The Most Popular College Majors
Finding a college major can be one of the most daunting tasks involved in attending college, and if you intend to go on to graduate school or a professional degree program, you might find yourself going through the process more than once. After all, everything from college scholarships to job opportunities to salaries can depend on the major you select. With all the soul-searching and tough questions involved in choosing your major, it can be nice to have a solid, factual basis from which to start, such as a list of the most popular college majors.
When determining your course of study, it can be helpful to find out the most popular college majors. However, you should not choose a college major just because it is popular or convenient. After all, the last thing you want to do is become a business major just to qualify for corporate scholarships. On the other hand, graduating with an obscure and out-of-demand major can leave you with limited post-graduation prospects. You don’t want to realize too late that a second major in history or education would have helped open up more career opportunities for your Latin degree. Understanding and selecting a major is a personal decision that should be based on a combination of your aptitudes and preferences, as well as consideration of which majors are likely to be in demand when you complete your studies.
According to a 2010 report published by the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, the most popular college majors at the bachelor’s degree level include:
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Business
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Social Sciences/History
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Health Sciences
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Education
The largest numbers of master’s degrees were awarded in the following fields:
The most popular doctoral degrees include:
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Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences
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Education
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Engineering
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Biological and Biomedical Sciences
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Psychology
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Physical Sciences
Note: This data is based on the percentage of undergraduate and graduate degrees conferred during the 2007-2008 school year.