Photo by Isabella Yalif
It’s that time of year. Course selection is approaching. Advisor meetings are happening. All the while, students are asking themselves how the choices they make today are going to set themselves up for a career. To tie these ends together, we looked at college majors. A college major is typically listed within the first few lines of a resume. It defines what makes a student intellectually curious, and what skills they bring to the job or graduate school market.
If you are considering what to major in, we are here to help. We talked with students from a plethora of majors offered across Vanderbilt and asked them the same question: describe in a few sentences why you chose your major.
Architecture and the Built Environment: “I chose my major, Architecture and the Built Environment, because I’ve always enjoyed artistic fields, but wanted to apply design to a practical application. I took an architecture elective in high school and fell in love with it so majoring seemed like a natural next step. It was also a relatively flexible major to complete which appealed to me as I knew early on that I wanted to add another major and/or minor(s).” – Jacy Robbins, junior.
Art History: “My first art history class was for AXLE and, even though it didn’t have anything to do with my career aspirations, I stuck with it because I ended up loving it. It’s not just learning about art, but learning about certain periods of time through the art. It wasn’t only the subject, but also Professor Shaneyfelt that sold me on the major; her energy about the material is contagious, and I’d take any class that she taught.” – Madison Keezer, senior.
Biomedical Engineering: “I chose BME because it combines problem solving and engineering with medicine, which is the field I want to go into. I’ve always been interested in how technology and medical devices directly impact peoples’ health, and BME is the field that specifically explores that. I found out about the lab I currently work in because of my first BME module in freshman year!” – Selin Kandemir, sophomore.
Climate Studies: “I chose Climate Studies because I am passionate about understanding how human and environmental systems interact and how science can inform sustainable solutions. I have always been driven by a desire to address the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental justice through evidence-based action. Choosing Climate Studies allows me to combine my interests in hands-on research, policymaking, and learning about real sustainable practices to make a meaningful impact on our planet’s future.” – Sarah Brown, junior.
Cognitive Studies: “I chose Cognitive Studies as one of my majors because it allows me to explore how people think and learn through a broad, interdisciplinary lens that looks at education, psychology, and culture. This major has allowed me to better understand how cognitive processes impact the real-world behaviors I observe. As a student on the pre-medical track hoping to work with children, this major has given me invaluable insight on cognitive and developmental processes that will allow me to approach pediatric care with compassion and knowledge beyond physical phenomena.” – Leah Amster, junior.
Computer Science: “In high school during the pandemic, I had a very engaging teacher for AP Computer Science A. He was one of the only teachers that was still passionate about his subject and trying to develop a relationship with his students. Because of his dedication and enthusiasm, it was one of the only classes I was excited to be a part of during Covid, and I think that’s translated into a prolonged interest in CS.” – Julia Kantzer, junior.
Culture, Advocacy, and Leadership: “I chose my major in Culture, Advocacy & Leadership because it allows me the freedom to shape my education around my passions and pursue a deeper sense of purpose. CAL provides a foundational understanding of the structures that shape society, encourages you to explore diverse perspectives, and equips you with leadership tools that bridge learning with action and real-world impact. The professors are not only some of the most inspiring and driven people you’ll meet—they’re also deeply invested in your growth, challenging you to think critically, fail forward, and use what you’ve learned to create lasting change in your community and beyond.” – Hayden Parsons, junior.
Economics: “I chose Economics as a major because I am passionate about math and the way that individuals make choices around the globe. I find it extremely interesting how small individual decisions can greatly impact the world as a whole. I personally want to work in sports management, and I think that economics will give me a great foundation in learning the overall innerworkings of the world and help me in the future!” – Emily Goulian, sophomore.
Electrical and Computer Engineering: “I chose Electrical and Computer Engineering because I enjoy working with robotics and mechatronics, where hardware and software come together to create innovative systems. I’m also interested in network engineering, and having a strong ECE background gives me the technical foundation to understand how devices communicate and operate at every level.” – Lucille Proul, junior.
Human and Organizational Development: “I transferred into HOD after taking Small Group Behavior in my second semester because I was drawn to the collaborative nature of the class and how we were able to assign research to things like group work that we sometimes take for granted. I think the major is so applicable to a wide range of career options — I am pre-law and have gotten to take a diverse set of HOD classes including education policy and philanthropy — and your path is very customizable to your goals. I also could tell immediately how passionate all the professors are about their topics, which adds to what I gain from the classes and prepares me to apply it in my future career.” – Corey Lochan, junior.
Mathematics: “I chose Math here at Vandy as my major because I enjoy the challenge it brings. Vanderbilt offers a wide variety of Math coursework as well, so whether you want to just study pure math or math in a context that’s more applicable to other fields, there’s something for you.” – Cathal Malin, junior.
Molecular and Cellular Biology: “I’m pre-med, so I wanted to select a major that overlaps with the recommended classes for medical school. Through MCB, I complete almost all of the STEM classes for pre-med with a bunch of higher-level biology classes, so I can simultaneously study for my classes and the MCAT. Plus, I can get credits for my VUMC research, so one of my most important extracurriculars also counts toward my major.” – Mark Ciampa, junior.
Neuroscience: “I chose neuroscience as my major first because it provides a great foundation for medical school and/or graduate school. Second, I have always been drawn to the field because it encompasses the basic sciences but also has a philosophical aspect. Vanderbilt also has amazing research teams working on exploring the mystery that is the human brain that my major allows me to be a part of.” – Anne Daniel, junior.
Philosophy: “I chose Philosophy because I loved thinking about the meaning of life and theism in high school. When I got to Vanderbilt, my first philosophy course was in logic, and I really benefited from the analytical skills I developed in that class. I decided to pursue this major because I enjoyed the wide variety of topics it covers across time periods, and I felt like I was learning a lot.” – Louise He, junior.
Political Science: “I came to Vanderbilt thinking I might want to go to law school someday, but wasn’t sure how to get there. My first semester I took PSCI 1103 International Relations with Dr. Gannon and loved everything we learned. I grew to be fascinated with transnational policy, got into research for it, and realized I wanted to learn more about political science!” – Caroline Norton, junior.
Secondary Education: “I chose secondary education as my major because of the urgent necessity for good teachers to support high school students. High school years are an extremely important developmental period for adolescents, where they grow emotionally, intellectually and socially. Having strong, reliable, and caring teachers is at the forefront of creating a bright future of students across the country, which is why I am passionate about education.” – Maria Samonova, junior.
While this list is by no means exhaustive, it highlights the variety of majors available to students, and the even more vast set of reasons why someone selects a major. At the end of the day, your major is your personal selection. However, opening dialogue and learning from why people chose to go down paths you are considering is an invaluable use of time, critical for gaining the most out of an undergraduate education as we prepare for our careers.
