Ch 3: The Relationship Between Major & Career
About This Chapter
The Relationship Between Major & Career: Chapter Summary
Continue charting your career path with lessons designed to help you explore the relationship between your choice of major and the job options awaiting you. Our guidance counselors explain how an undergraduate degree in almost any field can be used to develop transferable job skills and prepare you for graduate school. You can also discover which careers require certain majors with lessons on the following:
Supplementing Your Major
It might set your mind at ease to realize that the skills and experiences you acquire in college can be more important than the subject matter you choose to study. We can show you how to supplement your major with electives, work experience or research, even if you pick a field of study that doesn't directly align with your career choice. We'll also help you identify skill sets, such as problem-solving abilities and an attention to detail, that are applicable to a variety of fields.
Assessing Career Options
Get an overview of some popular degree options in fields including the humanities, fine arts, engineering, math, sciences and social sciences. You'll learn about common course requirements for these majors along with some sample job titles that require them. If you're curious about what self-directed majors or other types of nontraditional programs entail, we'll help you examine these options as well, so you can get a better idea of which degree types might offer the best return on your investment.
Considering Graduate School
If you're thinking about continuing your education after earning a bachelor's degree, use the questions provided by our guidance counselors to assess whether or not graduate school is the only viable option for entering or advancing your career. If the answer is yes, we'll show you what to consider when choosing a major. We can also help you determine how much the possibility of graduate school can affect your undergraduate studies if you're unsure of your career choice.
1. How Much Does Your College Major Affect Your Career?
A college major affects a person's career based on how much they can use what they have learned in school. Study the difference between a major and career, domain specific knowledge, and transferable skills.
2. What to Do When Your Major and Career Choice Don't Match
Having a college major and career choice that don't match can be stressful, but there's no need to start from scratch! Learn how to leverage experience, education, and transferable skills to become a great candidate for potential employers.
3. Do You Need A Graduate Degree? - Questions to Consider
A graduate degree is defined as any degree beyond a Bachelor's like a Master's or a Doctorate. Examine the important questions to ask when it comes to considering graduate school and the choices to make if a graduate school is chosen.
4. How Should Graduate School Plans Affect Your College Major?
Graduate school plans can influence what your college major should be. Learn how to choose a flexible undergraduate major that aligns with your path whether you have graduate school plans or not.
5. Evaluating a Career's Cost and Benefits
Research into job prospects starts at evaluating the cost and benefits of a career. Learn more about factors to consider, how to weigh the costs appropriately, and R.O.I.
6. What Can I Do with a Humanities Degree? - Typical Courses & Careers
Humanities is heavily concerned with the human condition and culture. Explore what it means to get a degree in humanities, typical course paths, and possible career options.
7. What Can I Do with a Fine Arts Degree? - Typical Courses & Careers
A fine arts degree prepares you for a career in the arts, be it painting, sculpting, dance, theater, or other artistic fields. Explore what you can do with a fine arts degree, review the typical courses, majors, and careers, and discover how you can get the most from your education.
8. Careers in the Engineering Field: Typical Courses & Degrees
The engineering field encompasses jobs that design, develop, or manufacture things that enhance society. Explore the different careers in engineering and the educational requirements (typical course and degrees) in this lesson.
9. Careers in Math: Typical Courses & Degrees
Careers in math require strong math skills, science competency, and successful completion of a college degree program in mathematics. Learn about the field of mathematics, careers in math, and the types of college courses/math degree requirements.
10. Careers in the Sciences: Typical Courses & Degrees
The sciences, such as biology and chemistry, are the basis for a variety of careers, including jobs in healthcare, environmentalism, and agriculture. Learn about the different types of science, and explore careers in the sciences. Review the typical courses and the major coursework required to earn a science degree, and understand the available degrees.
11. Careers in the Social Sciences: Typical Courses & Degrees
Careers in the Social Sciences include criminal justice, sociology, social work, law, political science, and social services. Explore Social Science degrees, typical courses, popular majors, and career options.
12. Nontraditional Degree Programs and Career Options
There are various nontraditional degree options to seek out if a traditional degree doesn't seem like the right fit. Explore what coursework and career paths are possible from nontraditional programs like obscure degrees, individualized studies, associate degrees and certificates.
Earning College Credit
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the How to Choose a Career: Guidance Counseling course