What is a college major?
A college major is a topic that you choose to study in-depth. Aside from general education, you dedicate your time in college to learning all about that topic. And, by the time you graduate, you have a degree in that topic to prove you are knowledgeable about it.
At a community college, your college major is chosen during your studies there. It does not need to be chosen in your first semester, but the sooner you know your major, the sooner you can plan more efficiently towards a certificate, Associate's degree, or transfer program. If you choose to transfer to a university, your college major must be chosen prior to applying for transfer. Transfer applications ask you to declare your major and often require certain classes to be completed prior to transfer.
Your college major may directly lead to a related career. For example, if you major in Social Work for a Bachelor's degree, and you then become a Social Worker, there is a direct connection between major and career. But, you do not always have to do this. Oftentimes people can apply to jobs in related fields or after gaining specific work experience in the related field. So, your college major does not always relate directly to a career. As mentioned previously, you can also apply to graduate school in unrelated fields than your Bachelor's degree (although certain prerequisite courses may be required to apply).
How to Choose?
Choosing a college major can be challenging! There is often a lot of pressure to choose one. The best college major to choose is one that fits your interests and goals, and one that has been well researched by you.
COM Resources to Help You Choose a Major
MAPS Events
MAPS offers workshops and events throughout the year to help students learn about different majors and careers.
COUN 130
COUN 130 is a 3-unit COM course that is associated with MAPS and is UC and CSU transferable. This class is called Career and Life Skills Planning. In this class, students research careers that fit their values, interests, and personality. They research important information such as how much people make in certain careers in the Bay Area, what level of education is needed, and market trends. Additionally, students learn about cover letters and resumes, financial planning, and how to rock an interview.
Counselors
MAPS has dedicated COM counselors that are help students research majors and careers and help students plan what they need to complete those goals. Additionally, MAPS counselors provide personal counseling to assist students through challenges along the way.
Websites to Help You Choose a Major
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Career One Stop
This website has self-assessments to help you figure out possible career matches. You can also search career profiles, watch career videos, a view of which careers are considered hot, and so much more! -
CA Career Zone
This website also has assessments and allows you to explore careers. Additionally, there are features like resume builders, help with financial planning, and keeping track of your goals. -
O*Net
O Net is a huge database of work-related descriptors and information. You can explore careers by industry, outlook, interests, values, and more. Many career websites draw from O*Net’s career information database!