Choosing a major: a major decision
From the minute students arrive at Utah State University their major becomes a part of their identity.
A student’s academic life at USU soon revolves around group projects, tests, presentations and quizzes that will help that student learn what he or she needs to know about for life after college and a future career. What a student majors in can often be attached right after his or her name in conversations.
At USU there are more than 100 different majors. These majors include anything from biochemistry to theater arts. And of course, these majors also vary in their popularity.
“I think my major is probably sort of popular,” said Amber Bell, a dietetics major. “I haven’t met very many dietitians.”
Bell gave her reasons for her choice of major.
“I love being in the nutrition field,” she said. “I love learning about the different foods, and how to be healthy.”
According to the University Facts and Figures Web site, www.planning.usu.edu, the most popular major for graduates last year was the elementary education, with 178 people graduating in that field. The elementary education major is part of the College of Education.
There are many different careers available for graduates of the elementary education program. Some of those different careers are supervisors, teachers and curriculum specialists. There are also many different reasons why so many students at USU are majoring in elementary education.
“I like being in the schools and I like the kids,” said Ashlee Newman, a freshman in elementary education.
Some other majors that were popular among USU graduates last year were business information systems, family and human development, English, horticulture and biology.
“Chemistry is what makes everything go, it’s just fascinating. It’s really abstract and you do a lot of thinking,” said Sloan Thunell, a sophomore chemistry major. “There’s not very many chemistry majors.”
More information about how many students graduated in each major for the last year is available at the Web site.
-rbarlow@cc.usu.edu