Majorly Popular Majors and Potential Careers

While the list of most popular college majors hasn’t changed much over the past few years, knowing the in-depth details about each one can go a long way toward making an informed choice as to what you will be studying for the next four years. While the majors that are most popular are often quite broad, within their big, somewhat vague titles are nuances and finer points to understand regarding what is involved and where you can go with your degree. According USA Today, some of the top college majors are History, English Language and Literature, Accounting, Criminal Justice, Nursing, and Business Administration/Management.* Below, we break down the list and get to the nitty gritty of each one:

History: What can a history major do? Civil War reenactments? Museum curation? There is so much more to this field of study. “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it:” what a prescient quote when we consider politics, war, sociology, law, and other areas. A person who has studied history will have a profound understanding of cultural movements, social patterns, and historical precedents, which can lead to so many career opportunities. As with other humanities majors, don’t assume a history course of study will confine you to only a few jobs; in fact, it may open up career areas you never considered.

English Language and Literature: Similar to history, this subject often gets a bad rap as one which has no practical application. As an English major in my undergraduate studies, I would beg to differ: this course of study has allowed me to write well, communicate effectively, and be versatile within the workplace. I have worked in business, education, marketing, psychology and writing, all thanks to my English degree. From an English course of study can come careers in so many diverse fields.

Accounting: I am lucky to have a mother who has been an accountant for forty years and I can tell you that they are invaluable, especially to an English guy who pretty much stinks at math. Beyond just helping with my taxes every year, she has never had a shortage of work as there are always individuals and companies who need someone to manage their books. If you are a numbers person, this field can offer unlimited opportunities and consistent work.

Criminal Justice: This is a hot major in colleges right now, but it is important to know that you can do more than just become a law enforcement officer with this major. From forensic investigation to positions in the field of law to detective work, a criminal justice major can set you up well for moving on to graduate programs in law or climbing the ladder in the law enforcement field. Not only that, but it can be exhilarating work and perfect for someone interested in sociology, law, and the American justice system.

Nursing: One thing you will hear from nurses is that they very rarely have trouble finding work. While they often work in the shadows of doctors, nurses are virtual encyclopedias of human health, anatomy, illnesses, treatments, and physiology. Without nurses, we wouldn’t have emergency rooms, public health civil servants or support systems for doctors and hospitals. An added bonus is that nursing is one of the highest-paying bachelor’s degrees. If you are interested in health, science, biology, and being a vital part of our healthcare system, nursing can be a valuable field of study leading to an indispensable and in-demand career.

Business Administration and Management: Another major that gets a bum rap, a degree in business can be a great cornerstone of a successful career. Covering everything from ethics to finance to consumer psychology to marketing, these fields of study can lay the groundwork for you to eventually wind up in leadership or management positions within a business. The skills you can gain from this type of study are cross-career and applicable to many different areas. You can absolutely do more than end up in a cubicle somewhere: much like many of the other majors discussed, this one can provide many different career avenues.

Here’s the point: don’t judge a major by its broad title and don’t assume there are only a few potential careers than can result. Keep in mind that within each of these fields are a multitude of opportunities that can lead to successful, interesting, and fulfilling careers.

* http://college.usatoday.com/2014/10/26/same-as-it-ever-was-top-10-most-popular-college-majors/

Written by Phil Lane