College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University

One-stop shopping at Major Fair

Academic units throughout campus to provide information to current ISU students.

Unsure. Not satisfied. Want more.

Current students seeking a new major or minor or who still haven't declared a major in the first place will have the opportunity to learn more about the academic offerings on campus when the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences hosts the first annual Major Fair Thursday, Feb. 23.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Academic departments from every undergraduate college will be represented at the Major Fair. Other campus offices and programs, such as college study abroad and career service offices, will also have booths at the event.

The departments will provide information to Open Option (undecided) students, students wishing to change or add a major or minor, and prospective transfer students.

"This is a 'one-stop shopping' opportunity for any Iowa State student who is looking to add, change or even select a major that is right for them," said Dan Rice, LAS academic adviser and the event's coordinator.

Rice says approximately 20 percent of Iowa State freshmen come to campus without a major. He also added the average ISU undergraduate will change their major two or three times before graduating.

A large number of Iowa State students also will add a second or even third major and/or a minor during their undergraduate career.

Students who enter Iowa State as Open Option are placed initially in LAS. During the first couple of semesters on campus, the students are given a chance to explore their academic interests.

"This is an opportunity for the students to find out what they really want to do with their lives," Rice said. "Many haven't got a clue about what they want to do.

"The Open Option experience is designed to help the student explore all of the unique majors offered here while becoming acquainted with the entire university and making successful adjustments to the academic expectations of college."

Typically during the second semester of the freshmen year, many Open Option students will declare a major. Rice says this is the perfect time to provide them with additional academic information that the Major Fair will.

"This is also a time that many of the students who did have a major in mind when they first came to campus decide that their first choice isn't working out for them," Rice said. "Now they're at a point where maybe something else interests them.

"We think the Major Fair will provide them with the information they need to make an informed decision on a new major or minor."

Funding for the Major Fair has been provided through a recruitment and retention grant from the Professional and Scientific Council, which provides grants to be used for innovative purposes within the context of Iowa State's commitment to retention and recruitment.