Asian-American Studies is a multi-disciplinary major requiring courses in the humanities and social sciences. By majoring in it, you’ll learn how Americans of Asian descent have affected and been affected by American culture. You’ll learn about the difficulties and discriminations Asian-Americans faced in the past and the problems they still face today. You’ll study the changing roles of Asian-American women, the implications of youth cultures, and the history of Asian-American politics. An Asian-American Studies major exposes you to Asian art, language, music, politics, psychologies, and literature. You’ll form your own ideas of what it means to be Asian-American, and how identity, gender, sexuality, and race have been defined, challenged, and consequently redefined.

Preparation

Load up on courses in English and history, and if they’re available at your school, philosophy and religion. Most schools don’t offer language classes in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese, but if they do, guess what. Yup. Take them.

Astrophysics is the physics of celestial bodies. Majoring in it concerns learning about the physical properties and evolution of stars, planets, galaxies, and quasars—the stuff of the universe. Astrophysics is also closely linked with mathematics and computer science. Many Astrophysics programs put a great deal of emphasis on research. In Penn State University’s program, students not only do research, but also build the very instruments with which they do it. Besides your independent and collaborative research, Astrophysics exposes you to processes of the birth and death of stars. Along the way you’ll learn how to use instruments like reflecting telescopes, gas proportional counters, and CCD cameras (big contraptions designed specifically for taking pictures of the heavens). You’ll walk away understanding the properties of active galactic nuclei. You’ll master general relativity, galactic dynamics, cosmology, and the physics of space plasma. If these subjects sound mysterious, that’s because the universe is a mysterious thing, and the goal of the Astrophysics major is to help you understand it.

Preparation

our best preparation in high school will be advanced-level courses in math and science—especially physics, calculus, trigonometry, and analytic geometry. Any courses your high school offers in statistics and computer science will also be valuable. The broader your science and math background, the better. Also, try to apply your physics knowledge. Be that nerd whose physics projects for science fairs blows the competition out of the water.

Nope. Not the exact same thing as meteorology, which is just one of the areas you’ll learn about if you choose to major in Atmospheric Science. Atmospheric Science, according to the University of Washington, includes “weather forecasting, air pollution and air chemistry, climate change, radiative transfer, and boundary layer processes.” Not as simple as flinging magnetic disks shaped like suns onto a metal weatherboard. Interested in the environment? You might want to concentrate on the study of air quality, health issues, energy, and pollution. Or you might choose to study Atmospheric Science as it relates to the ocean. Then there’s climatology, which is the study of how the atmosphere in one area of the world has changed and will change over long periods of time. Still another specialization is aeronomy, which Britannica.com defines as the study of “the photochemical processes of the upper atmosphere.” And, of course, you have the option of studying meteorology, where you’ll learn how to analyze and predict the weather. You’ll be required to use advanced math and computer skills in your investigation of the atmosphere, which in this day and age will come in handy when searching for a job, even if it’s not for a weatherman’s position.

Preparation

A wide range of math and science courses will be your best preparation for this major. Physics, chemistry, biology, and advanced math classes—as well as computer courses—will give you a strong foundation for what you’ll be studying in college. Any courses your high school offers on environmental topics would be useful.

Picking up somewhere right where the Wright brothers left off, an Aviation major will cover almost every aspect of flying, including the business and economics behind the Aviation industry. This major is about more than just flying (although you do that, too) since Aviation is an entire industry in its own right. That means that there is a high demand for Aviation specialists, for people who understand the logistics behind flying a plane from Point A to Point B, including federal regulations, management skills, and the physical happenings that allow an aircraft to defy gravity.
Cool leather bomber jackets, sunglasses, and a copy of Top Gun probably won’t be passed out during your first day of classes as an Aviation major, so you better come prepared with a your own.

Preparation

Consider brushing up on those math and science courses, particularly physics, geometry, and calculus. In addition, having good communication skills is a must, so make sure you know how to read and write very well.

This isn’t the major of novitiates for the priest- or sisterhood, and Biblical Studies majors don’t go knocking on front doors or hand out fliers in an airport. So relax.
Biblical Studies is often a concentration within a broader Religious Studies major. The role religion plays in all human activity is immeasurable. Religion is often the source of the deepest ideas and values held by any society, addressing every human experience from birth to death. Religious Studies majors as a whole seek to understand the ways in which the various religions of the world shape culture, society, and history. They focus on the religion itself, whether it’s Christianity or Islam, Buddhism or Judaism, usually closely studying the sacred scriptures through which each tradition is maintained. As a Biblical Studies major you’ll have your work cut out for you since the Bible (besides being the most widely read, best-selling book ever) is one of the most complex works of literature, prescribing laws about everything from property to the Godly diet. You will study and read the Bible closely, attempting to understand it in its historical context. In the process you will not only gain a depth of understanding of one of the most influential texts of all time, but also develop critical writing and thinking abilities that will help you interpret and understand any question you encounter.

Preparation

The best preparation for a Biblical Studies major is a strong interest in the humanities. English AP classes will help you develop textual analysis skills, which will be sort of important since studying the Bible is all about textual analysis. If you go to a Christian or Jewish high school, take religion classes and pay attention. If your high school does not offer theology courses, history and art history are wonderful ways to begin exploring this major.

When it comes to medical research, each new development leaves a trail of moral questions in its wake. Just because we can do something, does that mean we should? Bioethics is the study of ethical issues in the fields of medical research and treatment. In a sense, bioethicists act as the conscience of science; they make sure society doesn’t get too far in over its head. If you are a patient, philosophical person interested in medical issues and helping people, the rapidly-growing field of bioethics might be for you. As a bioethics major, you’ll learn how to apply social and moral values to health issues. You’ll study philosophical ethics, medical sociology, theology, spirituality, policy analysis, and decision theory; you’ll research and debate the big questions, like cloning, stem cell research, and euthanasia. But you’ll also deal with everyday healthcare issues like death and dying, therapeutic relationships, organ transplantation, human and animal subjects, reproduction and fertility, healthcare justice, cultural sensitivity, needs assessment, professionalism, and clinical or emergency procedures.With a degree in bioethics, you might work in healthcare, education, public policy, or social work. Or, after further schooling, you might find employment at a university think tank. It seems that demand for those with a background in bioethics will only increase in the years to come.

Preparation

To prepare for this major, take biology, along with U.S. History and English. If your school happens to offer philosophy or religion, take those too.

“Engineering for Life” is a phrase commonly associated with biomedical engineering programs. This simple phrase aptly describes a field tackling some of the most important issues of our time. Biomedical engineers have saved and improved lives of people around the globe through breakthroughs and innovations that have helped solve problems that have baffled the industry for years. Patients who benefit from an artificial organ or a prosthetic limb, for example, have biomedical engineers to thank.
Through your major in biomedical engineering, you’ll learn how to use physics, chemistry, mathematics, and engineering to produce solutions to important biological and medical problems. Topics span from the fundamental studies of biological structures to applied medical device design and evaluation. Many of your investigations will involve the design and development of implantable or indwelling devices such as orthopedic, cardiac, endovascular, drug delivery, or cell- and tissue-engineered systems. As a biomedical engineering major, you’ll also be responsible for understanding laboratory techniques, concepts of engineering design, and the ethics involved when practicing the development of biomedical devices and systems.
Through research (both your own and that of others) you’ll see practical applications of the laws of biology and how what you study leads to new advancements in fields far outside the realm of engineering. Many biomedical engineering programs also cover the basics of our healthcare system, meaning you could study health management systems and legal and ethical issues in healthcare. The field of biomedical engineering changes rapidly, and many students choose to pursue advanced degrees to stay on top of the latest devices or techniques, which emerge practically daily. Graduates may find themselves working with pharmaceuticals, medical devices, artificial organs, prosthetics and sensory aids, diagnostics, medical instrumentation, or medical imaging.

Preparation

Math and science courses of every stripe are key preparation if you’re considering this field. Biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, calculus . . . need we go on? Don’t forget about English courses, either; good engineers must also be good communicators. Courses in philosophy (especially ethics), history, and religion will also give you a strong foundation.

Maybe if Freud hadn’t gotten so wrapped up in those dreams of his he would have gotten to Biopsychology after polishing off psychoanalysis. Or maybe he would have just taken one look at the major requirements and gone right back to sleep. Yes, as you may have already figured out, this major is a combination of biology and psychology. It’s the psychology of biology, or is it the biology of psychology? Either way, this major is that missing link between the biology major that’s been tempting you and that psychology major lurking somewhere deep inside of your Id.
As a Biopsychology major you will take courses in both fields, using the skills learned in one discipline to help understand the issues of the other. The relationship between our biological make up (hormones, chemicals, etc.) and our behavior is a complicated one, so complicated that it demanded its own major. This is the major that trains its students to discover those relationships.

Preparation

You can start recording your dreams alongside what you ate for dinner the night before, but that probably won’t help too much. Instead focus on those math and science classes, particularly biology, chemistry, physics, and calculus. The more advanced, the better.

Like to dish the dirt? As a botany/plant biology major, you’ll learn about every aspect of the plant world, from a four-leaf clover to the world’s largest rain forests. Your passion for plants will lead you to study their individual structures, how plants are alike and how they differ, and how to identify and classify plants of all kinds. (Never again will you be able to hike through the woods with friends without feeling the irresistible urge to point out, name, and provide factoids on every tree, plant, vine, and shrub.) Plants play an important part in our culture, and you’ll learn about their many functions and roles in nutrition, medicine, and our ecosystem. You’ll study how plants have evolved and how they have affected us, and in turn, how we have affected them. In this increasingly technological world, advances in the field of botany/plant biology are abundant, and your studies may lead you to any number of careers—from a burgeoning field like biotechnology to working for environmental causes or firms. You might study the ways in which we can manipulate the growth of plants and genetically alter them for nutritional or environmental benefits. Or you may get involved in the rapidly expanding study of organic food products and the plants and herbs that make up homeopathic medicines. Botany/plant biology gives you the opportunity to study the very building blocks of plant life. Programs in botany/plant biology vary from college to college. Some may offer a general overview of all different fields, leaving it up to you to specialize later in graduate programs. Others may require you to choose a concentration such as cellular biology, genetics, or environmental biology. In all cases, your studies will include a great deal of research, field work, and lots of time in the laboratory and possibly a greenhouse, giving you hands-on experience in this exciting and significant field.

Preparation

For a botany/plant biology major, your best preparation will be advanced-level courses in biology, chemistry, math, and computers. And don’t forget your English courses; effective scientists must also be good communicators. You might also try to get involved in groups that deal with plants and the environment—besides being a great way to gain knowledge related to your field, you’ll also be able to get a taste for what your college studies might lead to in the future.

The successful conduct of business demands effective communication, and you can hone your skills and gain valuable new knowledge with a major in Business Communications. What’s the best way to communicate on the Internet? How do you effectively incorporate visual aids into a presentation? Answering these questions and many more will be part of your studies in Business Communications.
Speaking skills are of primary importance to a successful career in business. You’ll learn how to interview, make presentations, deliver a ceremonial speech, or explain a policy analysis. You’ll get practice in nonverbal communication, like visual aids, to underscore your points. You’ll analyze audiences in order to compose an appropriate speech for them. You’ll examine numerical data, such as survey results, and translate that data into helpful information. You’ll learn how to communicate policy changes to your employees and discover the best ways to use the Internet for the dissemination of information. You’ll learn how to communicate in a crisis and how to develop and maintain good public relations You can apply most of what you learn in your Business Communications major to dealings with your own employees, co-workers, or the public. A major in Business Communications could greatly extend your career success.

Preparation

A broad background in courses such as speech, English, psychology, and computer science is great preparation for your college career. Any business courses are obviously helpful, as well as statistics (you’ll be looking at a lot of data and learning to analyze it).