Christendom College students explored their academic futures this past week at the annual Majors Expo, meeting with faculty and upperclassmen to learn more about the College’s liberal arts majors ahead of declaring their majors.
Held in the College’s Old Chapel Hall, the Expo featured each of Christendom’s nine undergraduate majors, with faculty and upperclassmen available to explain course requirements, answer questions, and share their experiences within their respective departments. Christendom’s graduate school program, the Center for Educational Philosophy and Leadership, and additional academic paths were also represented.
Attendance was required for sophomores, who formally declare their majors during the spring semester, while freshmen were encouraged to attend as well while they continue to discern their majors.
For sophomore Rae Mah-Chamberlain, the Expo provided an opportunity to explore several major possibilities through conversations with both professors and fellow students.
“I enjoyed attending the Majors Expo and having the opportunity to speak to not only professors but also upperclassmen about the different majors. I have been struggling to decide which major to choose, and hearing about the different aspects of the majors and the different courses available have given me a better understanding of where my interests lie,” shared Mah-Chamberlain.
While some students arrive at Christendom with a major already in mind, others use their first years at the College to discover where their academic interests and talents may lead them. The Majors Expo is designed to assist students at either stage, providing practical information about course and credit requirements while also creating opportunities for conversations with faculty and upperclassmen already pursuing each discipline.
“The Majors 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 faculty advising system to help students discern where to best employ their talents and pursue excellence.”
The Expo is one component of Christendom’s faculty advising system, which provides students with additional guidance as they discern their academic paths. That discernment takes place within the College’s rigorous core curriculum, with students first encountering each different major in the classroom before pursuing one area of study in greater depth through their chosen major.
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 communication skills—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.