Explore Your Options

We're so glad that you have chosen The University of Memphis, and we would like to get you started on how to best maximize your experience at our institution. Below are a few tips and tricks on how to become a true blue tiger.

Choosing a Major
Taking General Education
Participating in Special Opportunities
University of Memphis Traditions & Fight Song

Choosing a Major:

• The Undergraduate Catalog gives details about each major available.
• In the section of the Catalog titled “Majors, Minors, and Certificates,” look for majors that interest you.
• Choose one or two majors you're interested in to read more carefully. 
• Check the 4 year plan for each major to see what courses are suggested for the first semester.
  Each course in the 4 year plan has a certain number of hours listed beside it.  Twelve hours is considered full time; however, many first year students take 15-18 hours of coursework. Taking 15 hours per semester for 8 semesters allows a student to graduate in 4 years.
• If you are not sure what major you want to pursue, you have the option of beginning your college career as “undecided,” which gives you time to explore the majors of greatest interest to you.  “Undecided” students are advised in the Academic Advising Center by professional advisors who will assist you with seeking a major and a career.

Taking General Education

Many of the courses in the first semester are General Education courses, often referred to as “Gen Ed” courses.  Look over the Catalog information regarding “University General Education Program.”

• Be prepared to tell your advisor which courses in these categories sound interesting to you.
• Social/Behavioral Science (6 hours required)
• Humanities and Fine Arts (one literature course plus 6 hours required)
• Natural Science (8 hours required)

When you meet with your advisor, you should tell him or her about any of the following items that pertain to you.

• Dual Enrollment:  Any college level courses during high school. You will need to ask the COLLEGE or UNIVERSITY through which you took these courses to have a transcript sent to The University of Memphis.  (If you took them through The University of Memphis, your transcript is here already.)
• AP Credit:  Any AP courses for which you took or will take the AP Test. Check the AP table to see what score you need to place out of courses at The University of Memphis. If you place out of a course by earning AP credit, you receive an S for the course, and you are allowed to take any subsequent courses in that area. 
• CLEP Tests:  Students have the option of taking a test to determine if they have the knowledge required in some college courses through a nationally recognized battery of tests referred to as CLEP Tests.  If a test is successfully completed, the student will receive course credit for the appropriate class.
• Foreign Language: Some majors/degrees require students to complete courses in a foreign language.  For a new language, or if you know your skills are weak, you will begin with the 1010 level of the foreign language.  If you want to continue with the same foreign language from high school and feel you have a solid background, you should take a placement test in the Language Media Center in Jones 220 to determine which course you are ready to take.  For more details about placement- Language Placement Credit. For hours of the Media Center- Student Resources.

Participation in Special Opportunities

Several programs have been designed to support students as they make their adjustment to college studies and campus life. 

• ACAD 1100-Academic Strategies:  This program is designed to teach the academic strategies and self-management skills necessary to be a successful college student.
• Tiger Learning Communities:  Tiger Learning Communities consist of courses tied together with a specific theme or academic major. Students in a Tiger Learning Community make connections on many levels - with other students in the community, with the specially-chosen faculty who teach and serve as mentors, and with the courses that revolve around the theme/major. 
• Frosh Camp: Frosh Camp is a four day camp at NaCoMe Conference Center located between Pleasantville and Centerville, TN, exclusively for incoming freshmen. Frosh Camp gives new students an upper hand on their first year by teaching what to expect inside and outside of class, introducing them to all that the University of Memphis has to offer, tons of Tiger spirit, connections with upperclassman and 200 fellow freshmen, fun, memories, and lots of new friends!
• Honors College: High ability students are eligible to enroll in the Honors Program at The University of Memphis.
• Nursing:  All students interested in an undergraduate major in nursing are advised in the Academic Advising Center. 
• Pre-Health:  Students interested in pursuing a career in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, physician assistant studies or in one of the allied health professions (including cytotechnology, dental hygiene, health informatics and information management, medical technology, occupational therapy, physical therapy) should take advantage of the information found on the Pre-Health website. 
• Pre-Law: Students interested in going to law school after completing their four-year degree should explore the Pre-Law website.
• Trio Classic Program:  This program provides support services to first-generation, low-income students and/or students with disabilities needing support services during their university years.
• Trio STEM Program:  This program is designed specifically for 120 eligible students who are enrolled in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors at the UofM.  Students must meet the eligibility requirements to become TRIO STEM Participants. 

University of Memphis Traditions & Fight Song

To prepare for the next Tiger Athletics game or celebrate a victory, you can download the UofM Fight Song Learn the Fight Song!