Essentially, all colleges require a student to Major in an academic subject or a professional field of the student’s choice. The reason for a Major is simple – most educators feel that this is the best way to learn how to master one particular field. By going beyond the basic facts in a subject, the student learns how to do research and analyze problems in that field. The student will also develop the skills of a professional in that subject, which will be important in the student’s career path. 

Most colleges do not require students to declare their Major until the end of their sophomore year. This enables the student to explore the many Major options while they are completing their general education requirements. It is not inappropriate for prospective students to ask colleges when they need to make a decision about their Major and what kind of assistance the college offers students to make that decision. Professional majors are usually declared earlier. 

Should students decide on a Major as they finish high school? High school curriculums are usually shaped by eight areas of study (English; Math; science; social science; foreign language; fine arts – visual and performing arts; practical arts – business classes, computer classes, family and consumer science classes, and industrial tech classes; and physical education). High school students tend to conceptualize education in these eight familiar areas of study. Even the smallest college might offer two dozen majors with larger universities offering several hundred majors. It is not likely that high school students can be familiar with the range of Majors available in college. It is not uncommon for college freshmen to explore and discover areas of study that they didn’t know existed before they started at college. Many college students fulfill their general education requirements by taking classes they’ve never taken before and classes that interest them as a means of exploring college academic offerings. The goal for high school students is to prepare themselves academically so they are prepared to successfully participate in and complete their chosen Major. 

Some technical and professional majors are declared earlier. Engineering students start during freshmen year with classes in their major. This can also be true for students majoring in areas like physical therapy, nursing and pharmacy. Check with each college being considered for information on how the choosing a major process works at their campus. 

Use the following sources and websites for exploration of majors: