What's a major? Help I'm completely lost!?

Question

I'm heading to university next year, so I'm currently scouting out universities where I can do my undergraduate degree. My question is; is an undergraduate degree the same as a minor or major? All the uni-lingo is getting me really confused. I'm looking for a four year undergraduate program where I can study a science, before I go to med school. Any suggestions? Help I'm completely lost!

Answer 1

A major is what you want your degree to be in.  My major was English, so I have a B. A. in English.  Your minor is something that can be something completely different from your major or something that could help your major.  If you wanted to study Biology, your major would be Biology possibly with a minor in chem (if that is what you want).  Minors take a shorter amount of time than a major (major around 36 hours, minors are about 18)

Answer 2

a major is a class that will eventually help you in what career field you plan to join.

Answer 3

When you go to University, you study a specific field.  Say you study Computer Science or Social Work or Civil Engineering, etc.  The field that you are primarily studying is your "major".  You may opt to study another field (related or not), to a lesser degree (fewer classes) and this would be called a "minor".

Your University will spell out exactly what you need to get a "major" in a given field.  There are typically classes in the field that are required.  For computer science, for example, computer science 101 may be a required class.  There may be "elective" classes.  For example, you could take computer science 461, or 450 or 475, etc. -  you take whichever classes interest you, etc.  You will have your required classes, and then you will have a certain number of "class hours" that are required, or maybe a certain number of upper level (300 & 400) classes, etc.  You may also have other specific requirements for a major.  For example, in computer science, I was required to take Philosophy 422 (Ethics).  I was required to take 8 hours of "science" (any science - physics, chemistry, geology, etc.).

For a minor, fewer class hours are required.  If a Major requires say 60 "class hours" (a class that meets for 3 hours a week is a "3 class hour" class, etc.), then maybe a minor required 30 class hours.  Minors don't usually have requirements about other classes (e.g. I minored in theatre, I was not required to take any science classes for my minor - it was assumed that my major would require a "well rounded" education).

You have to have a major (you typically do not have to "declair" a major right away).  You don't have to have a minor.  If you really want to, you can take enough class hours to get a major in two fields of study (a "double major").

There are schools that only require you to study for like 2 years.  You just study classes in your "major" and not anything else (e.g. just Computer Science - no English, no History, no Science).  These degrees are called "associates degrees".

A University typically offers "Bachleors Degrees" (which people think of as "4 year degrees", but these days 4.5 to 5 is more common).  This is an "undergraduate" degree.

"Graduate" is a term used to lump together Masters and Doctorate degrees.  You must have a Bachleors degree in order to study for a Masters degree (i.e. you must have already graduated with your Bachleors degree).  You must have a Masters degree to study for a Doctorate degree.

In order to become a physician, you must get a Doctorate degree in medicine.  This means you must get a bachleors degree, then go on to a medicals school, where you study both "masters" and "doctorate" classes in medicine.  People often suggest a field of study such as biology for med school as what you learn there will apply better to medical school, but most forms of science will be useful to you too.

Answer 4

The career field you want when you graduate from college.