You will enjoy enough of academic freedom in the college. During your time in the college you will choose a major that will guide you to a career you want. Deciding a major is not an easy task. You will need to identify your passions and interests in order to know what major is fit for you. Your choice of majors should not be based on the easiness or your friend’s choices. You will not be doing very well if you are not guided by your intellectual orientation while choosing a major.
We have prepared a list of 10 popular college majors in the US based on attraction of students towards these majors. These majors are also those which have high job prospects and successful alumni. That doesn’t mean every course of study listed here will guarantee you a job, or a huge paycheck—but each of these majors does offer unique intellectual challenges and will help you develop skill sets that will be applicable in a variety of professional positions. This is not the ultimate list. It has been prepared for you to motivate you towards your college and major research. You have a lot more to do after reading this article in order to sort out possible majors for yourself.
Carefully read what these popular majors are about and ask yourself if you fit in any of them. If you don’t, you need a thorough research on your interests and intellectual orientation in order to get an idea on what major you fit in.
- Computer Science
You might be thinking that you will learn just about hardware and software of computers in this major. But as a computer science major you will be learning beyond that—application of such knowledge in different scenario, for instance in a business. Majoring in computer science will provide you with exposure to areas such as robotics, natural language recognition programs, artificial intelligence, programming languages, numerical analysis, and gaming technology. Whatever profession related to computers you want to follow, this major can be the best fit for you. Problem solving is a major skill needed in the students of computer science. How are you at it?
- Communications
Communications major is for those of you who are good storytellers and have quick wits. You will be studying, scrutinizing, learning to apply different types of presentation such as speeches and scripts. You will also be learning about the strategies behind the messages that speakers and writers use to make their points. You’ll learn about verbal and nonverbal messages, audience reaction, and the varied effects of different communication environments. Communication major will prepare you for a wealth of career options in business, advertising, human resources, public relations, government, education, media, and social services.
- Government/Political Science
Political Science the study of politics of government, and some of the common concentrations are American government, public policy, foreign affairs, political philosophy, and comparative government. Political science majors develop excellent critical thinking and communication skills, and more broadly, an understanding of history and culture. There will be lots of reading, writing, and math. Possible career paths are diverse—from lawyer to politician to journalist.
- Business
Business major is for leaders. People with talents in problem solving, number crunching, and decision making are the candidates for this major. Great communication skills would make a better fit for the major. While studying business, you’ll get a thorough grounding in the theories and principles of accounting, finance, marketing, economics, statistics, and human resources functions. You will be a whiz on how to budget, organize, plan, hire, direct, control, and manage various kinds of organizations starting from start–ups to multi-million-dollar corporations. You will learn thinking about issues such as diversity, ethics, politics, and other dynamics that play a role in every work environment if you pursue a business major.
- Economics
Economics the study of choices of individuals, businesses, governments, and societies and how they choose to spend their limited resources like time and money. You might have made a guess by now; economics needs critical thinking and mathematics. This study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services is an indispensable tool for making sense of the intricacies of the modern world. It is also an excellent preparation for a future in business, as well as for graduate studies in law, public policy, and international studies.
- English Language and Literature
If you find yourself interested in books of language and literature, this major can be a fit for you. Some people might find themselves more in works of Shakespeare, Dante, and Ernst Hemingway, among others, than in the equations of mathematics and physics. And this major can be their forte. English programs focus on literature, language, and writing, and an English major will encounter a wide array of absorbing works of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction from around the world and throughout history. Analyzing the works of the greatest minds and imaginations that human civilization has produced will surely sharpen your critical, emotional, creative, and moral faculties. The study of literature also helps to shed some light on the answers to the enduring questions of the human condition. This degree is tremendous preparation for a future in law, journalism, publishing, graduate studies, and just about anything else.
- Psychology
If you are observant enough to ponder upon why people react to certain things around them in a certain way, then studying psychology can help you in learning more about the human minds. Psychology majors focus on such features of the human mind as learning, cognition, intelligence, motivation, emotion, perception, personality, mental disorders, and the ways in which our individual preferences are inherited from our parents or shaped by our environment. Within the field, psychologists seek to educate, communicate, and resolve many of the problems surrounding human behavior. In the job market, this degree can set you up to be a therapist or counselor, obviously, but also a teacher, child development specialist, lawyer, or consultant, depending on the experiences and post-grad studies with which you complement your degree.
- Nursing
Compassionate individuals with a great mind for the intricate–and sometimes heartbreaking–world of medicine will be well–suited for a nursing career. In the course of evaluating, diagnosing, and treating health problems there is also the chance to work with ever-evolving and ultra-sophisticated technology. Nursing majors take the traditional science and liberal arts courses as a first–year student and begin clinical rotations at hospitals and other health care facilities during the second semester of their sophomore year. Certification exams are required after graduation from an accredited nursing program before you can be officially registered. And the job prospects for nurses are not only plentiful but also varied, available in fields such as geriatrics, neurology, oncology, obstetrics, and pediatrics.
- Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineers design and conduct chemical reactions in order to produce what people want. It’s a very broad field that overlaps considerably with other branches of engineering, chemistry, and biochemistry. Chemical engineering majors learn how to reorganize the structure of molecules and how to design chemical processes through which chemicals, petroleum, foods, and pharmaceuticals can undergo. You’ll learn how to build and operate industrial plants where raw materials are chemically altered. You’ll learn how to keep the environment safe from potential pollution and hazardous waste, too. Paper mills, manufacturers of fertilizers, pharmaceutical companies, plastics makers, and tons of other kinds of firms will be looking for your expertise.
- Biology
Biology encompasses much of the whole world, from microorganisms to human being and more. Biology majors can study human, plants, animals, and the environments in which they live, and studies are conducted at the cellular level, the ecosystem level, or anywhere in between. You might find yourself looking to uncover secrets and for ways to solve problems, such as finding a cure for a disease. Biology majors may find themselves in med school, or in one of many growing fields such as genetics and biotechnology or working as a veterinarian, optometrist, ecologist, or environmentalist.