The Major Event: Discover Endless Academic Opportunities
Established in 2018, The Major Event is UMBC’s annual celebration of academic exploration and discovery. Sponsored by the Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising, the event helps students connect their interests, strengths, and goals to UMBC’s diverse academic pathways.
Each fall, The Major Event offers a mix of academic and career exploration programs—including a Majors Fair, keynote and alumni panel, and an academic and campus support workshop—all designed to help students make confident, informed decisions about their major, minor, or future academic direction.
Every year features a unique theme that brings the programs to life in new and creative ways. From “Y2K” nostalgia to this year’s space-themed journey inspired by UMBC’s involvement in NASA’s Artemis III mission, The Major Event invites students to imagine their future and “discover endless academic opportunities.”
Our Purpose
The Major Event supports UMBC’s Strategic Plan for Advancing Excellence by working to:
- Increase degree completion and shorten time to degree by fostering confidence in a student’s current or future choice of academic major and/or minor.
- Enhance the quality and consistency of academic advising by promoting meaningful connections between students and department representatives.
- Leverage UMBC’s compositional diversity by connecting students with alumni who share real-world stories of career development and personal growth.
- Build a culture of applied learning by helping students connect with departments and offices that offer internships, research, study abroad, and co-curricular opportunities.
Event Highlights & Recordings
Keynote and Alumni Panels
Each year, The Major Event spotlights alumni who share their journeys of discovery—stories of non-linear academic pathways, the resources and mentors that supported them, and how they ultimately found a path that fit.
Get Involved
Whether you’re exploring majors, seeking career direction, or simply curious about what’s next, The Major Event is designed for you. Attend a session, meet department representatives, connect with alumni, and take your next step toward discovering endless academic opportunities.