How One Course Helps Students Find Their Major

""She told me about the process of nutrition and how it can help so many people, which I always knew that I wanted to do," said Hanggodo, now a third-year nutrition and dietetics major. "This class is definitely a big reason why I am where I am today.""

"Moira Curtis, a senior academic adviser who leads the optional course, said its second-semester timing is intentional. "Students have to take a first-year seminar that's already a one-credit introduction to the university, and that transition time can be very overwhelming.""

"Among first-year students who enrolled in the course from 2020 to 2025, 79 percent declared a major within one semester of completing, and 96 percent had done so by the end of their second year, according to information from the university."

""You're not behind because you're not in a major, and we try to really point that out when advising so they don't feel like they're wasting time or taking a class without purpose," Curtis said."

Shawn Hanggodo began his college journey at the University of Delaware intending to study psychology but soon realized it was not suitable for him. He enrolled in the University Studies course, which helped him discover his interest in nutrition after interviewing a dietitian. This course is designed for undeclared students and has shown success, with 79 percent of participants declaring a major within one semester. The course aims to alleviate the pressure of choosing a major early on, allowing students to explore their options.

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