Era (2000s-Now)
• College is a societal expectation regardless of future career goals
• More than 270 majors at UA!
• You can major in anything and go into any career
• Desired skills for employment can be achieved any major: teamwork,
problem solving, communication, organization, processing information
• More students are going on to master level programs
• Education required for most jobs or promotions. By 2020, 65%
employers will require education past high school (Carnevale, Smith, &
Strohl, 2013)

10. During the vocational era, people went to college to learn
a technical skill.
Employers recognized they could send their employees
to college to learn skills they found desirable, so they
ended some training programs and said their employees
HAD to have a bachelor’s degree if they wanted a job.
But still…what does this mean??

11. After World War II, access to higher education
increased, so more and more people were going to
college.
Things like the G.I. Bill and federal loans for education
made it possible for everyone to go to school, so it
became more of an expectation for EVERYONE to get
a college education.
At the same time…

12. Employer’s demands for educated employees
+
Increased access to higher education
+
SO MANY MAJORS
=
Lots of major confusion and societal pressure!
So this all adds up to what?

13. It’s OKAY to
NOT have a
major right
now!

14. Many families have different perceptions of what college
means.
What sort of conversations did you have with your family
about college?
What does it mean to YOU?
At what point did your family members start going to
college? Did your grandparents go to college? Did your
parents go to college? Why did they go college?
What college means to you

15. Based on what you thought college was, were you
influenced to pick a major initially, or did you come in
undeclared?
Now knowing the purpose of higher education today,
what do you think will influence your decision-making
process while you explore majors?
Making the connection

16. Decision-making styles
According to theorist William Coscarelli, you make
decisions in one of four ways:
• Spontaneous external
• Spontaneous internal
• Systematic external
• Systematic internal
How do you make decisions? (Gordon, V. & Sears, S.
Selecting a college major.)

17. Spontaneous External
• Change your mind frequently
• Make a decision quickly
• Talking to parents/friends/teachers
• Considering the advice of others
Systemic External
• Collect all information first
• Weigh pros and cons before
deciding
• Talking to parents/friends/teachers
• Considering the advice of others
Spontaneous Internal
• Change your mind frequently
• Make a decision quickly
• Think about decision on your own
• Trust your own judgment over
others
Systemic Internal
• Collect all information first
• Weigh pros and cons before
deciding
• Think about decision on your own
• Trust your own judgment over
others
What does that mean?

18. There may be things that influence your decision-making
process besides how you make decisions. These may be
things like:
• How does your support system feel about your college
education?
• Do you have specific career goals that you feel like
influencing your choices?
• Do you have a time frame within which you need to
accomplish your goals?
What else may influence your
decision?

19. Complete this roadmap activity:
http://clas.arizona.edu/major-exploration
What does this say about where you are in the
major exploration process?
Time to pause and reflect

20. Keep in mind that the major exploration
process is not a straight line, and it is
different for everyone.

21. Sometimes, you might stall because you are just afraid
of making the wrong decision. Keep in mind there is NO
one right decision. There could be multiple majors that
interest you and help you accomplish your goals.
Also, once you make a decision, you’re not locked into it
forever! We’ll talk about this more in the next unit.
Fear of making decision

22. By understanding how you make decisions, you will
know what might be some common pitfalls for you, what
some strengths are, and how to make a more effective
decision when it comes to selecting your major.

23. Your major is an important aspect of your education, but it’s
not the whole piece. In fact, your major makes up only a
portion of your degree requirements.
The Role of Majors
UA Degree
At least 120 Units
Major
Around 30-50
units
Minor
18-23 units
Electives
Units Vary
Foundations
English
Math
Second Language
Up to 24 units
General Education
Tier One
Tier Two
Around 30 units

24. Why do we have Gen Eds?
To develop:
• Fundamental skills and broad base of knowledge
• Critical and inquiring attitude
• Appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of subject
areas
• Acceptance of persons of different backgrounds or
values
• Deepened sense of self
The goal of General Education is to prepare students to
respond more fully and effectively to an increasingly complex
and ambiguous world.

25. Part of the importance of a college education is that you
develop critical thinking skills, an awareness of others and
yourself, and have a broad knowledge base that will be
appealing to employers (we’ll show you this later!).
Also, if you still have some general education requirements
left, talk to your advisor about some courses you can take
to fulfill these requirements that may also help you fulfill a
major requirement. You may be surprised by the courses
you like or don’t like, and this is a great way to start
exploring!
Why are you telling me this?