Freshman Studies (Undeclared)
Freshman Studies lets you explore your interests and compare majors before you make your final decision.
"My Freshman Studies advisors helped me pursue my interests without getting behind on my general degree requirements. But it was sitting in a psychology class they recommended where I found my passion and ultimately my college major."
Leah Hollingsworth
Freshmen Studies student and 2022 B.A. in Psychology
About this Program
There are more than 100 majors to choose from at the University of Mississippi. Enrolling as Freshman Studies allows you to explore options, find new interests, and carve your own distinct path on your way to the perfect major. Students in Freshman Studies receive the same financial aid and social opportunities as any other UM student but also benefit from extra staff support and course options to help them identify their best path to a future career.
Here are a few of the things that Freshman Studies offers to get you on the right track:
- The Center for Student Success and First Year Experience (CSSFYE) guide you in choosing classes until you find a major.
- Highly experienced advisors in CSSFYE can help you find a path that matches your interests and career path.
- Specialized courses provide guided exploration of academic success, career options, and personal abilities and interests.
- You’ll be in good company as part of the largest cohort of entering freshmen. On average, 15% of the entering class hasn't declared a major when they arrive in August.
On this Page…
Program Information
Program Type
Area of Study
Undecided/Undeclared
School
Duration
You must select a major by the time you complete 45 credit hours, typically 1-2 years.
Degree
N/A
Program Location
Required Credit Hours
N/A
What Makes Freshman Studies a Great Fit?
Recommended Classes for Freshman Studies Students
EDHE 105: Freshman Year Experience (3 hours academic credit)
Offered fall semester only
Special sections are available specifically for Freshman Studies students. These special sections include a larger career and major exploration component.
Designed to help first-year students adjust to the university, develop a better understanding of the learning process, acquire essential survival skills, and begin the major/career exploration process. The course also introduces students to the mission, values, and constituencies of a comprehensive public university, and to ethical and social concerns affecting its functioning.
EDLD 201: Career Decision Making (3 hours academic credit)
Offered spring semester only
Explore career development through this engaging course. Throughout the semester, you'll develop self-awareness and career planning skills using career development theories, self-assessment tools, decision-making models, and hands-on occupational exploration. You’ll hear from representatives of each academic school who will share insights about their degree programs and what graduates are up to.
Academic Advising for Freshman Studies Students
To find your assigned advisor:
- Log into MyOleMiss
- Find the “Academics” box in the top left corner and click on the + sign to expand the academic links
- Click on “My Advisors” to view the name of your assigned advisor
Freshman Studies academic advisors are housed in the Center for Student Success and First-Year Experience (CSSFYE)
Email: cssfye@olemiss.edu
Phone: 662-915-5970
Campus Location: Suite P, Martindale (3rd floor)
Some Ideas for Finding Your Fit
Take a career assessment.
The UM Career Center in 303 Martindale offers assessments for $20-$50 that may shed light on your personality, interests, values, and abilities.
You can also access free career assessments at:
Do some time traveling.
Ask your parent, guardian, or someone who knows you well the following questions about what they observed about your interests as you were growing up. Create a timeline using pictures and/or words to represent your career time travel.
- When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be “when you grew up”? What made you excited about this career? What did you imagine it would be like?
- In high school, how had your involvement in activities changed? What classes did you enjoy and what careers did you consider? What skills and abilities were you hoping to use?
- What do other people say you are good at? What skills and talents have you developed over time?
Investigate career possibilities.
Visit at least one of the following links to explore at least one career:
Use the questions below as a guide for your reflection:
- What is the most interesting thing you learned about this career path from your research?
- What did you like the most about the career you chose to investigate?
- What did you dislike the most about the career you chose to investigate?
- From the information you gathered, is this career a good fit for you? Why or why not?
Interview/shadow an expert.
Select an individual who is in a job that interests you. Ask if you can “tag-along” for a couple hours and/or use the following questions to help you learn more about the kind of work this individual performs on a daily basis:
- What was your career path? Your major in college?
- What is a typical entry-level job in this field?
- What skills are needed most for this type of job?
- What are the rewards/challenges/frustrations of your work?
- What do you wish you would have known prior to entering the field?
- How does your job affect your general lifestyle?
- If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be?
Take EDLD 201: Career Decision Making
This 3-hour, Spring semester class explores development of self-awareness and career/life planning skills through exposure to theories of career development, self-assessment instruments, decision-making models, and occupational exploration.
It's Your Major Decision
And You're Not Alone
of students enter UM as Freshman Studies.
of students change their major at some point during their college career.
We are here to help
Advisors in the Center for Student Success and First-Year Experience (CSSFYE) are trained to work with students exploring opportunities on campus. We aim to help you stay on track for graduation and find the perfect program.
Katie Franklin
Academic Advisor II
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Apply to the University of Mississippi
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?