Writing a major declaration essay can be a daunting task, especially when you have taken few (or no) courses in the major. You want to propose a meaningful program with thematic coherence, while leaving opportunities to explore areas you have not yet discovered.
In many ways, the major declaration is like a research proposal, in which you identify a broad question or complex of ideas you wish to examine and suggest ways to find out what you want to know and why it is important. In the end, you want to be able to answer confidently the perennial question, “What do you study with a major in _______?”
Tips to help you refine your ideas
- Think about your favorite aspects of courses you have already taken, and try to draw out themes or questions that sparked your imagination. Which papers were the most fun to write, and why
- Go over the course listings for the major you are choosing, and consider why certain courses are appealing to you. Are you interested in a particular classic problem area in the field, or region or time period, or a particular cultural phenomenon, or a social group? Are you interested in aspects of development, or applications of theories to real world cases? Or the relationship between politics, culture, and economics in your area? Any of these can serve as the focus for your major.
- Talk to professors on the field committee, current majors and the curricular dean to get ideas about how to construct your program. Professors will be able to tell you about the kinds of methodological tools you will need to explore the questions that interest you most; current majors can give you a sense of what individual courses are about; and the dean can discuss ways that other majors have approached similar topics.
- Show a draft of your essay to professors you like and trust or to a prospective faculty mentor, and incorporate any of their ideas you find useful.