Blog: More About Our Majors

Much like choosing a major or a minor, choosing an extracurricular during your college career can seem like a daunting task. UC Davis is home to many fantastic programs that are constantly on the hunt for creative students. 

Psychology and biological sciences senior Wenzhe Li rotated through two labs at UC Davis before finding a muse in cytoplasmic dynein, a motor protein used for transport within cells.

Global academic projects and internships, study abroad, and international research do more than help you to reach your academic goals. They also broaden your horizons through exposure to hands-on experiences and new cultures in diverse settings. 

A classical civilizations major gives you a window into the world of the Greeks and Romans, who remain so potent a force in the modern imagination. But more than that, it teaches you that real world problems do not come with an instruction manual or set of steps to fix them, and we must decide for ourselves both how to formulate powerful questions and how to find meaningful answers.

 UC Davis thinks and works across traditional boundaries of subject areas. In fact, we’re a leader in the mashups that, in the academic world, are called interdisciplinary studies.

Ever think about a career in human resources? If you’re majoring in communications, sociology, psychology, managerial economics — or any humanities major, really — then a job in the human resources field might be just right for you.

Despite being undeclared, I do not feel completely lost on my career path. I am quite self-aware, and I recognize my strengths and passions, such as writing, political activism and education. What is difficult, however, is choosing which interests deserve my academic efforts. 

Myriah Smith ’16 is an advocate for human rights. As an international relations major, she chose the peace and security track because it resonated most with her passion for securing the rights of people affected by conflicts, political violence, and ethnically/religiously targeted discrimination.

Graduates of arts programs are often considered to be more creative and insightful than many of their peers, but would you believe they’re also among the happiest professionals? Believe it. Arts alumni aren't just surviving in today’s workforce, they’re thriving.

A theatre degree allows you to specialize in how to best communicate and find an authentic voice — whatever your chosen field. 

The College of Letters and Science offers numerous classes and majors focused on learning about other cultures, a new language, and/or the links between biological/physical sciences and societal issues.

The American studies major provides critical and creative perspectives, tools that can be used in many areas, an introduction to wide-ranging topics, and ways to meld academics, career and personal passion.

After four years of working at my high school newspaper, I chose to attend UC Davis, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in international relations and minors in communication and Middle East/South Asia studies. While UC Davis doesn’t have a journalism major or minor, I didn’t feel limited in the opportunities to experiment with my interest. 

If you think studying communication is mostly for people who want to pursue careers in public relations, it’s time to update your thinking. Think data, think digital, think virtual, think about how much you interact with the world via your smart phone.

When you’re sick with the flu and facing down a week of finals, thank a pharmaceutical chemist for the medicine that brings you relief. However, this major is about much more than treating illness — many paths are open to students who pursue a degree in pharmaceutical chemistry. 

Though we usually think of historians as solitary researchers, actually the discipline is intensely social and communicative.

Students in the humanities are sometimes seen as lacking in direction and not being prepared for the “real world.” Quite the contrary, a humanities major can be added value to your resume and has other concrete benefits beyond college.

Get inspired by what our UC Davis communication majors are doing in their careers. 

“As I look back at my time at UC Davis, I think the culture was most important to my professional and personal development,” said Tim Mizrahi ’98, who has been married to his husband Doug Cullum for eight years. “The community was welcoming, energizing and respectful. 

Geology majors tend to have a few common traits. They are curious about how our planet works, they want to study a rigorous science, and they want a challenging career that is relevant to society.

For Brent Sasaki ’94, it’s all about connections. As vice president of corporate partnerships at Sacramento Republic FC, this political science major has cultivated some important relationships for the capital city’s professional soccer team.

Spanish majors are a remarkable group of students who are preparing to change California and the world. They know that if you want to change the world, you have to start by understanding the languages, histories and cultures of its people.

I chose to be an economics major, in part, because of the interesting and relevant courses. I am pursuing my professional interest by specializing in the data analytics and economic analysis track while also exploring the statistics and technology management minors. 

Our majors go on to careers in the U.S. armed forces and Silicon Valley, medicine and the law. Our graduates are journalists and veterinarians and teachers.

Why is there so much career flexibility as a math major? Employers want people who are smart and grounded in their field. But typically, they want more than that: They want someone to design models, to answer hard questions and to figure out what the right questions are.

We call it the “sociological superpower”: the ability to think critically about everything going on around you and in the broader social world. Movies, TV programs, current events — even family Thanksgiving will never be the same once you embark down the path of a sociology major. 

Understanding East Asia today requires knowledge and appreciation of the cultural orientations, traditional practices and social forces that have shaped its diverse cultures and societies. The East Asian Studies Program delves into the depth, breadth and diversity of human achievements to gain this understanding.

In the current political climate, understanding and valuing Chicanx/Latinx community experiences are important for Aggies wanting to be leaders with impact.

Becoming an English major was the best decision. The courses I took allowed me to sharpen my writing and critical thinking skills, which translates directly to my present-day job as an internal communications manager at LinkedIn.

The biggest piece of advice about career choices I would give to all students is don’t be afraid to trust your gut, even if it means trying new things. As a first-generation college student, this was a hard lesson for me to learn as my family and community had such a high expectation of success for me.

The study of physics at UC Davis offers exposure to truly astounding ideas about the nature of reality. It’s a celebration of the beauty of the laws of nature and the power of the human mind. And you receive rigorous intellectual training in how to grasp any subject at a fundamental level.

Growing up Muslim in a Catholic school in Texas, I had always found religion fascinating. Offering a comparative approach to the study of religion outside the religious seminary, a religious studies major could allow me to merge my interests in the soul with medicine and science. 

Students who choose to major in theatre and dance at UC Davis get a solid grounding in most aspects of theatrical performance.

Students in philosophy think about important issues that underlie everything else — ethics, the foundations of science and religion, to name a few. But our majors soon realize that their studies help develop skills in critical analysis and problem-solving, as well as their ability to communicate ideas clearly and logically. 

Not only was the summer program the most academically beneficial experience I had at UC Davis — making valuable connections, assessing my own interests, and gaining research experience — but it was also a lot of fun and resulted in lifelong friendships.