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.

In a nutshell, Political Science is the academic study of politics and government. In one sense, it is an ancient discipline. It remains central to any classical study of the liberal arts, firmly grounded as it is in the work of Plato and Aristotle. In another sense, because it often deals with current events and sophisticated statistical analysis, Political Science is a cutting-edge area of study. Whether you are analyzing voting patterns in a presidential campaign, the Israeli parliament, or the pros and cons of different systems of government, Political Science is timely, fascinating, and perpetually changing. Like any liberal arts major, Political Science makes no claims to be a pre-professional program. It certainly doesn’t exist to teach disconnected facts about politics. Instead, Political Science majors develop excellent critical thinking and communication skills and, more broadly, an understanding of history and culture. Even more broadly, Political Science tackles those Big, Serious, Heavy, Eternal Questions. What is the best way to reconcile individual desires and community needs? Is it possible to have both freedom and equality? Authority and justice? Etc. If you major in Political Science, you’ll study everything from revolutions to political parties to voting behavior to public policy. You are also likely to explore the political issues inherent to different regions of the world, like the Middle East, East Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

Preparation

Political Science involves heavy doses of reading, writing, and often – if you can believe it – rigorous statistical analysis. Translation: math. We’re not suggesting anything nearly as challenging as A.P. calculus, but you should stay in practice. In addition, if you think you might major in Political Science, concentrate primarily on honing your reading and writing skills. Take courses in American history, civics, world history, and English composition, so you can get good at writing essays. Mastery of a foreign language is a big plus, too, because you will probably be required to take several foreign language classes as a Political Science major.

If you have your eye on a career as a dentist, a Pre-Dentistry program might be what you’re looking for. Pre-Dentistry, like all pre-professional programs, offers focused coursework in both general education and areas more specific to your intended field. You’ll take courses in the natural sciences like biology and chemistry. You’ll take science laboratories to get hands-on experience with research and documentation. You’ll take courses in communication, social sciences, and humanities. Ohio State University suggests volunteering or working in a dental office during your undergraduate years—a great way to make sure you want to pursue a dentistry career after graduation. Although you won’t specialize until you’re on your way to becoming a dentist, it doesn’t hurt to be aware of what’s out there. Dentistry includes many areas of expertise, including orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and oral surgery. Your own interests and concerns will help you to eventually choose a specialty. You should know that most dentistry programs don’t require a Pre-Dentistry major, just as medical schools don’t always require pre-med. Keep in mind that good grades and dedication in all your courses are the best preparation.

Preparation

Pre-Dentistry involves a great deal of math and science courses, so take as many as possible—biology, chemistry, and advanced-level math, like calculus. Health courses, such as anatomy, will broaden your foundation. And English courses will give you the chance to become a better reader, writer, and communicator.

Reality check: a Pre-Medical degree does not guarantee that you will be accepted into medical school. Pre-Medicine is a curriculum designed to best prepare you for the MCATs (the Medical College Admission Test) and for the rigors of medical school. Rich in biology and chemistry, this major dovetails neatly into several other related areas of study (such as chemistry, biology, and biochemistry). It also provides a solid background in physics and mathematics. If you declare Pre-Medicine as your major, be prepared to forget about a social life from time to time. Colleges design Pre-Med programs to weed out prospective applicants to Medical School (read: organic chemistry). Med schools can only accept a certain number of students a year because a limited number of doctors may be licensed in the United States each year. So, if the thought of hundreds of hours spent poring over organic chemistry notes appeals to you in a strange way, if you refer to ER as one of your “stories,” if you think that the unabridged Gray’s Anatomy makes for some interesting reading, or if you think you can really study harder than most of your friends for four years, then Pre-Medicine just might be the major for you.

Preparation

A firm background in science will serve you well. Take as many courses in chemistry, biology, and physics as you can. If your school offers anatomy and physiology, sign up for those. Advanced math is usually a part of the Pre-Medical curriculum as well, so courses in calculus and trigonometry are also useful.

Contrary to what this may sound like, you’re not making any vows of poverty or chastity. You won’t get to hear confessions, and the closest you’ll come to wearing a long white robe in front of a crowd is if you get locked out of your dorm room on your way to the shower. While you may not quite be ready for the pulpit, a major in Pre-seminary affords you the opportunity to engage in all of the intense theological and moral debates of your dreams, and better yet, by the time you graduate, you will have received such a thorough education in philosophical reasoning and Biblical thought that you’ll be able to make a much stronger argument than “because you’re just wrong.” Pre-seminary majors are theological and philosophical heavyweights. They study everything from Aristotle to contemporary Christian thought. If a religious vocation is your calling, consider this excellent preparation for a life of the cloth. But even if you’re not already planning your first sermon, a Pre-seminary major is an excellent way to bridge theology and philosophy, to learn how to think and write critically.

Preparation

You will need some strong critical reading and writing skills developed through a genuine interest in the humanities. Beef up your intake of history, English, and philosophy (if possible). If you go to a school that offers them, take some religion classes, always playing the role of the healthy skeptic. And remember, it’s never too early to begin working your way through Aristotle’s Ethics.