Explore College Majors and Where They Lead

Start with what you enjoy and are good at, then look at the careers each major can lead to, the courses you would take and the skills you would build. Compare two or three majors side by side, talk to people working in those careers, and remember that many majors lead to more than one career.

A major is a set of required and elective courses in one field, usually a third to a half of a bachelor’s degree, plus general education courses. Many majors also include labs, projects, internships, clinical work or a capstone.

Colleges offer hundreds of majors. The U.S. Department of Education classifies more than 2,000 instructional programs. This guide covers 109 common majors in 16 fields and shows how many colleges report awarding each one.

Among the majors in this guide: Business Administration (2,496 colleges), Nursing (2,205 colleges), Accounting (1,884 colleges), Criminal Justice (1,860 colleges), Psychology (1,772 colleges), and Biology (1,695 colleges).

Many four-year colleges ask students to declare a major by the end of the second year, though some programs, such as nursing or engineering, expect you to start earlier. Check your college’s rules.

Yes. Many students change majors, especially in the first two years. Changing later can add time to your degree, so explore early with intro courses, minors and short career training.

A major is your main field of study and makes up a large share of your courses. A minor is a smaller set of courses in a second subject that adds skills or knowledge to your major.

Many colleges allow a double major if you complete the requirements for both. It usually takes more courses, so plan early with an advisor.

Not completely. Some careers require a specific degree and license, while many accept several majors plus experience and practical skills.

That is common. Take introductory courses in a few fields, use the College & Career Finder to compare majors, and talk with advisors and people working in careers that interest you.

No. You can take short, practical career training at any time, whether you are in high school, deciding on a major or already working.