Choosing the right degree and the right major can be a stressful and daunting experience for many students. With pressure from schools, society and family this can become challenging if students pick their degrees based on their passions and interests or based on higher-paying salary jobs and work titles. For instance, humanities degrees often get the label or the “bludge” degree, or the “useless” degree that “won’t get you a job”. This stigma around humanities degree can often deter students away from pursuing a career path that if fulfilling to their souls. So, are students today pursuing their career path based on the salary and pressure of society? Or are they choosing them based on interest and passion?
Most of the external research findings explained all degrees as a whole and the processes students take to choose what is right for them. However, my findings relate specifically to humanities degrees and the stigma behind students’ behaviours when choosing their majors. Of the students surveyed I was surprised to find that 53% did not have any outsiders influencing their decision on their chosen major/ degree. This is enlightening as everybody should be supported and encouraged to pursue their passions and dreams. Quiet often societies pressure can get in the way and cloud young adults choices with what society wants people to pursue over what the individual wants to do. This relates to last year when the Australian government announced an increase in Humanities degrees to deter future students and decreasing” job-ready” degrees such as teaching and nursing to try and Suede students into partaking in degrees that is the government believe are in demand. Short term this may “fix” the government’s employment problem however, Long term effects would result in a generation being left unfulfilled lacking in passion and creativity.
The survey was structured to retain information regarding the student’s behaviours around choosing their major. It was interesting to discover that Marketing (38.5%) and Visual Communication Design (46.2%) were the most popular choices amongst the participants. From these responses, it revealed that most participants wanted to pursue a career based on passions and that is what drove them to choose their major and not by outside pressure. The participants revealed that the creativity and flexibility that a communications degree can bring you were appealing as there can be an array of career possibilities upon graduations.
In addition, although not surprising 53.3% of participants said that future job prospects and salary played a role in their decision process when choosing their major. With 60% of participant stating both passion and salary are important to them in their decision process. It is important to follow your heart and pursue an area of interest however, these participants found it was also important to consider future salary as both interests and job demand are key in finding the right degree for each individual.
To further develop a deeper understanding of the behaviours surrounded by students and their choices behind choosing their major. It would be useful to obtain information from students studying different degrees to get a well-rounded response and compare findings.
It is enlightened to discover Communications and media students are happy and hopeful with their decisions based around their degree and their future possibilities and where it may lead. It is crucial for future students not discouraged from perusing more creative based degrees. Society needs humanities-based careers. It brings joy. It brings inspiration. It brings life to this world. And it is something that people should hold a higher standard than it sometimes is held to.
Lucybonfield 