Choosing your college major is one of the hardest yet most crucial decisions you make in life. Luckily, college is the ideal place for academic freedom, so you can find any subject that enhances existing talent or introduces you to new interests.
This means there are numerous subjects for you to pick from. Of course, every subject challenges you differently, but job satisfaction rates, popularity, and salary packages indicate certain subjects retain their spot at the top of the list.
Here are the top ten subjects that will challenge you intellectually and help you develop skills you can apply to various professional positions.
- Computer science
A computer science major will teach about hardware and software and how to apply this knowledge in the real world, especially in business. For example, you may study robots, artificial intelligence, numerical analysis, programming languages, gaming technology, natural language recognition, and more.
The main skill you’ll learn as a computer science major is problem-solving, which will aid you in every part of your work, regardless of the niche. For example, this degree can help you become a web developer, programmer, database administrator, software engineer, systems analyst, and more.
The computer science industry has a 67% job satisfaction rate and an annual average salary of $131,490.
- Psychology
As a psychology major, you’ll learn about the biology of the human brain. In addition, schools for counseling degrees and psychology majors will teach you about the brain’s learning, intelligence, emotion, cognition, motivation, perceptions, disorders, and personality.
More importantly, you will study how the environment shapes our thoughts and how we inherit certain behavioural tendencies from our parents. You can use this degree to become a counsellor, therapist, child development specialist, or teacher.
It’s worth noting that the average annual salary of a psychologist is $102,530.
- Communications
As a communication major, you’ll analyze different presentation styles, such as scripts and speeches. You will need to determine the strategies different writers and speakers use to relay their message.
This degree will also teach you about audience reactions, verbal and nonverbal messaging, and different communication environments. Communications majors can apply their skillset to business, human resources, education, advertising, public relations, and media.
You can become a social media manager, marketing coordinator, business reporter, and more with a communications degree.
- Government/Political science
This subject deals with the statistical analysis of current events, making it timely and ever-changing. You’ll learn about government politics, concentrating on public policy, the American government, foreign affairs, comparative government, and political philosophy.
The main skills you’ll develop as a political science major are a communication and critical thinking, especially in culture and history. You may utilize this degree to become a politician, journalist, or lawyer.
Political science grads experience a job satisfaction rate of 3.5 out of 5 stars, with an average annual salary of $122,510.
- Business
Business is the ideal subject for natural-born leaders that revel in crunching numbers, making decisions, and solving problems. You’ll need exceptional communication skills to master this degree. In addition, you may study the principles and theories of finance, economics, human resources, accounting, marketing, and statistics.
You’ll also learn how to organize, hire, control, budget, plan, direct, and manage different types of organizations. That may range from humble startups to multi-million corporations. Of course, none of this would be possible without learning more about diversity, politics, ethics, and other dynamics.
You can use this degree to become a project manager, human resources analyst, accountant, and more.
- Economics
As an economics major, you’ll learn about individual, governmental, business, and societal choices. More importantly, you’ll study their monetary decision and their effects. It’s worth noting that this subject requires a lot of math and critical thinking.
You’ll study how goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed, allowing you to make sense of the modern world from a monetary perspective. If you’re aiming for a future in business, an economics degree is the ideal indispensable tool.
With a bachelor’s degree in economics, you may pursue further studies in public policy, international studies, and law. In addition, you can utilize this degree to become an economist, financial risk analyst, accountant, economic researcher, and more.
- English language and literature
If you’ve been fascinated by Anne Dillard’s choice of words, Walter Abish’s experimental writing, or Edgar Allen Poe’s trochaic octameter, this may be the right subject.
As an English language and literature major, you’ll study various works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. This subject will help you analyze history’s greatest writers and poets, sharpening your critical and creative skills.
An English language and literature degree has a bright and versatile future, including law, publishing, journalism, and much more.
- Nursing
Nursing is the ideal subject for those who want to help someone every day. However, it’s worth noting that the world of medicine can be challenging and heartbreaking sometimes, so patience and compassion are the main skills this subject will require.
You’ll study the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of various health conditions with the help of sophisticated and ever-changing medicinal technology. You’ll begin with a traditional science and liberal arts course, moving on to clinical rotations at various healthcare facilities.
After graduation, you’ll give a certification exam at an accredited nursing program to qualify as a Registered Nurse. This degree qualifies you for various aspects of nursing, such as neurology, obstetrics, geriatrics, oncology, and pediatrics.
- Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is a subject that combines chemistry, engineering, and biochemistry. It teaches you about the reorganization of molecular structures and various chemical processes for petroleum, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and foods.
As a chemical engineering major, you’ll learn about the building and operation of industrial plants to chemically alter raw materials. The degree also includes environmental education on potential hazardous waste and pollution.
You can utilize this degree to provide your expertise at a paper mill, pharmaceutical company, fertilizer manufacturer, or plastic-making firm.
- Biology
As a biology major, you’ll study plants, humans, animals, and their environments. You’ll analyze their cellular structure, ecosystems, cloning procedures, microscopic organisms, and more. This degree requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
You can utilize this degree to become a veterinarian, ecologist, environmentalist, or optometrist. The career possibilities for biology majors are numerous. You could pursue biotechnology or genetics or opt for higher education in med school.
The average salary for professionals holding a biology degree is $65,173.
Conclusion
It’s impossible to guarantee that you’ll still be satisfied with your college major four years into the future. However, you can increase the likeliness of a satisfying experience by researching the subject you plan to choose.
Studying the degree’s curriculum, minor options, job satisfaction rate, and average salary can help you determine whether it’s right for you. The subjects mentioned above have the highest popularity and scope, so take your pick depending on your pre-existing skills. Read also: How To Become A Substance Abuse Counselor: Job Outlook, Education, Certification, And More