An Analysis of Students and Faculty in Colleges of Undeclared Majors and Strategies for Improvement

Key Points

• This research aims to analyze the perceptions of undeclared major students and faculty regarding career awareness, learning tendencies, and support needs to improve program operations.
• Mixed methods research involving surveys, narrative response analysis, and in-depth faculty interviews.
• Participants included 85 first-year undeclared students and 2 faculty members from 2 universities in South Korea.
• Students recognize the motivation and need for major exploration but have low preparedness for university life and academic goal setting.
• Uncertainty in major selection and transfer processes, lack of academic information, and insufficient peer interaction were identified as challenges.
• Faculty acknowledged the ambiguity in academic structures, overburdened advising duties, and limitations in organizational support.

Abstract