Christendom College hosted its annual Major Expo this past week, welcoming current students to Old Chapel Hall for the opportunity to discuss potential majors with faculty and upperclassmen.
Christendom’s eight liberal arts majors were each represented, as well as Christendom’s graduate school program, with faculty and seniors from each department sharing information and discussing major requirements with interested students. Attendance was required for sophomores, who will officially declare their majors in the spring semester. Students of other classes, especially freshmen, were strongly encouraged to attend.
Students found the expo to be a useful resource for gaining a better understanding of what each major had to offer.
“Attending the Major Expo gave me a much clearer vision of my college journey going forward. As a current undecided student, I was able to receive a better understanding of the different aspects of each major, as well as how they suited my interests. The professors stationed at the tables were extremely kind and helpful, and provided lots of meaningful insight into their respective disciplines,” said sophomore Sophia Baltrinic, adding that she felt much more confident in declaring her major in the spring.
While some students come into Christendom with their major already planned, others come uncertain, and because of the college’s two-year core curriculum, they can explore their academic interests without full commitment to a major until their sophomore year. The Major Expo serves as a significant resource for both kinds of students. For those who have already picked a major, professors can explain necessary course and credit requirements, while undecided or conflicted students can explore a broader view of the strengths of various majors.
“The Major Expo is an opportunity for students to collect information about different majors while also having the opportunity to ask candid questions to each department’s faculty and upperclassmen in major classes,” says Dr. Andrew Whitmore, Christendom’s Academic Dean. “The Christendom faculty believe that it is important for students to be able to make informed and nontrivial decisions about the selection of a major, and the Major Expo greatly facilitates that process. It is another facet of our new faculty advising system to help students discern where to best employ their talents and pursue excellence.”
The skills students acquire through Christendom’s rigorous liberal arts curriculum—critical thinking, thoughtful analysis of everything from great literature to mathematical formulas, research experience, and exemplary communication abilities—provide the foundation necessary for success in any field of work. No matter their choice of major, every Christendom student graduates with more than merely factual knowledge in a narrow area of expertise but instead with a balanced worldview on which to base their future careers.
Students can learn more about Christendom’s majors here and about the College’s Career and Leadership Development resources here.
Contributed by Bridget Palm ’28.