What is a major and how to choose one?

Honestly, understanding how our degree is structured should be an entire course on its own. And if you’re a first-year, you might be overwhelmed not only by the transition into (online) tertiary education but also by the prospect of having to make big decisions about your program.

While we can’t resolve every question, we’ll try to clear things up enough to at least know where you’re standing a bit better than before. But if you’re feeling very lost we strongly recommend instead to contact the BInSt convenors (there are drop-in sessions happening right this week 6 - 9 July!) or a career advisor.

First, let’s look at how UNSW defines a major. “A specified sequence of study in a discipline or sub-discipline area within a program. Majors require students to take an approved set of courses at different levels and units of credit. The term is generally synonymous with ‘specialisation’. More than one major may be completed in a program.” Which is why you might see majors also being referred to as ‘specialisations’, ‘plan’ or ‘streams’.

So, a major is like a specialisation within a field (your degree). It gives you the flexibility and opportunity to choose the path of studies you find the most interesting or relevant. It’s kinda like a bigger version of choosing your subjects for Year 11 and 12. And you complete it by taking and passing a combination of prescribed and elective subjects throughout your time at university.

There are also ‘minors’, which are the younger siblings of a major. “A specified sequence of study within a discipline or sub-discipline, smaller in size and scope than a major.”

To know which majors or minors you can choose from, you need to make sure you are looking at the handbook of the year you enrolled at uni. Since degrees and universities are updating and changing all the time, programs and majors do not stay the same throughout the years either.

To find your relevant program all you have to do is usually google the full name of your program, the year you enrolled in and “UNSW”. e.g. “International Studies/Media (Communications & Journalism) 2016 UNSW.” If for some reason you can’t find it that way, you’ll have to look for it manually through this UNSW website: http://legacy.handbook.unsw.edu.au/2018/index.html

The current handbook for single-degree International Studies program starting in 2020 states you must complete:

1. International Studies core (24 UOC)

2. Regional Electives (12 UOC)

3. Specialist Electives (12 UOC)

4. Language Study core (24 UOC)

5. A Minor (24 UOC)

6. Overseas Study Program (48 UOC)

7. Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives (12 UOC)

8. Free Electives (24 UOC)

9. General Education (12 UOC)

Though it is not as clear cut as previous versions, it is through your electives that you will be able to form a major if you choose to do so.

If you’re doing a double degree with Media, you can choose from ‘Communications & Journalism’, ‘PR & Advertising’ or ‘Screen & Sound Production’ as your major for that side of your program.

Once you find the correct handbook you’ll be able to click through each section and know its specifications. Look at only the courses that interest you or look through them all! It’s up to you. Some people know which path to follow straight away, some others don’t, and some might even be looking into changing streams. (Yes, you can do that.)

After you have some idea of what majors or courses you must complete for each section. Try to narrow it down to a few that really interest you. From here, there are a couple of things you can do to get more information about them and know which one to choose:

1. Google, google, google. Look up the information that is already out there by students currently doing the major or those who have graduated too! (LinkedIn is great for career stalking.)

2. Send us a message! InSoc has a very diverse exec team that will be able to help you by giving you some real insight into what a certain major is like, and if we can’t, we can usually get you in contact with someone who can.

3. Reverse engineer. Maybe you already know which field/job you want at the end of your degree but you don’t know which major is the most relevant for it. Look up the usual requirements for your dream job and go from there! (Or alternatively, ask one of UNSW career advisors to give you more insight on this.)

4. Look at what you enjoy already. Perhaps you took a course this year that really spoke to you or you aced. Talk to your teachers about what path they would recommend for you if your interests align.

5. Talk to the course convenors. It might sound intimidating but this is one of the best and fastest ways to understand anything relating to your program. Our BInSt convenors are very approachable and have answered even sillier questions than those related to majors. So don’t be shy!

If you follow these steps and you’re successful knowing which stream you wish to follow, then make sure you declare it through myunsw. You can find how to do that here: https://student.unsw.edu.au/stream

Hopefully, now you have a better understanding of what a major is, where to find them and how to pick the one that suits you the most! Of course, if you can’t make up your mind or end up wanting to change, there’s always a way to do so. So don’t stress yourself too much and remember there are always people willing to help. Good luck!