Choosing your Major and Minor

The truth is, your future employer won’t likely pay much attention to your specific major in college. In a recent study, we interviewed 25 corporate communication professionals, and they told us that they would hire from a wide range of majors including Communication Studies, Corporate Communication, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, and English. What do they care about? Overwhelmingly, they emphasized: (1) your experiences in school and (2) competencies you bring to the table (for more on this go here).

In choosing a major and minor, try not to stress about choosing the “right” one and instead think about these three things:

  1. What classes would I enjoy? Look at the classes you’ll be required to take for the majors and minors you’re considering. The classes that seem most attractive and engaging to you will probably be the best fit.
  2. Ask around. Talk to professors and students in a wide range of majors and hear their pitches. Visit Belmont’s GPS Center and use their resources to explore your strengths and weaknesses.
  3. Diversify. At Belmont, most students have enough program flexibility to double major and minor. Do that if you can! A minor in Design Communication, Spanish, English, Education or Business will broaden your experience and possibilities. For ideas about common minors, go here.