Your Major

In the United States and Canada, your major is the academic discipline you commit to as an undergraduate student. It is the area you specialize in, such as Accounting, Baking and Pastry, Computer Science, Dental Assisting, Engineering, or Nursing. Each major has core courses that are directly related to your program, and electives, which are outside of your program that you can choose from a menu of options. When you successfully complete the required courses in your major, you qualify for a certificate, diploma, or degree. To learn more about the majors available at Westmoreland, visit the Programs of Study page.

Your major is important because it is a defining and organizing feature of your program. Ultimately, your major should provide you with the specific knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors you need to fulfill your college goals and objectives.

In this section, we will explore how to select your major and the skills you need to succeed in any field.

How to Select Your College Major

Selecting your major is one of the most exciting and, for some, one of the most stressful tasks you are asked to complete in college. So many decisions are tied to it. Take the time to explore your interests and options. If you don’t like caring for individuals who are sick but major in Nursing because of a certain salary expectation, you may find yourself pursuing a career that is unrelated to your major but brings you satisfaction—even if the salary is lower. Take the time to consider your interests now to make the most of your time and tuition dollars.

As you prepare to select your major, consider:

• Do the related careers align with your interests and skills? What level of education is required?

• How many job openings in the related careers are projected?

• What's the average salary of occupations in the field related to your major? What's the average starting salary?

To help you find the answers to these questions, use the information found at Zippa and PA CareerZone. These sites are designed to inform and help you make decisions about your future.

Additional resources from Westmoreland are available to help you choose your major and explore career interests:

• College Catalog: Westmoreland's course catalog provides information that can spark ideas and inspiration for your major and career. The program descriptions include information about the classes you are required to take for the major, what you will learn, and may have examples of career opportunities.

• Faculty: Many college professors are also practitioners in their fields and can share insights with you about related professions. 

• Classmates: Your classmates may have had experiences that can inform and enlighten you—for instance, previous or current employment in an area of interest.

• Your family and social communities: Contact friends and family members who can weigh in with their thoughts and experiences.

• Career Connections Center: The professionals in the Career Connections Center have a wealth of information to share with you—they’re also very good at listening and can act as a sounding board for you.

• Student Life: Student organizations and activities offer you the opportunity to further explore your interests.

If you are stressing about choosing a major, keep in mind: Any major you choose will likely benefit you. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "As workers’ educational attainment rises, their unemployment rates decrease and earnings increase." This means that the more education you have, the more likely you are to be employed and earn a higher salary. Additionally, most majors lead to a wide variety of opportunities rather than to one specific career.

What Employers Want in an Employee

There are two main types of skills that employers look for: hard skills and soft (transferable) skills.

• Hard skills are concrete or objective abilities that you learn and develop. They are skills you can easily quantify, like using a computer, speaking a foreign language, or operating a machine. You might earn a certificate, a college degree, or other credentials that attest to your hard-skill competencies. 

• Soft (transferable) skills, on the other hand, are subjective skills. Such skills pertain to the way you relate to people, think, or behave—for example, listening attentively, working well in groups, and speaking clearly. Soft skills are sometimes also called “transferable skills” because you can easily transfer them from job to job or profession to profession without much training. Candidates with strong soft skills are in high demand for many different types of jobs. In fact, soft skills are so important that they are often the reason employers decide whether to keep or promote an employee.

Specific Skills Necessary for Your Career Path

A skill is something you can do, say, or think right now. It's what an employer expects you to bring to the workplace to improve the organization's overall operations.

As mentioned before, the college catalog, YouScience, and Zippia are resources to help you determine which concrete skills are needed for all kinds of professions. You can even discover where you might gain some of the skills and which courses you might take.

Spend some time reviewing each resource. You will find many interesting and exciting options. Research each option to determine what major and career path is best for you.

Career Readiness

For new college graduates, career readiness is key to ensuring successful entrance into the workforce. Career readiness is the foundation upon which a successful career is launched.

No matter what you choose to major in or pursue as a profession, the eight career readiness competencies prepare you for success in the workplace and lifelong career management.

Read through the list below of Career Readiness Competencies (and sample behaviors) from the National Association of Colleges and Employers. These skills are transferable because they are positive attributes that are invaluable in practically any kind of work. Be sure to incorporate these skills in your resume and when responding to interview questions.

Get Involved

Lastly, build your skills (and your resume) by getting involved in the following:

1. Internships or part-time work

2. Extracurricular activities

3. Leading the Pack Mentorship Program

4. Employers at networking/recruiting events

5. Westmoreland Career Connections Center