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Careers and Majors

Identify careers and majors that align with your skills, talents and interests.

Career Development

Assess your interests. Inventory your skills. Reflect on your values. Discover your strengths. 

When you arrive at Cal State Monterey Bay, you might not know exactly what you want to study or who you want to be after graduation. That’s part of why you’re here: to explore possibilities. 

At CSUMB, we’ll help you connect your passions and interests with a future career. Along the way, you’ll create a personalized academic plan that might include majors, minors and real-world learning opportunities to help you reach your goals.

Two students studying on a laptop in the library.

Exploring and Comparing Majors

A few things to consider as you plan your academic journey.

How to Choose a Major

If you are unsure about what you should major in, ask yourself the following questions:

  • When speaking to peers or classmates, what conversations do you participate in enthusiastically? 
  • What topics or previous classes were appealing for you?
  • What challenges or issues have you faced? Can you imagine yourself solving these problems for others in a work environment?
  • What jobs, hobbies, or volunteer work have you enjoyed?
  • What are you proud and passionate about that you've accomplished so far?

If more than one area of study appeals to you, consider: 

  • Declaring a minor in one of the disciplines
  • Taking a few key courses in that major that will meet the learning objectives and skill-building plan you have in mind
  • Double-majoring in both areas

You can also:

  • Visit What Can I Do With This Major? to see what occupations best suit your major.
  • Visit O*NET Online to learn more about a career, it's industry and related fields of work.

Major Myths

First, let’s get some myths out of the way. Here are a few misconceptions about choosing a major:

  • Selecting a major will limit the career choices available to me after graduation
  • I can only get a job in something related to my major
  • Only an applied major like pre-med/biology or accounting will give the skills needed in the job market

Major Facts

You aren’t defined by the major you choose. Here are some reassuring facts about picking an area of study and how it relates to your opportunities after college:

  • Studies indicate that most college graduates are successfully employed in fields not directly related to their academic major.
  • Workers between the ages of 18 and 38 change jobs an average of 10 times.
  • An average person changes careers three to seven times.
  • You might pursue a career based on your major, or you might pursue one based on passions or interests outside of your field of study.
  • No matter the major you choose, you will develop a well-rounded skill set at CSUMB that will allow you to pursue a variety of career options. Look at the skill set a major gives you. Is it a useful set of skills to careers that are of interest to you?
  • Some careers require specific knowledge or skills that you will obtain by taking certain classes. For example, medical schools require set math, chemistry, biology and other coursework to be eligible for admission. Certain licensed professions also require set courses and the ability to pass a subject test.
  • With most majors or areas of study, you will learn a broad range of skills that can transfer to a wide variety of careers.

Discover Your Career Path

Explore your interests, skills and values with Focus 2 Career to discover career paths that fit your goals. Create an account using access code OTTER, take a career assessment, then set up an appointment with your Career Coach to discuss your results and next steps.

Take a Career Assessment