A Case Study at D University on Major Seletion Motivation and College Life Adjustment of Undeclared Major Students
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This case study examines the current state of the undeclared major system at University D. It investigates first-year students' experiences with the system, their major selection motivation, and their perceptions and attitudes regarding adjustment to university life.A survey was conducted with 50 students admitted in 2025 through the regional recruitment system to University D in Chungcheongnamdo.All survey questions were analyzed using a Likert scale, with the open-ended responses regarding opinions on major selection qualitatively analyzed.The results are as follows.First, undeclared major students identified the advantages as the opportunity to choose a major that suits their aptitude and to experience various major courses, the flexibility in selecting and changing majors, and interaction with peers from different majors.However, as disadvantages, they reported an absence of student mentors and mentees, a lack of belonging and connection, and the need for a more structured curriculum and administrative support.Second, intrinsic motivation for selecting a major was generally higher than extrinsic motivation.Third, in terms of adjustment to university life, students showed low results in social experiences on campus.Based on these findings, the study discusses the direction and improvement measures for an effective undeclared major system in Korean universities.
Authors: Hee-Joo Im, Hee-Jung Son
Institution: Dankook University
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4413835494