Wednesday, January 10, 2007
The Princeton Review's Top 10 Most Popular College Majors
1. Business Administration and Management
This major offers focused training in accounting, finance, marketing, economics, human resources, and decision making. You'll learn to budget, organize, plan, hire, direct, control, and manage an organization. And you'll find even more chances for career growth if you go on to earn your MBA.
Average Starting Salary: $38,188
2. Pyschology
Don't expect that four years of college will get you a private practice where people lie on a couch and tell you their troubles for $95/hour. You'll need an extra five to seven years of schooling and a Ph.D. or Psy.D. before that will happen.
Average Starting Salary:$27,791
3. Elementary Education
When your academic work is complete, you move into the classroom for the trial-by-fire known as student teaching. This practicum lasts from one semester to a full academic year. When you successfully complete the elementary education program, you'll have to take any certification examinations required by the state in which you want to work.
4. Biology
In addition to being a stepping stone for med school, a biology major can lead to a job in a growing field such as genetics, biotechnology, or medical research. Veterinarians, optometrists, ecologists, biochemists, and environmentalists all may have majored in biology.
Average Starting Salary: $28,750
5. Nursing
Nurses are needed now more than ever, and job prospects in this field are bright. If you major in nursing, you'll take traditional science and liberal arts courses as a first-year student and probably begin clinical rotations at hospitals and other health care facilities during the second semester of your sophomore year. While in school, you'll receive lots of practical, hands-on training. All would-be nurses are required by law to take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) after graduating from an accredited nursing program before they can be considered "registered."
6. Education
Although much of your coursework will be general education material, most states require you to choose a specific grade level you'd like to teach. Education majors may also go on to become guidance counselors, school administrators, and the like.
7. English
You'll find English majors in countless types of jobs. Many of them are communications-based careers as you'd expect--author, reporter, journalist, editor, radio broadcaster, advertising and public relations executives--but plenty of them aren't that obvious. English majors also become teachers, lawyers (after law school, of course), film directors, politicians, actors, you name it. English majors become well-rounded, well-read individuals who have studied life in words across the globe.
Average Starting Salary: $31,169
8. Communications
In this program, students learn how certain messages influence individual and group behavior, as well as how our reactions reflect the underlying values of society. With your degree, you may choose to pursue a career in business, public relations, advertising, human resources, government, education, media, or social services.
9. Computer Science
In this program, you'll focus on how computer technology can be applied to any number of fields. Included will be classes on how to develop business applications, perform system analysis, and the process of developing software (from designing to programming to testing). The knowledge you gain from a Computer Science major is absolutely applicable to the real world, and to real jobs within it.
10. Political Science
Many schools will want you to choose a concentration. Post-graduation options include: politics (running as a candidate or running a candidate's campaign), journalist, diplomat, lobbyist, and, of course, law school.
Average Starting Salary: $32,999
This major offers focused training in accounting, finance, marketing, economics, human resources, and decision making. You'll learn to budget, organize, plan, hire, direct, control, and manage an organization. And you'll find even more chances for career growth if you go on to earn your MBA.
Average Starting Salary: $38,188
2. Pyschology
Don't expect that four years of college will get you a private practice where people lie on a couch and tell you their troubles for $95/hour. You'll need an extra five to seven years of schooling and a Ph.D. or Psy.D. before that will happen.
Average Starting Salary:$27,791
3. Elementary Education
When your academic work is complete, you move into the classroom for the trial-by-fire known as student teaching. This practicum lasts from one semester to a full academic year. When you successfully complete the elementary education program, you'll have to take any certification examinations required by the state in which you want to work.
4. Biology
In addition to being a stepping stone for med school, a biology major can lead to a job in a growing field such as genetics, biotechnology, or medical research. Veterinarians, optometrists, ecologists, biochemists, and environmentalists all may have majored in biology.
Average Starting Salary: $28,750
5. Nursing
Nurses are needed now more than ever, and job prospects in this field are bright. If you major in nursing, you'll take traditional science and liberal arts courses as a first-year student and probably begin clinical rotations at hospitals and other health care facilities during the second semester of your sophomore year. While in school, you'll receive lots of practical, hands-on training. All would-be nurses are required by law to take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) after graduating from an accredited nursing program before they can be considered "registered."
6. Education
Although much of your coursework will be general education material, most states require you to choose a specific grade level you'd like to teach. Education majors may also go on to become guidance counselors, school administrators, and the like.
7. English
You'll find English majors in countless types of jobs. Many of them are communications-based careers as you'd expect--author, reporter, journalist, editor, radio broadcaster, advertising and public relations executives--but plenty of them aren't that obvious. English majors also become teachers, lawyers (after law school, of course), film directors, politicians, actors, you name it. English majors become well-rounded, well-read individuals who have studied life in words across the globe.
Average Starting Salary: $31,169
8. Communications
In this program, students learn how certain messages influence individual and group behavior, as well as how our reactions reflect the underlying values of society. With your degree, you may choose to pursue a career in business, public relations, advertising, human resources, government, education, media, or social services.
9. Computer Science
In this program, you'll focus on how computer technology can be applied to any number of fields. Included will be classes on how to develop business applications, perform system analysis, and the process of developing software (from designing to programming to testing). The knowledge you gain from a Computer Science major is absolutely applicable to the real world, and to real jobs within it.
10. Political Science
Many schools will want you to choose a concentration. Post-graduation options include: politics (running as a candidate or running a candidate's campaign), journalist, diplomat, lobbyist, and, of course, law school.
Average Starting Salary: $32,999
