Career vs. Major — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 14, 2024
A career refers to one's professional journey or occupation, while a major is a specific field of study chosen during college education.
Difference Between Career and Major
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A career encompasses the progression of jobs, roles, and professional activities an individual engages in over their working life. It reflects a person's choices, growth, and development in a particular professional domain or across various fields. In contrast, a major is the primary concentration or area of study a student selects in college or university, shaping their academic focus and coursework. Choosing a biology major, for instance, means dedicating a significant portion of one's college education to studying biological sciences, which might include courses in genetics, ecology, anatomy, and more.
While a career is shaped over years through experiences, achievements, and sometimes changes in direction or focus, a major is typically decided during the early part of one's higher education and remains relatively fixed during the college years. Conversely, a major is chosen based on academic interests, career aspirations, or personal passion, and it sets the foundation for future professional opportunities but doesn't encompass the entirety of one's career trajectory.
Careers often entail a practical application of skills, continuous learning, and professional development in real-world settings. They are marked by milestones such as promotions, project completions, and possibly shifts between different employers or sectors. On the other hand, a major focuses on academic exploration and mastery of a specific subject area, primarily within the educational environment, and includes attending lectures, completing coursework, and passing examinations.
The relationship between a major and a career can be direct or indirect. Some careers have a clear correlation with certain majors—for example, a major in nursing is directly linked to a career in nursing. However, many careers may not require a specific major, reflecting the diverse and sometimes unexpected ways educational backgrounds can apply to the job market. For instance, a major in philosophy might lead to careers in law, education, business, or other fields, depending on additional skills, experiences, and interests developed over time.
Choosing a major is an important academic decision that can influence the early stages of one's career but doesn't necessarily determine the entire course of one's professional life. Career paths can be varied and dynamic, reflecting a combination of education, personal choices, opportunities, and societal changes. The decision to pursue a particular major can be a stepping stone to a related career or a component of a broader educational experience that contributes to professional versatility and adaptability.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Professional journey or occupation
Specific field of study in college
Duration
Lifelong, evolving over time
Fixed during college years
Focus
Practical application, achievements
Academic exploration, subject mastery
Flexibility
Can change based on various factors
Relatively fixed once chosen
Relationship
Shaped by experiences, choices
Sets academic foundation, influences early career
Compare with Definitions
Career
The pursuit of successive, related jobs leading to a path of progress in a particular field.
She has built a remarkable career in environmental law.
Major
The primary area of study chosen by a college or university student.
He decided to major in English Literature with a minor in History.
Career
The overall course of one's working life and professional achievements.
The conference celebrated her distinguished career in scientific research.
Major
A declaration of a concentrated study area within a broader educational program.
Students are required to declare their major by the end of their sophomore year.
Career
A profession or occupation chosen as one's life's work.
His career as a journalist spanned over three decades.
Major
A field of specialization within an academic degree program.
Her major in biochemistry prepared her for medical school.
Career
The progression and development in one's job over time.
She's interested in career advancement opportunities within the company.
Major
The concentrated subject area that a student dedicates their coursework to.
Choosing a major in computer science opened many tech career opportunities.
Career
A series of connected employment opportunities.
After starting his career in marketing, he transitioned into digital media.
Major
The academic discipline to which a significant portion of study is devoted.
She completed her major requirements by her junior year.
Career
The career is an individual's metaphorical "journey" through learning, work and other aspects of life. There are a number of ways to define career and the term is used in a variety of ways.
Major
Major is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world.
Career
An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress
He seemed destined for a career as an engineer like his father
Major
Important, serious, or significant
The use of drugs is a major problem
Career
Move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way
The coach careered across the road and went through a hedge
Major
(of a scale) having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees.
Career
A chosen pursuit; a profession or occupation.
Major
(appended to a surname in public schools) indicating the elder of two brothers.
Career
The general course or progression of one's working life or one's professional achievements
An officer with a distinguished career.
A teacher in the midst of a long career.
Major
(of a term) occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.
Career
A path or course, as of the sun through the heavens.
Major
A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, above captain and below lieutenant colonel.
Career
Speed
"My hasting days fly on with full career" (John Milton).
Major
A major key, interval, or scale.
Career
Doing what one does as a permanent occupation or lifework
Career diplomats.
A career criminal.
Major
A major organization or competition
The majors have swept up the smaller independent companies in licensing deals
It's not unreasonable to believe someone can win all four majors
The oil majors had a profit bonanza
Career
To move forward at high speed, often with minimal control
"that lordly car ... How smoothly it ran. In what style they had come careering along the country roads!" (James Joyce).
Major
A student's principal subject or course
Many students would ignore courses outside their major
Career
One's calling in life; a person's occupation; one's profession.
Major
A major term or premise.
Career
General course of action or conduct in life, or in a particular part of it.
Washington's career as a soldier
Major
Short for major suit
South was anxious to mention his four-card major and bid one spade
Career
(archaic) Speed.
Major
A goal.
Career
A jouster's path during a joust.
Major
Specialize in (a particular subject) at college or university
I was trying to decide if I should major in drama or English
Career
(obsolete) A short gallop of a horse.
Major
Greater than others in importance or rank
A major artist.
Career
(falconry) The flight of a hawk.
Major
Great in scope or effect
A major improvement.
Career
(obsolete) A racecourse; the ground run over.
Major
Great in number, size, or extent
The major portion of the population.
Career
To move rapidly straight ahead, especially in an uncontrolled way.
The car careered down the road, missed the curve, and went through a hedge.
Major
Requiring great attention or concern; very serious
A major illness.
Career
Synonym of serial
A career criminal
Major
(Law) Legally recognized as having reached the age of adulthood.
Career
A race course: the ground run over.
To go back again the same career.
Major
Of or relating to the field of academic study in which a student specializes.
Career
A running; full speed; a rapid course.
When a horse is running in his full career.
Major
Designating a scale or mode having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees.
Career
General course of action or conduct in life, or in a particular part or calling in life, or in some special undertaking; usually applied to course or conduct which is of a public character; as, Washington's career as a soldier.
An impartial view of his whole career.
Major
Equivalent to the distance between the tonic note and the second or third or sixth or seventh degrees of a major scale or mode
A major interval.
Career
The flight of a hawk.
Major
Based on a major scale
A major key.
Career
To move or run rapidly.
Careering gayly over the curling waves.
Major
A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above captain and below lieutenant colonel.
Career
The particular occupation for which you are trained
Major
One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.
Career
The general progression of your working or professional life;
The general had had a distinguished career
He had a long career in the law
Major
One that is superior in rank, importance, or ability
An oil-producing country considered as one of the majors.
Career
Move headlong at high speed;
The cars careered down the road
The mob careered through the streets
Major
(Law) One recognized by the law as having reached the age of adulthood.
Major
A field of study chosen as an academic specialty.
Major
A student specializing in such studies
A linguistics major.
Major
A major premise.
Major
A major term.
Major
A major scale, key, interval, or mode.
Major
A chord containing a major third between the first and second notes and a minor third between the second and third notes.
Major
Majors Sports The major leagues.
Major
To pursue academic studies in a major
Majoring in mathematics.
Major
(attributive):
Major
Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.
Major
Greater in number, quantity, or extent.
The major part of the assembly
Major
Notable or conspicuous in effect or scope.
Major
Prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree.
To earn some major cash
Major
(medicine) Involving great risk, serious, life-threatening.
To suffer from a major illness
Major
Of full legal age, having attained majority.
Major children
Major
(education) Of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization.
Major
(music):
Major
Having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees.
Major scale
Major
Equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval.
Major third
Major
(postpositive) of a key Based on a major scale, tending to produce a bright or joyful effect.
Major
(campanology) Bell changes rung on eight bells.
Major
Indicating the elder of two brothers, appended to a surname in public schools.
Major
(logic)
Major
Occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.
Major
Containing the major term in a categorical syllogism.
Major
(military ranks) A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel.
He used to be a major in the army.
Major
An officer in charge of a section of band instruments, used with a modifier.
Major
A person of legal age.
Major
(music):
Major
Ellipsis of major key.
Major
Ellipsis of major interval.
Major
Ellipsis of major scale.
Major
(campanology) A system of change-ringing using eight bells.
Major
A large, commercially successful company, especially a record label that is bigger than an indie.
Major
The principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.
Midway through his second year of college, he still hadn't chosen a major.
Major
A student at a college or university specializing on a given area of study.
She is a math major.
Major
(logic):
Major
Ellipsis of major term.
Major
Ellipsis of major premise.
Major
(bridge) major suit.
Major
(Canadian football) A touchdown, or major score.
Major
(Australian rules football) A goal.
Major
An elder brother (especially at a public school).
Major
(entomology) A large leaf-cutter ant that acts as a soldier, defending the nest.
Major
(obsolete) mayor and {{en}}.
Major
(intransitive) major in
Major
Greater in number, quantity, or extent; as, the major part of the assembly; the major part of the revenue; the major part of the territory.
Major
Of greater dignity; more important.
Major
Of full legal age; adult.
Major
Greater by a semitone, either in interval or in difference of pitch from another tone.
Major
An officer next in rank above a captain and next below a lieutenant colonel; the lowest field officer.
Major
A person of full age.
Major
That premise which contains the major term. It its the first proposition of a regular syllogism; as: No unholy person is qualified for happiness in heaven [the major]. Every man in his natural state is unholy [minor]. Therefore, no man in his natural state is qualified for happiness in heaven [conclusion or inference].
Major
A mayor.
Major
A commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines; below lieutenant colonel and above captain
Major
British statesman who was prime minister from 1990 until 1997 (born in 1943)
Major
A university student who is studying a particular field as the principal subject;
She is a linguistics major
Major
The principal field of study of a student at a university;
Her major is linguistics
Major
Have as one's principal field of study;
She is majoring in linguistics
Major
Of greater importance or stature or rank;
A major artist
A major role
Major highways
Major
Greater in scope or effect;
A major contribution
A major improvement
A major break with tradition
A major misunderstanding
Major
Greater in number or size or amount;
A major portion (a majority) of the population
Ursa Major
A major portion of the winnings
Major
Of the field of academic study in which one concentrates or specializes;
His major field was mathematics
Major
Of a scale or mode;
Major scales
The key of D major
Major
Of greater seriousness or danger;
A major earthquake
A major hurricane
A major illness
Major
Of full legal age;
Major children
Major
Of the elder of two boys with the same family name;
Jones major
Common Curiosities
How does a major influence a career?
A major can provide foundational knowledge and skills relevant to a career, but many careers are accessible with diverse academic backgrounds.
Is it necessary to choose a major directly related to a desired career?
While some careers require specific majors (e.g., engineering, medicine), many fields welcome a variety of academic backgrounds.
How can someone prepare for a career while in college?
Beyond choosing a major, internships, networking, and extracurricular activities can provide practical experience and connections related to career interests.
Can you change your career if it doesn't match your major?
Yes, many individuals successfully transition to careers unrelated to their majors, leveraging transferable skills and additional learning.
What if your career interests change after choosing a major?
Changing career interests is common, and many people pursue additional education, training, or leverage transferable skills to shift careers.
How important is a major in defining one's career path?
A major can be important, especially in specialized fields, but interests, experiences, and ongoing learning also significantly shape career paths.
Can the same major lead to different careers?
Yes, most majors offer a breadth of knowledge and skills applicable to various careers, allowing for diverse professional opportunities.
Do all jobs require a college major?
Not all careers require a college degree; many technical, artistic, and entrepreneurial paths value skills, experience, and practical knowledge.
How do career paths vary between majors?
Career paths can vary widely, with some majors offering a clear professional trajectory and others providing a broad skill set for multiple options.
Is it better to choose a major based on interest or career prospects?
Balancing personal passion with practical career considerations can lead to a fulfilling and sustainable professional life.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
