A major in university is the primary subject area or academic discipline that a student chooses to specialize in during their undergraduate studies. It consists of a specified group of courses focused on that particular field, which the student must complete to earn a degree in that area
. Key points about a major:
- It represents the main focus of a student’s studies and usually involves taking the majority of courses in that discipline out of the total required for graduation
- Students typically declare their major by the end of their second year, although the timing can vary by institution
- Completing a major qualifies the student for an undergraduate degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, in that field
- Some students may pursue a double major, completing two sets of major requirements, or a minor, which is a secondary, smaller focus area of study
- Majors are often administered by academic departments and may sometimes be interdisciplinary, involving multiple departments
Examples of majors include Biology, Business, Psychology, Engineering, English, and many others across STEM, humanities, social sciences, and arts
. In summary, a major defines the core academic focus of a university student’s degree program and shapes the specialized knowledge and skills they develop during their studies
