UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State's Division of Undergraduate Studies launched a new online tool this semester to help exploratory students find majors that match their interests. Called MajorQuest and available at http://dus.psu.edu/students/majorquest, the new initiative prompts students to select areas of interest from a menu or enter key words that describe what they might like to study. MajorQuest then sorts and filters Penn State’s 160-plus majors and lists those that include all selected areas of interest.
Each major in the list of results also includes links to important resources: the Undergraduate Bulletin description of the major, the major’s website, its entrance-to-major requirements and recommended academic plan, as well as related student clubs and organizations to join.
The Division of Undergraduate Studies’ instructional technology committee, led by senior undergraduate studies advisers Rhea Leydig and Irma Giannetti, researched and developed MajorQuest to meet the needs of students who want to investigate and consider options before choosing a major at Penn State.
“Most first-year students, even those already enrolled in colleges, are a little uncertain about their academic direction,” Leydig said. “It usually takes some time and a few deliberate steps before they can narrow their interests and make informed decisions about majors.”
“A tool like MajorQuest can help students identify areas of interest and relate them to majors that incorporate them,” Giannetti added. “We hope students as well as the faculty and staff members who assist them will find it useful.”
MajorQuest and other resources for students looking for majors that fit well are featured on the division’s Start Your Search page at http://dus.psu.edu/students/start_search.html.
For more information about the Division of Undergraduate Studies, contact Deborah Oakes, communications director, at dlo5@psu.edu or 814-865-7576.
The Division of Undergraduate Studies is a unit within Penn State's Office of Undergraduate Education. The division's mission includes student enrollment; the testing, consulting, and advising portion of New Student Orientation; the University-wide academic information network; and general academic advising for current and prospective students.