Not sure? That's OK
If you're not ready to choose your major, you’re not alone. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over 80% of college students change their major at least once during their college career.
College is a time for exploration, and UMass Lowell College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences can help you find the liberal arts major that's best for you.
Guided Exploration

- First-Year Seminar for ULA
Learn about different majors by meeting faculty, students and alumni from across the college. The course also equips you to succeed as a university student, covering topics such as time management, study skills and an introduction to on-campus resources. - Breadth of Knowledge Core Curriculum Courses
In your first semester as a ULA student, you will take courses across departments that fulfill core curriculum requirements. This way, you get to experience a range of departments while satisfying degree requirements, keeping you on track to timely graduation. - Advising
Each ULA student has two dedicated advisors:- Karen Humphrey-Johnson, College of FAHSS Director of Student Success
- Professional Advisor – Accredited, trained professionals who support you with issues ranging from academic advising to study skills, housing, financial aid, and student life
- Exploring Majors & Careers Assessment
The Career & Co-op Center offers a range of resources to help students, such as career and skills assessments and “What Can I Do With This Major?” - Peer Well-Being Leader
ULA students are encouraged to meet with the FAHSS Peer Well-Being Leaders, who can provide peer coaching on many aspects of college life and beyond.
Transition
- Choose a Major
Once you have chosen a major, you will meet with a faculty member from that department or program and be assigned a faculty advisor. You will discuss your Degree Pathway (your path to graduation), as well as opportunities for experiential learning (study abroad, internships, research with faculty, etc.). - Interested in more than one major?
You can declare a Bachelor of Liberal Arts (BLA) major, an exciting interdisciplinary program that offers you the opportunity to design a personalized program of study in two disciplines from over 27 options.
Consider Your Interests & Goals
Think about what you want to do with your life—What matters to you? What do you care about? Then ask yourself what skills you will need. For instance, if you are interested in video games, you can choose among several majors to pursue a career in the fast-growing video game industry.
Grow & Engage

As you progress in your major, you will work with faculty and staff advisors to explore options for experiential learning, minors, and opportunities beyond graduation.
- Experiential Learning
Our diverse experiential learning programs include internships, service learning, faculty-led research, study abroad and more. These unique experiences help you develop and sharpen your intellectual, entrepreneurial, social, self-confidence, emotional and decision-making skills. - Interdisciplinary Minors
Interdisciplinary programs cross the traditional boundaries between academic disciplines and schools of thought as new needs and questions emerge. Since most significant issues have multiple causes, interdisciplinary programs integrate a wide range of perspectives to provide a more comprehensive understanding.
Student Profiles
A semester in Washington, D.C., interning with a nonprofit that trains women to run for political office galvanized Shaila Bornstein. As soon as she finishes at UML, she plans to return to Washington to gain political experience so she can run for president.

Honors student Franchesca Arias is passionate about studying abroad after completing a summer program in Valencia, Spain.

Nick Abourizk started college with plans to pursue a biology degree – but he couldn’t deny his passion for acting. An Oprah Winfrey Scholarship affirmed his decision to switch his major to Theatre Arts.

A summer co-op job with the DifferenceMaker program gave Nick Jarek a wider lens on his future career.
In the Master of Public Administration program, Ron Pannell is learning skills he can apply to his job in the Office of Student Engagement at Middlesex Community College – and later, in a housing agency.