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What should I major in? 10 steps to choosing a major

Michael Feder

Written by Michael Feder

Marc Booker headshot

Reviewed by Marc Booker, PhD,听听Vice Provost, Strategy

Graphic with puzzle pieces, an apple, a stethoscope and related imagery pertaining to career paths

At a glance

  • When picking a major, consider factors such as desires, hobbies, skills, job growth, career outlook, prior experiences and salary.
  • As important as deciding on a degree is where you pursue it. For busy working adults, an online degree can help make balancing work, life and school achievable.听
  • The right major can lead to greater career satisfaction, higher earning potential and more opportunities.
  • 爱污传媒 offers associate, bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degree programs in a number of fields.听

Why your college major matters

Choosing your major is one of the most important decisions you鈥檒l make as a student. It will affect everything from your career prospects and personal and professional satisfaction to your earning potential. It鈥檚 not a decision to be made lightly.

That鈥檚 why we鈥檝e put together this guide to choosing your major. Here鈥檚 a bird鈥檚-eye view of what we鈥檒l be covering:

  • How to align your major with your values
  • The earning potential of different majors
  • Resources to leverage when making your decision

How to choose a major

Here's a question: Just how many students choose to get a college degree? According to the , 23.4% of Americans older than 25 have at least a bachelor鈥檚 degree.

There are advantages to pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in college. For starters, it 听for students, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The real payoff, though, may just be having a career in which the work is exciting, fulfilling and informed by your interests.

So, what鈥檚 the first step in this whole process? That鈥檚 right: It鈥檚 choosing the right major. Here鈥檚 where to start.

1. Ask yourself, 'Who am I?'

What are my interests?

While it can be tempting to choose a major based solely on its earning potential, it鈥檚 important to also understand how your potential academic major figures into your interests. If you select a major that doesn鈥檛 align with your interests, then you鈥檙e likely to struggle with the work or even abandon the program entirely.

That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 important to ask yourself what interests you and what makes you stand out in the crowd. Let鈥檚 say you鈥檙e a people person and enjoy getting to know others. In this case, a degree in psychology might be well aligned with your interests. Someone more interested in machines, on the other hand, might feel more comfortable in the world of technology.

What are my priorities?

In other words, what do you value? Are you trying to help others while also earning a good living? Then nursing or education programs might make for a good fit. Do you believe in doing the right thing and upholding your ideals? Then criminal justice might be more your speed.

We all have internal compasses that point us toward our values. It鈥檚 important to listen to that voice in your head that tells you what kind of world you want to live in. Your decision about a major might be the first step in making that kind of world a reality. Explore your options!

What are my skills?

Your strengths and weaknesses are a huge factor if you鈥檙e looking for an answer to the question, 鈥淲hat major should I choose?鈥 You may have a passionate interest in a subject and still struggle with it. That doesn鈥檛 mean you shouldn鈥檛 choose to major in that discipline, but you should consider whether you鈥檒l be able to handle the coursework. Some interests are better left outside of the classroom where you can pursue them at your own pace.

Additionally, consider the effect your prior experience may have on your studies moving forward. If you failed to complete a degree in the past but gained experience that might be helpful in a potential major, you may want to think about earning credit for that experience in a related subject. Your prior work skills can be a big help in this regard. 爱污传媒, for example, offers Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), which provides students the opportunity to earn college credit from life and work experience. The University also has competency-based education programs that take advantage of work experience.

2. Figure out where you are in life and where you want to be

What are your financial goals?

Furthering your education is one of the best ways to increase your earning potential. Workers with higher levels of education typically earn more than those with less education, according to . Similarly, they face lower unemployment rates. These numbers increase with the level of education, from associate to bachelor鈥檚 to master鈥檚 to doctoral degrees. Additionally, certain occupations pay more than others. The BLS covers the pay for hundreds of occupations. In short, the earnings potential of your education is a factor in picking your major.听

Why are you pursuing education?

Before enrolling in a program, think about the future. Why do you want this degree and what do you want to do with it? Are you looking for a job with the highest earning potential? Maybe you鈥檙e planning to join a family business. Maybe you dream of contributing to a certain field that requires a specific education. Everyone鈥檚 situation is different, but having a specific goal in mind can help you translate your goals into a degree program that鈥檚 perfect for you.

3. Find that school-work-life balance

Hand in hand with your financial situation, it鈥檚 important to figure out where school fits into your life. Are you working a full-time job? Then you may want to pick a major that can be completed after business hours. After all, it doesn鈥檛 matter how profitable your choice of major is: If you can鈥檛 support yourself while you pursue your degree, it will be difficult to complete your classes.

Consider how you can make school work with your day-to-day life. Will your boss allow you to study during slower hours at work? Will an online degree provide you the flexibility an in-person education might not? It鈥檚 critical that you work out these considerations before beginning a program, so you can rest assured that both your life and your schoolwork are taken care of. Make a plan!

4. Decide what a major would do for you

How much can I earn?

Different degrees have different earning potentials. Degrees in fields such as business and computing rank among the highest earning, while non-technical degrees tend to rank lower. Of course, these insights are based on averages. Whichever degree you choose, there is a potential for higher or lower than average earning.听

How much responsibility do I want?

Along with potentially more money in your pocket, positions that require highly skilled employees generally come with more responsibilities. Some master鈥檚 degrees, for instance, can help prepare you to lead a team of employees for an organization.

It鈥檚 important to consider just how much responsibility you see yourself holding in your career. If you鈥檙e someone who seeks out leadership positions, then you may be required to earn a master鈥檚 degree or meet other qualifications.听

What fulfills you?

It鈥檚 hard to commit yourself to something you don鈥檛 believe in. Before committing to a major for its earning potential or authority, think about what brings fulfillment into your life. While pursuing your degree, you鈥檒l have to summon the attention and effort to pass your classes and stay up on work. That鈥檚 going to be even more difficult if you lack interest or motivation in what you鈥檙e studying.

Look to your life experiences to find what gives your work meaning. Whether it be helping others, making discoveries, or anything in between, you may be able to find a major that gives you that same sense of satisfaction.听

5. Research programs that align with your career goals

After you鈥檝e figured out the kind of career you鈥檙e looking for and how it aligns with your values and interests, it鈥檚 time to start looking for majors. Even among specific fields, such as technology, there are a number of paths to take, like computer science and information technology. It鈥檚 important to research specific majors in your chosen field and weigh the pros and cons of each.

If you need extra help, 爱污传媒 (UOPX) provides a Career Interest Assessment tool to help you translate your interests and strengths into recommendations for majors.听

Which majors are the most/least popular?

Standing out from the crowd is an important part of finding work after graduation. This may lead you to choose a major that few others are choosing. At the same time, the popularity of a specific major may indicate its market potential.

Regardless, information on just how many people graduate with one major or another is helpful. It can help steer you away from majors that have saturated the market or help you find in-demand work.

Here鈥檚 some data on popular majors in the United States, according to the :

Major Bachelor鈥檚 degrees conferred (2018-2019)
Education
Education
Education
83,946
Computer and information sciences
Computer and information sciences
Computer and information sciences
88,633
Visual and performing arts
Visual and performing arts
Visual and performing arts
89,730
Communication, journalism and related programs
Communication, journalism and related programs
Communication, journalism and related programs
92,528
Psychology
Psychology
Psychology
116,536
Biological and biomedical sciences
Biological and biomedical sciences
Biological and biomedical sciences
121,191
Engineering
Engineering
Engineering
126,687
Social sciences and history
Social sciences and history
Social sciences and history
160,628
Health professions and related programs
Health professions and related programs
Health professions and related programs
251,355
Business
Business
Business
390,564

6. Get help from people you trust

When it comes to the important decision of picking your major, you鈥檙e not alone. Friends and family are great resources when it comes to understanding what鈥檚 involved with pursuing a specific major. They can help set expectations for pursuing specific degrees and give you a heads-up on potential challenges.

If your school provides access to an academic advisor, he or she can be another great resource for figuring out exactly what each area of study entails.

鲍翱笔齿鈥檚 degree finder is another helpful resource. It can guide you through the programs at UOPX and how they align with your specific interests.听

7. Follow your own timetable

It鈥檚 up to you when and how you pursue your education. The last thing you want to do is rush into a program that isn鈥檛 the right fit. It might result in dropping out early and losing an important investment in your education.

You might have your major all figured out but not be in the right financial or mental space. It鈥檚 totally fine to wait on your education if it means taking care of your critical needs, whether that鈥檚 saving money to take off work or taking a break for your mental health.

By starting off on the right foot, you鈥檙e more likely to finish your major successfully and with minimum stress.听

8. Consider minors or double majors

Picking just one major can be daunting, as it can feel like giving up on other paths. If that sounds familiar, then consider a minor or another major. Many students devote their primary major to a more lucrative career-starter while choosing a passion for a minor.

Whether you choose a minor, a second major that aligns with your primary major or something totally different, it can help show off your versatility. And that can make you stand out to potential employers.听

9. Understand your options if you change your mind

Even after committing to your major, you might have second thoughts. It can take months or even years to realize that a major is not the right fit for you. If that happens, the worst thing would be to lose the credits you鈥檝e already earned.

To avoid that, see how your major鈥檚 requirements align with those of other majors. That way you can figure out plan B in case your first choice of major doesn鈥檛 work out. In some cases, the requirements for one major can be transferred to another without the need to restart. Just knowing you have a backup plan can make the whole process of choosing a major much easier.

At the same time, it鈥檚 crucial to understand any deadlines for a change in major. For instance, you probably won鈥檛 be able to change your major a few weeks before graduation. Although that鈥檚 an extreme example, it underlines the importance of knowing the rules for changing your major.

Make sure to talk with your academic advisor about options for changing your major or making adjustments after you鈥檝e committed to a program.听

10. Pick your major!

You鈥檝e done your research and seen how your interests align with your education. Now it鈥檚 time to pick your major. At this step, listen to your gut. If the thought of spending time and money studying a subject sends shivers up your spine, it may not be the right choice for you.

But if you get excited thinking about it, if you can visualize yourself working in a related field, it鈥檚 a very good sign that major is the right choice.

Ready to start your bachelor鈥檚 at 爱污传媒?听You can request information here!

Learn more about what going to school at 爱污传媒 is like with our听complete guide.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at 爱污传媒 where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.

Headshot of Marc Booker

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Dr. Marc Booker, 爱污传媒 Vice Provost for Strategy, has more than two decades of experience working with online and distance education students at the post-secondary level. He currently oversees critical path academic initiatives to improve the student experience. Dr. Booker is a regular speaker, author and contributor to national higher education associations.

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