So you’ve been doodling in your notebooks for years and filling your room with prints by avant garde artists from around the world. Maybe you’ve converted the family basement into your own studio, complete with still life and abstract paintings. You have a feeling that deep inside of you lies a great painter. A major in Painting is an opportunity to develop your creativity, refine your technical skills, and challenge your understanding of art. As a major, you will have the chance to give focus to your artistic inclinations under the tutelage of accomplished and practicing painters. Because Painting is sometimes listed under a broader major of art, fine arts, or studio art, majors try their hands with other artistic media, such as sculpture and photography, as well as study the history of art, from the Caves of Lascaux to the works of Mark Rothko. Be prepared to spend the majority of your time in the studio and in critiques. You will learn how to use watercolor, oil, acrylic, and possibly egg tempera to create engaging images on wood panels, canvas, and less traditional media. A major in Painting also equips you with the intellectual and critical tools necessary to succeed in the artistic world, whether it’s as an artist, museum curator, or art dealer. The development of art over the centuries, including the social and political conditions behind the work and lives of some of the most important artists are just a part of some of the courses you will take as you expand your understanding of what it means to be a painter today.

Preparation

First, paint on your own. Classes in art history and fine arts, including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, dance, and ceramics, are a great way to begin to develop your ability to think critically about art. In addition, a continuous personal engagement with art through frequent museum visits, reading art history books, and studying your favorite artists and their works will help prepare you for the major. Since most schools value strong observational skills, draw from life as often as you can. For feedback on your portfolio, or for a review of your portfolio from several schools in one day, visit a National Portfolio Day.

Pastoral Studies involves the ministering of religious faith. As a Pastoral Studies major, you will be trained not only in the intricate details and workings of your church and denomination, you will also be prepared to be provide spiritual advice and counseling to those seeking it. If you have a serious and committed interest in the ministry, or even if you are already a practicing minister, a major in Pastoral Studies can be an invaluable experience. It will help you expand and develop knowledge of your faith and make you a better servant of it.

Preparation

The best preparation for a Pastoral Studies major is a strong faith. Being able to effectively communicate with others, both orally and written, is also essential, so make sure you have a strong background in the humanities, particularly English and speech.

Not quite what Jed Clampett or J.R. Ewing did to make their millions, but if you major in Petroleum Engineering you might get to know some oil barons. Petroleum engineers are, after all, responsible for helping to find and drill new oil reserves so that we can continue driving our cars and heating our homes. Petroleum engineers are the scientists behind the oil industry. They’re the ones who help determine where those big oil rigs should go, and where we should and should not drill for more of that black gold, Texas tea. Using some of the most sophisticated technology and complicated math, petroleum engineers also learn how to determine the cost efficiency of any drilling project. Though increasing pollution and global warming has worried lawmakers and environmentalists looking for cleaner sources of energy, the oil industry isn’t going away anytime soon. Jobs will be awaiting Petroleum Engineering graduates for the foreseeable future.

Preparation

Short of beginning your own drilling company, a strong background in mathematics is great preparation for any career in engineering. The higher-level math you can take the better, particularly calculus and beyond. You’ll be happy you took those AP level physics and chemistry courses, perhaps two of high school’s most difficult classes, when you really start digging into the major curriculum.

Maybe it’s the long white coats or the curiosity of what goes on behind that big counter. Or perhaps you’ve already figured out that the pharmaceutical industry is one of the most rapidly developing fields in medicine today. It seems as if we’re able to go to our local pharmacist for just about everything, from headaches to foot pains to cures for high blood pressure.
At the heart of pharmaceuticals is the Pharmacy major. Pharmacy is sometimes listed within a broader pharmaceutical science major, which provides its students with the opportunity to pick a concentration in several different areas, such as medicinal chemistry or pharmacology. A major in Pharmacy prepares students to create new drugs that can fight cancer and administer prescription drugs to those who need them. The science behind pharmaceuticals is expanding at an incredible rate, ushering in numerous advances in medicine.

Preparation

In a word: chemistry. Pharmacists create and dispense chemicals—both combined with others and in pure form—that prevent or cure diseases. You should take the toughest chemistry courses your school offers and master the subject. Biology and complex math are also essential to the Pharmacy major.

Photography involves much more than just pointing and clicking a camera. If you major in it, you’ll learn how to choose a subject and compose it effectively, how to orchestrate color and light, and how to develop your photographs. You’ll also explore the possibilities of digital and computer-enhanced images. Other forms of visual art will be part of your major as well, such as painting, drawing, and sculpture. You’ll learn how to create photographs that capture your vision and make the statement you want-photographs that say your thousand words.
Besides learning how to create your own meaningful photographs, you’ll be studying other photographers—both historical and contemporary—who have made important advancements in the field. You’ll learn by seeing what other students are creating and by receiving critiques of your own projects. Although universities with Photography majors have darkrooms and facilities for students’ use, expect to purchase quite a bit of equipment, such as cameras, tripods, lenses, film, developing chemicals, and computer software. In other words, be prepared for some extra expenses.

Preparation

Any and all art classes are great preparation for a Photography major. English and history will give you a good background of culture and society, and foreign languages might give you an edge in this highly multi-cultural field. You probably wouldn’t consider chemistry a relevant class, but it is-as a photographer you’ll be working with a variety of chemicals to develop your images. Since Photography majors at most schools are required to take the same core curriculum as fine arts majors, brush up on your drawing skills. You’ll have to submit a portfolio for admission to a fine arts program; it should include some drawings.

Do you like to play? Are you happiest out on the field? Could you imagine yourself in a career that involved teaching others how to get active and take good care of their bodies? It could be the inner Physical Education major in you. Every elementary, middle, and high school needs qualified teachers and coaches to run sports programs, design and implement plans for healthy living, and teach physical education. You don’t need an ultra-tight pair of BIKE shorts or a weird moustache to teach P.E. What you do need, however, is a degree in Physical Education. Phys Ed majors work as coaches, team managers, recreational managers, personal trainers, and health and gym teachers. Some end up working in one sport; others teach a wide range of sports and fitness-related subjects.

Preparation

Biology, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, statistics, and general chemistry will all come into play in the Physical Education major. All sporting activities are useful, so try to get involved with and learn them as best you can.

Here’s an option if you’re interested in a health profession but feel faint at the idea of the 7 to 13 years and probably hundreds of thousands of dollars involved in going to med school and becoming a doctor. Physician assistants perform many of the same tasks doctors do, but go through a much more reasonable period of training. Physician assistants (PAs) receive their certification by attending a PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. And they don’t do exactly the same things doctors do—they, well, assist. In some cases, you might enter a PA program after you graduate from college; in other cases, you’ll take general college courses for two years then transfer into a PA program. (Some schools even offer a major in pre-physician assistant studies that includes this 2-2 split.) Programs are generally competitive, and you must pass the NCCPA (National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants exam) to become certified after your course work has been completed. Even though you won’t bear the burdens of med school, PA programs are rigorous too, and demand focus, dedication, and a lot of time. As a PA major, you’ll learn how to take patient histories, request and perform laboratory tests, and read and analyze the results. You’ll learn about preventive medicine and how to counsel patients on their health and wellness. By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to give a physical exam, diagnose illnesses, and develop treatment plans. Some PAs even write prescriptions. Since you are an “assistant,” however, you’ll always practice under a doctor’s supervision. There are specialties within the field of physician assisting, such as surgery and emergency room care. (A surgical PA, for example, is the one who responds when the surgeon commands, “Scalpel!”) In all cases, you’ll provide assistance to the doctors you work for in addition to caring for patients to a certain extent on your own. And while your paycheck won’t look quite the same as the doctors’ you’re assisting, it’s a rewarding way to combine your love of medicine with a true desire to help people.

Preparation

A strong background in math and science will be to your benefit as you begin your major in physician assisting, so load up your schedule with upper-level courses such as physics, calculus, and chemistry. Physician assistants must also be good communicators, so be sure to hone your reading and writing skills in humanities courses such as English and languages. Some hospitals, nursing homes, or social services organizations accept volunteers, which may give you some good hands-on experience.

When Descartes first said, “I think, therefore I am,” he was opening up what would eventually become one of the biggest questions about human nature. How is the mind related to the body? Where do they intersect, and how do they interact? The mind/body divide has been pestering philosophers for centuries now, and yet here it is: mind and body joined together in one large and complicated major. Similar to a biopsychology major, a Physiological Psychology major (try saying that three times fast) is interested in the relationship between the brain and our behavior. This is some complicated material, and it should be since what you will be dealing with could offer mankind insight into the essence of humanity. You will have all of the skills and training of a psychologist, along with unique insights into the structure and function of the human brain normally left to neuroscientists. There are also, of course, some extra benefits here because the next time your parents ask you why you took the car and broke curfew, you can tell them that it had nothing to do with you, and everything to do with your superior colliculus.

Preparation

Take psychology if your school offers it. Biological sciences are essential to this major, so load up on them. Quantitative skills, especially those taught in calculus and statistics, will prove very useful.

Think we’ll ever live—or even vacation—on the moon? Do you believe in that “face” on Mars or life on other planets? A major in planetary science will touch on these issues—and then take your studies much, much farther. Needless to say, you’ll distinguish the planets by their properties, sizes, and unique characteristics. You’ll learn how each was formed—from its surface to is interior to its inner core—and you’ll study the processes that continue to change them. You’ll compare and contrast the planets and study how the changes on one planet affect the others. And you’ll explore the universe’s physics, chemistry, and geology. Planetary atmospheres, satellites, orbital mechanics, asteroids and comets, and the very evolution of the solar system will give you and your colleagues a fair amount to ponder. You’ll also address some pretty big questions throughout your planetary science major, such as Where did we come from and where are we going? What has happened to our planet over the past billions of years, and what will happen to it in the future? What will the effects be of our actions today? You’ll examine how our own planet fits into the solar system and how changes in the universe affect us. (Sort of bizarre to think about, isn’t it?) You’ll learn about the ways in which we’ve explored the solar system in the past and the advancements being made for further—and more elaborate—exploration. And when someone calls you a “space cadet,” you’ll start to lift your chin and stand proud. Planetary science is an interdisciplinary major, and your studies will involve geology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology, oceanography, and many other sciences.

Preparation

To prepare for a major in planetary science, take courses in physics, chemistry, biology, calculus, and any other challenging science and math courses your school offers. Be sure to take a selection of humanities courses as well, including English, history, and languages. A math and science background will be a big help once you begin your major.

Who can forget, “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.” Or “You can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just ’cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!” Or “I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.” Whether you can name the person who actually penned those lines or not, they’re etched in your mind forever. A lot of the magic that goes into the theatre and the cinema is due to the tireless imaginations and undeniable talent of playwrights and screenwriters. A major in playwriting and screenwriting will have you honing your writing skills and crafting your art to create original plays and scripts that ideally will live in your public’s mind for years to come. Working on one-act farces, full-length musical productions, short films, long films—you’ll take your cue on how to pace and plot a story through each so that it attracts and holds an audience’s attention. Through words and ideas alone you’ll sculpt believable characters and you’ll learn how to make them move through the world and deal with affecting problems and challenges. You’ll practice making the audience love them, hate them, fear for them, and cry with them. Once you’ve studied the technicalities of writing for the stage and screen, you’ll eventually be set to join the ranks of the professionals. This is not a strictly tests-and-papers major. Much of your learning will come in the doing; you’ll learn how to write plays and screenplays by actually writing them and then discussing them with professors and other students. But you’ll also learn how to write well by studying the work of established writers as well as learning why the classics have endured. Here’s one major where you’ll sit back and watch a movie or go to a play—but only to study the work in action in order to see how the writing affects and is affected by the other elements of the production. Keep in mind that not all colleges pair these two fields, and not all colleges offer them as majors. Often, they are offered as concentrations within broader disciplines, such as theatre, film, or creative writing.

Preparation

The best preparation for a major in playwriting and screenwriting is a solid selection of courses in English, history, languages, and other humanities to polish up those writing skills. You should also take some courses in math and science. Then grab a notebook and get your great ideas on paper. It’s never too soon to start. Reading plays and scripts is also great preparation for your major in this field.