Students spend many years earning their degree. However, how much their chosen major affects their career depends on the field they are going into.
UNM junior Chad Gruber, an economics major, said in many cases a student's major can be a huge part of what they want in the future.
Gruber said he hopes to go into a business-related field or possibly law. In either field, the major he chooses will be an important decision for his career.
"I think that it is very important to have a grasp on economics and politics and other closely-related fields in order to do whatever you want to do," Gruber said. "It is going to give me an understanding; it's giving me the foundation."
Director of UNM's Career Services Leslye Ellison said, "Majors are everything." She said this is especially true in specialized technical fields such as architecture, physics and engineering.
"It is more important in some fields than others," Ellison said. "You almost have to have a degree in one of those fields to be qualified to work in one of those areas. In other areas, especially some of the arts and sciences fields, you can do more things with those degrees and sometimes it makes it tougher for students."
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Ellison said Career Services helps University students with majors, careers, part-time jobs and other life decisions.
Career Services is also available to UNM alumni, she said.
"Sometimes they get into a field and realize they didn't like it or that they were not as successful as they wanted," Ellison said.
Ellison recommended a Liberal Arts degree for students who are unsure of their future aspirations, adding that on average UNM students change their major three to five times before they graduate.
"Anything in a non-technical area or that is in preparation for graduate school leaves most doors pretty wide open," Ellison said. "If they are unsure, we recommend the University College. That's a great option for someone who is still pretty undecided."
Bart Scott, a double major in English and anthropology who is graduating in May, said he is unsure of what he will do with his degrees but does not undermine their importance. He said they are important regardless of what future occupation he chooses.
Ellison said no matter what the career, businesses will always look for communication skills, bright people, teamwork, contribution and a good work ethic.
"Enthusiasm and initiative are traits that all college graduates have," Ellison said. "It is very important that a student think about a choice in major because of possible occupations that it will open doors to."
