What’s the difference between a major and degree?
A major is a specific discipline that you study in college, such as history or chemistry. A degree is the mark of completion of an educational program, such as a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree.
In other words, a major is a portion of your coursework; a degree is the entire package of your education.
Degree Vs Major Whats The Difference Between A Major And Degree
Introduction
Degree
A degree is a broad field of study. For example, you can get a bachelor’s degree in computer science or mathematics.
A major is a specific area of study within your degree. For example, if you decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science, then choosing to major in software engineering would be an option as it is part of the larger umbrella field of computer science.
Major
The major is the concentration of study, which means it’s a specific field of study. It’s a main area of study that you choose from among the more than 100 majors offered at your college or university.
A major is typically associated with an undergraduate degree, but not all degrees require it.
A college major can be compared to the capstone project or thesis in graduate school: it’s the culmination of all your coursework in a particular area and is usually required before graduation.
Degree Vs Major Whats The Difference Between A Major And Degree
A degree is a broad field of study that can be used as a stepping stone to further education.
A major is a specific field of study within the degree.
For example, if you have an associate’s degree in general studies, you could use this as your starting point for furthering your education in nursing or business administration. If you have a bachelor’s degree in business management, it would be difficult for someone with such qualifications to go into another major like nursing without earning another bachelor’s degree (or more).
Conclusion
You might be wondering, what’s the big deal? After all, a degree is just another name for a major. The two terms are used interchangeably all the time, and it doesn’t matter which one you use. But here at CollegeVine, we believe that labeling them correctly can make a difference in your college search process. When you look into prospective schools, you want to find a program that fits your academic interests as well as your major (or degree). And yes, it does get confusing when universities use the words “degree” and “major” interchangeably. But by knowing which programs offer degrees in your desired field of study versus those that offer majors only (or minors), you will know what kind of post-graduation opportunities await you—and that can make all the difference when deciding where to apply!
