Connecting Majors & Careers

The Importance of a Major

Some careers require specific majors, others don’t. For example, it is unlikely that you will get a job in accounting if you didn’t at least major in a related field and take some accounting classes. On the other hand, if you are considering a career in law you might be surprised to learn of the wide variety of majors that will support that choice.

If you are fairly sure what kind of career you want to go into, don’t just make assumptions about what you have to major in, do some research and find out. We want you to be happy not only with your ultimate career, but with your college experience as well. Don’t major in something you dislike just because it seems that it will get you where you want to go in the end.

If you have no idea of what kind of career you would like, don’t worry; except for a few specific careers, your major does not necessarily determine the course of the rest of your life. Think about what you are interested in, make a list, then come in to our office and see a career counselor who can help guide you through the process. This is not the one and only turning point in your life, so relax and use the resources of our office and our campus to help you with your decision-making.

For additional help on making these decisions, see our list of websites that will help you connect majors with careers, as well as assessing your interests, skills, personal values, and personality.

Your Major in Context – “The Mosaic”

When the time comes for you to graduate, we hope you will be able to look back and know that you learned a great deal about many things, and that you have grown as a person as a result of your college experiences. Much of this learning takes place in the context of your academic program. Much also takes place in the greater context of your college experience. What you do when you are not studying will help you to learn more about yourself, gain experience that will help you in the “real world,” and provide a foundation for helping you to gain employment when the time comes. We call this total experience the “mosaic,” and here are some of the elements for your consideration.

Internships and summer/part-time jobs can be a wonderful way to learn about various career fields and job types, as well as gain solid experience. To learn more about internships and other experiential opportunities, see the internships section.

Volunteer experiences can give you an opportunity to give back to the community and learn about things other than what you might encounter in a typical academic day. There are many ways to be of service, and there is bound to be something that is right for you. Volunteering is something you do to give of yourself; the rewards you reap are icing on the cake. To learn about opportunities available to you as a BU student, see the Community Service Center.

Extracurricular/student activities can involve many things, from clubs to sports to student government and residence hall responsibilities. Participating in these things makes your college experience richer, can provide a needed social outlet, and gives you the experience of working within a team or an organization to get things accomplished. There will be opportunities for leadership, as well as opportunities to be a supportive team member while others are leading. On top of it all, you will be doing something you enjoy, or learning something new. For more information on extracurricular and other student activities, see the BU Student Activities Office.

Study/travel abroad offers you the chance to experience a new culture, try out a new language, and see things from a different point of view. Please consider an international experience of some sort during your college years or shortly after graduation. For information on study abroad opportunities with BU, see the BU Study Abroad Program.

Other coursework unrelated to your major is not only okay, it is encouraged! In some cases this additional coursework can be used as a foundation for building a career or securing a job; it might give you knowledge and skills that combine well with your major and help you achieve your goals. In other cases, it might allow you to explore one of those other interests that has been nagging at you for attention but which you never got the chance to indulge. Once you have accounted for all of the courses required for your major as well as related courses you really want to take out of interest, you might find that there are still spaces in your schedule for other things.