What is a major?
What is a major? A set of courses…
A major is a group of courses required by a college or university in order to receive a degree or certificate –– an area you specialize in, like Accounting or Chemistry. There are certain core courses in the specialization that everyone is required to take, along with several elective courses. A college major may be called an academic major, major, or major concentration.
If the core courses are in more than one academic department, it may be called an interdisciplinary major –– like, Arts Administration, Psychobiology, or Philosophical Psychology. These are increasingly popular and valuable in the knowledge economy.
College major is often used when talking about 4–year college programs, but community colleges may use that term to guide you to descriptions of their programs of study, programs or training programs (that lead to a credential, certificate or 2–year associate degree).
Many 4-year bachelor's degree programs have you choose a major at the end of their Sophomore year. Read "What are Liberal Arts, Humanities & General Studies Majors?" to learn what these majors are – their benefits and challenges.
Other colleges encourage you to choose a major when you apply for admission (some require it).
Choosing the right major for you
Choosing a major is an important life decision, one that some regret later. The major you choose will affect
your college success and happiness,
your future career,
who you associate with during and after graduation, and
how you see yourself and the world around you.
On this website, we’ve put together expert advice and many resources to help you make a confident decision that you won’t regret. The good news is that if you choose a major that fits your personality and interests, you’re already most of the way there.
As a next step, try Career Key Discovery, which will help you identify thriving, promising and challenging academic environments and related careers. Our other Learn about Yourself activities can help too.