<p>Hi, so I am currently a first year Biochemistry and Molecular Biology student, but I am certain that I do not want to earn a degree in Biochem. Anyway, I am interested in science, environmental issues, French, and political activism, so I am almost positive that I am going to double major in French and something else. I have been considering Civil Engineering(although math is not my strong suit), International Relations, Political Science-Public Service, or Plant Biology. Currently I am enrolled in PHI 001, FRE 001, and CHE 2A, and for winter quarter I am enrolled in MAT 21A, FRE 002, CHE 2B, and a freshman seminar on renewable energy. I know that if I go the liberal arts route I’m not going to need math or chemistry so I feel that I need to decide soon, because if I wait too long and do take math and chemistry I would have wasted my time with courses I didn’t need. Basically, I’m not sure what I want to do with my life, I can’t exactly imagine myself as an engineer, but I am interested on how things function and are made so that is why I’m interested in the science and I feel that if I were to go into IR or Polysci my curiosity in those fields would not be satisfied. If anyone could provide me with any advice I would appreciate it.
Thank you</p>
<p>I am a current Civil Engineering student and it sounds to me like Civil Engineering is not the major for you. The core curriculum is very math-intensive and you will find that “science, environmental issues … and political activism” take a back seat to simply solving lots and lots of technical problems. A double major including Civil Engineering will give you extremely little flexibility in your schedule; I find it difficult to make room for interesting classes I want to take when they are not part of the Civil Engineering graduation requirements, and I’m not even double majoring.</p>
<p>I would recommend looking into the minor in Sustainability in the Built Environment instead. This would give you a way to explore topics related to Civil Engineering without having to take the ENG 102/103/104/105 sequence or spend time studying group option topics that don’t interest you.
<a href=“http://engineering.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/files/ESBE_minor.pdf[/url]”>http://engineering.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/files/ESBE_minor.pdf</a></p>
<p>If you’re looking for a challenge in the winter quarter, you might also consider the following course which meets WF 8:30-10 AM, with additional (required) seminars throughout the semester:
[PHY</a> 150 | Gateways to Emergence in Science and Society: Toward a Science of Sustainability](<a href=“http://emergence.ucdavis.edu/PHY150/index.html]PHY”>http://emergence.ucdavis.edu/PHY150/index.html)
It’s not designed for lower-division students but it looks very interesting. There are 5 spots open at the moment.</p>
<p>If you are still in your first year, why not just focus on general ed? Take a lot of different courses that satisfy general ed, and you will most likely find something you really like. The good thing about liberal arts is that it doesn’t set you up on one specific career path for the most part. The skills you acquire will be valuable in many different careers. I was originally going to major in Bio, but realized that i’m not very good at math/science, and i am so much more happy that i can choose classes that are a lot easier for me. Good luck in finding a major, don’t remember don’t be super stressed, people still change majors in their final years.</p>
<p>P.s. it makes me sad that you are taking intro to philosophy and you don’t want to major in it! :-(</p>
<p>I remember as a dorm parent seeing frosh almost in tears in the their second quarter because they hadn’t picked a major yet. Sad . . . they didn’t know they had time to see which courses they took were more interesting to them . . . and they had no idea that they would be different people at 20 years old with 2 years of college than just a few months out of high school.</p>
<p>At OSU they all it “Exploring” not “Undecided.” Take more of the classes that interest you . . . even if they do not turn out to be requirements for whatever your major turns out to be you may find they have value both for what you learn in them and how they help you decide - someday- what your major is.</p>
<p>As a service to all college students I no longer ask “what are you majoring in.” Now I ask “what are you interested in.” The resulting conversation is so much richer that way . . .</p>
<p>“what are you interested in”… i like that. nice way to take the pressure out of that question.</p>
<p>i think that davis has an ‘exploratory’ option as well.</p>
<p>
If someone wants to keep the option open for an engineering major there are a <em>lot</em> of prerequisites in addition to your GE is why.</p>
<p>this could be one more major to consider [UC</a> Davis : Majors](<a href=“http://admissions.ucdavis.edu/majors/major_view.cfm?major=aepp&ig=9]UC”>http://admissions.ucdavis.edu/majors/major_view.cfm?major=aepp&ig=9)</p>