The Career Development Center and the Advising Center have developed “What can I do with a Major in…?" web pages and pamphlets that specifically address majors at Purchase College. Click on a major in the sidebar to find out about the Purchase major, acquired skills, organizations that hire, career titles, job search links and more!
Exploring Majors
Myths about Majors - Many college students think that an academic major exists for every career field. Therefore if you commit to a major, you will be committing to a corresponding career field. This myth should be dispelled immediately!
The relationship of college majors to career fields varies greatly. Some career choices can certainly dictate that you choose a specific undergraduate major. If you wish to become a dancer, certainly a dance major will provide you with the training you will need to pursue this career. Similarly a Music Major for a music career will be most helpful. Most career fields don’t require a specific major. People with specific majors don't always use them as commonly expected.
The majority of college majors don’t offer specific preparation for a single type of work. Instead they educate you and help you (along with your activities, internships, jobs, etc) by creating the total personal package that can enable you to pursue any career you wish. Your awareness of the relationship between career fields and college majors can play a vital part in your choice of academic major, minor, and elective courses.
As you begin to make decisions on your program of study, you need to take a closer look at your interests, abilities, activities and values. Which clubs or organizations do you find exciting? What classes have you taken in college or high school that have been the most stimulating? What courses have you gotten the best grades in? Most people are happy in their careers when the job they do allows them to use their skills, their interests, and matches their work values.
For example, you may have a strong interest in working within the music industry, but you can’t sing a note…you do have skills as a writer, and you know your value of working with creative people is important to you. So how about working as a press agent, or a copywriter to write the copy inside CD covers? A Bachelors degree helps you to develop very marketable skills such as communication, creativity, writing, analytical study and investigation. With these building blocks you can explore a multitude of career paths, and follow your interests. Choose a major that would allow you to develop these skills, such as one of the Humanities: Writing, Journalism, Sociology, or Media, Society and the Arts.
As you go through the process, speak with your academic advisor, or make an appointment with an advisor in the Advising Center. You should talk to department heads, and professors to get the scope of courses offered, and examples of senior projects from previous students. Also talk to RA’s and upper-classmen to gain a sense of how they perceive their departments’ strengths and weaknesses.
If you are still undecided, the Career Development Center offers a number of assessment tools to help you focus on your interests. Make an appointment with a career counselor to discuss the resources that would be most helpful for your needs.