Exploratory and Undeclared Resources
Not sure what you want to do or what you want to study? Do you have too many ideas to choose from? That's okay! Here are some considerations:
- Studies show that up to 80% of entering college freshmen are unsure of their majors.
- Education is a lifelong process (probably not what a first-time freshman wants to hear, but it is true!)
- There may be several majors and pathways that are good choices for you.
- Research shows that within 10 years of graduation, the majority of college graduates are working in areas that are not connected to their college majors.
Here are some ideas to keep you going in the right direction...
Degree and certificate choices
A first step for you is to become familiar with the programs that COCC offers. The
College Catalog is the best tool for the job; read the description of the explanation
of the degrees and the individual degree and program options.
COCC identifies students who are undecided about their career or academic path as
"exploratory", which aligns with the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree.
This degree is designed to easily transfer to Oregon public universities for a bachelors
degree.
Some exploratory students may choose to declare the Associate of General Studies degree. The AGS degree allows students to self-design a program to meet individual needs. Remember, however, that the AGS degree does not include general education requirements aligned with a bachelor's degree as the AAOT does, and it does not include requirements to build workforce training and skills as the AAS does.
Take advantage of COCC's Career Services
COCC has lots of resources to help you make a decision about an educational goal or a career goal. See the Career Services web site for more information.