Choosing or Changing Your Major

Find Your Perfect Major

Make sure that your major, minor, certificate, and/or area of emphasis suits you, your career goals, and interests, The University of Georgia has hundreds of options to choose from. It is one of the most prestigious universities in Georgia and is ranked #16 in the US News’ Top Public Schools report as well as the #12 Best Value Public University according to Kiplinger’s. Getting into UGA is a fabulous achievement since the class of 2020’s acceptance rate was at 46%. Competition is growing each year at UGA in regards to essay writing, resumes, and test scores; thus making UGA a great school full of high academically achieving students all of whom make the school more desirable, and for most, their top choice.

Before I get into our Majors topic, let’s look at some of the points that make UGA the great university that it is:

• UGA is known for its amazingly high career outcome percentage at 96%, which is 11% higher than the national average.
• They estimate that UGA has an annual impact of $5.7 billion on the state of Georgia.
• The University of Georgia has been among the Top 3 Universities in the nation in producing the most Rhodes Scholars at 24 for the past two decades.
• The Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology is the first stand-alone academic school in the world devoted specifically to the study of ecology.
• The Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication administers the Peabody Awards program which is typically referred to as the most prestigious award for electronic media.
• The Terry College of Business is known as the 2nd best school in the nation for Risk Management and Insurance by the U.S. News & World Report.
• Athens, Georgia was ranked the top college football town in America in 2019 due to attendance records, athleticism, the closeness of the Bulldawg Nation, and Saturday vibes.
• UGA’s graduate schools are also among the best in the nation based on prestige, academics, and success of students post-graduation.

The U.S. News & World Report ranks UGA Graduate programs as follows:

• The Master of Public Administration is 6th in the nation.
• The College of Pharmacy is ranked 25th in the nation.
• Other reports rank other graduate programs as follows:
• The Master of Social Work program is ranked in the top 15% nationally.
• The School of Law is ranked 10th for public law schools in the nation.
• The Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication’s graduate programs rank among the top in the nation, including 4th in public relations, 5th in advertising, 12th in radio and television & 17th in print.
• The School of Ecology is ranked 10th in the nation.
• Forbes magazine ranked the Terry College’s MBA program among business schools delivering the highest return on investment.
• The University of Georgia’s MFA program in printmaking is ranked 7th in the nation.
• The number theory program in the mathematics department is ranked 10th in the nation.
• The doctoral programs in microbiology & evolutionary biology are tied for 10th nationally.

UGA offers over 100 undergraduate majors across 18 different colleges. Some of the most popular majors at UGA are Finance, Psychology, Biology/Biological Sciences, Marketing/Marketing Management, and Business Administration and Management.

Finance: The Terry College of Business is one of the hardest schools to get into upon completing your core classes at UGA. To get in, students must complete both Accounting 1 and 2 as well as the Accounting entrance exam… which are considered to be “weed outs” for this major. Since Terry is one of the most prestigious business schools in the country, earning a degree from here is no joke. When applying to Terry, you have to choose the first choice for a major and a second choice; therefore, if you are not qualified to receive your first-choice major, you are considered for your second choice prior to denial.

Psychology: This degree within the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences serves as a gateway to Graduate schools; whether it be medical, doctorate programs, or the Double Dawgs program. It is a great degree to be paired with further studies as well as a pathway into counseling, social work, and becoming a psychologist.

Biology: This degree is a liberal arts degree with a concentration in the biological sciences. It is not a pre-professional degree, but it does prepare students for professional programs in veterinary medicine, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, etc., as well as for advanced degrees in the biological sciences. This is also a great program for students desiring to pursue nursing school. It is a path within the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

Marketing: This degree program in Terry is broken up into two different concentrations, Professional Selling and Digital Marketing. Should that not be desired, a General Marketing degree is available. This path teaches students the importance of Marketing in business and the research procedures used in identifying and solving problems within the business world.

Management: This degree program within Terry is aimed at helping students develop the perspective, skill, and knowledge needed to manage and lead a modern organization more effectively. It is an umbrella for business and can be used in many different fields such as financial, material, human, legal, political, and environmental.

Let’s not forget about minors, certificates, and areas of emphasis. Today’s students are needing a more well-rounded profile and most are now adding minors to their portfolios. UGA offers dozens of minors, certificates, and areas of emphasis. Choosing these can be difficult since most students choose ones that pair well with their major, but it is becoming more common to choose more eclectic minors to reflect diversity.

It is not uncommon to have an Art minor with a Business degree, or a German Studies minor with an International Business major. The best way to choose yours is to look at your interests, future career aspirations, and possible job paths and you will be able to choose the best minor, certificate, or area of emphasis for you. It is important to note that not all degrees have room for these, while others have the opportunity for multiple to be achieved. Areas of Emphasis vary per major and degree program and must be decided upon admittance to your specific college of choice.

The University of Georgia has hundreds of options to choose from to make sure that your major, minor, certificate, and/or area of emphasis suits you, your career goals, and interests. It is very easy to graduate from UGA with qualifications that both set you apart and are in areas that fascinate you. College is all about finding your passion and learning the skills to pursue that spark your curiosity and make you excited to learn.

Still undecided? Make sure you go to the Career Fair and make an Advising Appointment.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.