Effects of Adaptation Support Programs on Open Major Freshmen's College Adjustment : A Case of ‘University Life Guidance’ Course

The main purpose of this study is to identify what factors were important in helping open major freshmen, who entered the university without a major or department, adapt to school life. This study analyzes how the effects of participation in various adaptation support programs for freshmen are linked to the ‘University Life Guidance’ courses on course satisfaction and school life adaptation awareness of freshmen in the College of Liberal Arts at K University. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were performed on the data collected through a questionnaire (74 people). The results showed that demographic factors such as gender, desired college, and desired department did not significantly affect course satisfaction and adaptation awareness, but active participation experiences such as individual interviews, mentoring, and participation in non-curricular programs had a positive effect on satisfaction and school life adaptation. In particular, it was confirmed that course satisfaction was an important determinant of school life adaptation awareness. This study will provide empirical grounds for customized support policies and program designs for freshmen and will contribute to successful adaptation support for college freshmen.