Many students think that there is a direct link between a major and a career. If you are a sociology major you earn a degree in sociology and become a sociologist. A major in education becomes a teacher. A major in philosophy becomes . . . a philosopher?

The fact is that the link between major and career varies, depending on the degree and the field of study. Majors in the Associate of Applied Science degree have a strong and direct link with a career; in other cases the link is very general. A major in a liberal arts area, for example, may lead in any number of directions, some very surprising. This can be a great comfort for students who really don't yet know in which field of study they'd like to concentrate.

As a general rule, the more technical the undergraduate major the sooner a student must start courses in that program of study. Any major in the Associate of Science degree will require substantial coursework in math and science. Many majors in the Associate of Arts degree allow for more flexibility in designing a course of study.

Remember that majors at the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science level are preparatory or introductory in nature. They prepare students to begin upper level course work in their major field of study when they begin work on their Bachelor's degrees.