10 Best College Majors for Your Personality

321 Pages·2011·2.97 MB·English

by  Laurence Shatkin

More than 250,000 Best Jobs books in print! College Three Steps to Your Best College Major Options
Best College Majors
for
Second Best College
10 Your Personality Edition
Part of JJIISSTT’s’sB Beesst tJ Joobbss® Series
“Picking a major is anything but simple. If you are undecided about your major
and what you want to do in life, this book can help you sort it out.” Campus Talk magazine for
Match Your Personality to Best Colege Majors How This Book Works Majors Your
Research has proven that matching your personality to a Take a look at Part I for information about personal-
major improves your satisfaction and success in college and ity types and how they relate to college majors. Com-
in your future career. This eye-opening book helps you plete a brief assessment to discover your personality
identify your personality type and the 10 best majors that type in Part II. Browse more than 90 best majors
conect to it. Also uncover related jobs with the best pay lists in Part I to f nd the majors in your personal- 10
and growth that you are likely to be good at or enjoy. ity type that interest you most. Then look up their Second
descriptions in Part IV for details on college courses,
Helpful Facts on Best Majors for specializations in the major, descriptions of related PersonalityEdition
TYoheu ra uPtheorrs ousnead ltithye most up-to-date facts from govern- jobs, salary, and more. Simple. Parrt oof JJISTT’s Besst JJobss® Seeriees
Who Can Benefit from This Book? Planning four
ment and college sources in this volume. Besides the best
majors lists, the book includes information-packed descrip- or more years of education beyond high school and 55+ Major Descriptions for 6 Personality Types
want to f nd a major that f ts you? Researching your
tions of more than 50 college majors, plus related jobs, for
future education and career options? Returning to
the six personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic,
Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. Among this book’s college but unsure which majors lead to the best 90+ Best Majors Lists, Including Majors Leading
jobs? This book is ideal for people making important
many helpful facts: to Jobs with the Best Pay and Fastest Growth
education and career plans, as well as for educators,
The best Realistic major is Computer Engineering. Its counselors, and others advising them.
Choose the best major for your personality
related jobs pay an average of $92,000, are growing at
23.1 percent, and have 10,109 openings per year. About the Author. Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., has 30 type: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social,
Among the Social majors with the best job-opening byeloargss ionn t hcaer ecear eiesrs uinesf;o ramndat ios nt hfe e ladu;t hporers eonf tsm andy Enterprising, or Conventional.
potential are Nursing (number 1, with 103,900 annual career and education books, including 50 Best Jobs
Best majors lists for each personality type,
openings in related jobs), Elementary Education (number for Your Personality and Panicked Student’s Guide
2, 59,560 openings), and Physical Education (number 4, to Choosing a College Major. He is frequently inter- organized by potential pay, growth, and more.
23,020 openings). viewed by major media on trends in the world of
Descriptions of majors and related jobs packed
The best majors for extroverts include Medicine (number work. Follow him on Twitter at @LaurenceShatkin.
with details on course sequence, pay, openings,
1), Human Resources Management (number 6), and
International Business (number 9). work tasks, and skills needed.
Shatkin
Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D.
800-648-JIST | www.jist.com $17.95 Higher in Canada
10 Best Coll Maj 2E cover.indd 1
10 Best Coll Maj 2E cover.indd 1 4/6/11 8:43:50 AM
4/6/11 8:43:50 AM
Second
Best College Majors for Your Personality Edition
10
Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D.
Also in JIST’s Best Jobs® Series
Best Jobs for the 21st Century 250 Best-Paying Jobs
200 Best Jobs for College Graduates 150 Best Jobs for Your Skills
300 Best Jobs Without a Four-Year Degree 150 Best Jobs T rough Military Training
200 Best Jobs T rough Apprenticeships 150 Best Jobs for a Better World
50 Best Jobs for Your Personality 200 Best Jobs for Introverts
40 Best Fields for Your Career 150 Best Low-Stress Jobs
225 Best Jobs for Baby Boomers
10 Best College Majors for Your Personality, Second Edition
© 2011 by JIST Publishing
Published by JIST Works, an imprint of JIST Publishing
7321 Shadeland Station, Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46256-3923
Phone: 800-648-JIST Fax: [phone]
E-mail:
This Is a Big Book, But It Is
Very Easy to Use
Psychologists often use the concept of personality as a convenient
way of summarizing many characteristics of a person. It can be
especially useful when you’re making decisions about your education
and your career.
What kind of personality do you have? Forget about common labels such as
“happy-go-lucky,” “dependable,” “even-tempered,” “friendly,” or “funny.” T ese
might help you get a date on Saturday night, but they’re not much help in
choosing a college major.
T at’s where this book can help. Learn about the personality types that many
psychologists and guidance practitioners use to describe people, college majors,
and careers. Take a quick assessment to help you clarify your dominant personality
type. T en dig into a gold mine of facts about the college majors that are the
best fi t for your personality type—and that are the best for other reasons, such
as their potential for income and job openings. Lists of “best majors” will suggest
promising majors that you may never have considered. Turn to the descriptive
profi les of the majors to learn what courses to expect, what specializations you may
choose from, and what jobs may be open to you when you graduate. Get detailed
facts about these jobs, based on the latest government data.
You’re probably expecting college to improve your earning potential. So why not
fi nd a major that suits your personality and has outstanding economic potential?
T is book can show you the way.
Some Things You Can Do with This Book
Explore and select a college major that relates to a career objective that suits your
personality.
Learn about college majors that previously were unfamiliar to you.
Understand what majors are good preparation for a career you already have in
mind.
Learn key facts about jobs that may be a good fi t for your personality.
T ese are a few of the many ways you can use this book. I hope you fi nd it as
interesting to browse as I did to put together. I have tried to make it easy to use
and as interesting as possible.
When you are done with this book, pass it along or tell someone else about it. I
wish you well in your education, in your career, and in your life.
Credits and Acknowledgments: While the author created this book, it is based on the work of many others. The occupational
information is based on data obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Census Bureau. These sources provide the most
authoritative occupational information available. The noneconomic job-related information is from the O*NET database, which was
developed by researchers and developers under the direction of the U.S. Department of Labor. They, in turn, were assisted by thousands
of employers who provided details on the nature of work in the many thousands of job samplings used in the database’s development.
We used the most recent version of the O*NET database, release 15. We appreciate and thank the staff of the U.S. Department of Labor
for their efforts and expertise in providing such a rich source of data. The taxonomy of college majors (the Classif cation of Instructional
Programs) is from the U.S. Department of Education.
10 Best College Majors for Your Personality © JIST Works
iv
Table of Contents
Summary of Major Sections Detailed Table of Contents
Introduction. A short overview to help you better Introduction ..................................................... 1
understand and use the book. Starts on page 1. Factors to Consider When You Choose a Major ....1
Part I. Your Personality and Your Major. Pro- How to Use T is Book ......................................... 2
vides an overview of personality and of personality Wh
ere the Information Came From ..................... 3
types. T is section also explores the relationship
between personality and college majors. Starts on How the Majors in T is Book Were Selected ....... 7
page 15. A Sample Description of a Major .......................... 9
Part II. What’s Your Personality Type? Take An Part I: Your Personality and Your Major .......... 15
Assessment. Helps you discover your personality Why Personality Is Useful for Choosing
type with a short, easy-to-complete assessment. a Major .............................................................15
Starts on page 21.
T e RIASEC Personality Types .......................... 16
Part III. T e Best Majors Lists. Very useful for Part II: What’s Your Personality Type? Take
exploring college majors! Lists are arranged into an Assessment ............................................. 21
easy-to-use groups based on personality types. T e
fi rst group of lists presents the 10 best majors for Step 1: Respond to the Statements .................. 22
each personality type. Other lists identify, for each Step 2: Score Your Responses .......................... 29
personality type, majors linked to jobs with the Step 3: Find College Majors that Suit Your
highest earnings, the fastest job growth, and the Personality Type ......................................... 29
most job openings. More-specialized lists follow,
ranking majors related to jobs by education level, Part III: The Best Majors Lists ........................ 31
majors linked to best jobs by worker demographics, Some Details on the Lists ................................... 32
and majors that prepare for jobs requiring either Best Majors Overall for Each Personality Type:
high or low math and verbal skills. T e column Majors Related to Jobs with the Highest Pay,
starting on the right presents all the list titles. Fastest Growth, and Most Openings ............... 33
Starts on page 31.
T e 10 Best Realistic Majors .......................... 34
Part IV. Descriptions of the Best College T e 10 Best Investigative Majors .................... 35
Majors for Your Personality. Provides complete
descriptions of the majors that appear on the lists in T e 10 Best Artistic Majors ............................ 35
Part III, plus fi ve related majors. Each description T e 10 Best Social Majors .............................. 36
contains information on specializations and college T e 10 Best Enterprising Majors .................... 36
and high school courses, plus defi nitions and key T
e 10 Best Conventional Majors .................. 37
facts for related jobs. Starts on page 91.
T e 5 Realistic Majors with the Best Income
Appendix A. Resources for Further Exploration. Potential .................................................... 38
Starts on page 283.
T e 5 Investigative Majors with the Best
Appendix B. Majors Sorted by T ree-Letter Income Potential ........................................ 38
Personality Code. Starts on page 285. T e 5 Artistic Majors with the Best Income
Appendix C. T e Career Clusters and Pathways. Potential .................................................... 39
Starts on page 287. T e 5 Social Majors with the Best Income
Appendix D. Defi nitions of Skills Used in Potential .................................................... 39
Descriptions of Majors. Starts on page 297. T e 5 Enterprising Majors with the Best
Income Potential ........................................ 39
v
Table of Contents _______________________________________________________________________
T e 5 Conventional Majors with the Best Best Conventional Majors Related to Jobs
Income Potential ........................................40 with a High Percentage of Self-Employed
T e 5 Realistic Majors with the Best Workers ...................................................... 47
Job-Growth Potential .................................40 Best Realistic Majors Related to Jobs
T e 5 Investigative Majors with the Best Employing 60 Percent or More Urban
Job-Growth Potential ..................................41 Workers ...................................................... 49
T e 5 Artistic Majors with the Best Best Investigative Majors Related to Jobs
Job-Growth Potential ..................................41 Employing 60 Percent or More Urban
Workers ...................................................... 49
T e 5 Social Majors with the Best
Job-Growth Potential ..................................41 Best Artistic Majors Related to Jobs
Employing 60 Percent or More Urban
T e 5 Enterprising Majors with the Best
Workers ...................................................... 49
Job-Growth Potential ................................. 42
Best Social Majors Related to Jobs
T e 5 Conventional Majors with the Best
Employing 60 Percent or More Urban
Job-Growth Potential ................................. 42
Workers ......................................................50
T e 5 Realistic Majors with the Best
Best Enterprising Majors Related to Jobs
Job-Opening Potential ................................ 43
Employing 60 Percent or More Urban
T e 5 Investigative Majors with the Best
Workers ......................................................50
Job-Opening Potential ................................ 43
Best Conventional Majors Related to Jobs
T e 5 Artistic Majors with the Best
Employing 60 Percent or More Urban
Job-Opening Potential ................................ 43
Workers .......................................................51
T e 5 Social Majors with the Best
Best Realistic Majors Related to Jobs
Job-Opening Potential ................................ 44
Employing 6 Percent or More Rural
T e 5 Enterprising Majors with the Best
Workers .......................................................51
Job-Opening Potential ................................ 44
Best Investigative Majors Related to Jobs
T e 5 Conventional Majors with the Best
Employing 6 Percent or More Rural
Job-Opening Potential ................................ 44
Workers ...................................................... 52
Best Majors Lists by Demographic ......................45
Best Artistic Majors Related to Jobs
Best Realistic Majors Related to Jobs with
Employing 6 Percent or More Rural
a High Percentage of Self-Employed Wo
rkers ...................................................... 52
Workers ...................................................... 46
Best Social Majors Related to Jobs Employing
Best Investigative Majors Related to Jobs
6 Percent or More Rural Workers ................ 52
with a High Percentage of Self-Employed
Best Enterprising Majors Related to Jobs
Workers ...................................................... 46
Employing 6 Percent or More Rural
Best Artistic Majors Related to Jobs with Workers ..................
.................................... 53
a High Percentage of Self-Employed
Best Conventional Majors Related to Jobs
Workers ...................................................... 46
Employing 6 Percent or More Rural
Best Social Majors Related to Jobs with
Workers ...................................................... 53
a High Percentage of Self-Employed
Best Artistic Majors Related to Jobs with a
Workers ...................................................... 47
High Percentage of Women ......................... 54
Best Enterprising Majors Related to Jobs
Best Social Majors Related to Jobs with a
with a High Percentage of Self-Employed
High Percentage of Women ......................... 55
Workers ...................................................... 47
10 Best College Majors for Your Personality © JIST Works
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________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents
Best Enterprising Majors Related to Jobs Conventional Majors Related to Jobs that
with a High Percentage of Women .............. 55 Require the Highest Level of Verbal Skills .... 67
Best Conventional Majors Related to Jobs Best Realistic Majors Related to Jobs that
with a High Percentage of Women .............. 55 Require a High Level of Verbal Skills ........... 67
Best Realistic Majors Related to Jobs with a Best Investigative Majors Related to Jobs
High Percentage of Men .............................. 56 that Require a High Level of Verbal Skills ... 67
Best Investigative Majors Related to Jobs Best Artistic Majors Related to Jobs that
with a High Percentage of Men ................... 56 Require a High Level of Verbal Skills ........... 68
Best Artistic Majors Related to Jobs with Best Social Majors Related to Jobs that
a High Percentage of Men ........................... 57 Require a High Level of Verbal Skills ........... 68
Best Social Majors Related to Jobs with Best Enterprising Majors Related to Jobs
a High Percentage of Men ........................... 57 that Require a High Level of Verbal Skills ... 69
Best Enterprising Majors Related to Jobs Best Conventional Majors Related to Jobs
with a High Percentage of Men ................... 57 that Require a High Level of Verbal Skills ... 69
Best Conventional Majors Related to Jobs Best Majors Related to Jobs that Require a
with a High Percentage of Men ................... 57 Low Level of Verbal Skills ...........................70
Best Majors Related to Jobs at Diff erent Realistic Majors Related to Jobs that Require
Levels of Education .......................................... 58 the Highest Level of Math Skills ...................71
Best Majors Related to Jobs that Require Investigative Majors Related to Jobs that
Long-Term On-the-Job Training ................. 59 Require the Highest Level of Math Skills .......71
Best Majors Related to Jobs that Require a Artistic Majors Related to Jobs that Require
Bachelor’s Degree ........................................60 the Highest Level of Math Skills ...................71
Best Majors Related to Jobs that Require Social Majors Related to Jobs that Require
Work Experience Plus Degree .......................61 the Highest Level of Math Skills .................. 72
Best Majors Related to Jobs that Require a Enterprising Majors Related to Jobs that
Master’s Degree .......................................... 62 Require the Highest Level of Math Skills ...... 72
Best Majors Related to Jobs that Require a Conventional Majors Related to Jobs that
Doctoral Degree ......................................... 63 Require the Highest Level of Math Skills ...... 72
Best Majors Related to Jobs that Require a Best Realistic Majors Related to Jobs that
First Professional Degree ............................. 63 Require a High Level of Math Skills ............ 73
Best Majors Lists by Verbal and Math Skills ...... 64 Best Investigative Majors Related to Jobs
Realistic Majors Related to Jobs that Require that Require a High Level of Math Skills ..... 73
the Highest Level of Verbal Skills ................. 65 Best Artistic Majors Related to Jobs that
Investigative Majors Related to Jobs that Require a High Level of Math Skills ............ 73
Require the Highest Level of Verbal Skills .... 65 Best Social Majors Related to Jobs that
Artistic Majors Related to Jobs that Require Require a High Level of Math Skills ............ 74
the Highest Level of Verbal Skills ................. 66 Best Enterprising Majors Related to Jobs
Social Majors Related to Jobs that Require that Require a High Level of Math Skills ..... 74
the Highest Level of Verbal Skills ................. 66 Best Conventional Majors Related to Jobs
Enterprising Majors Related to Jobs that that Require a High Level of Math Skills ..... 74
Require the Highest Level of Verbal Skills .... 66 Best Majors Related to Jobs that Require a
Low Level of Math Skills ............................ 76
10 Best College Majors for Your Personality © JIST Works
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Table of Contents _______________________________________________________________________
Bonus Lists: Best Majors that May Appeal to Geophysics ................................................103
Other Aspects of Your Personality ................... 77 Related Jobs ................................................ 103
Best Majors for Introverts .............................. 78 1. Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and
Best Majors for Extroverts .............................. 79 Geographers ....................................... 103
Best Majors for Persistent People ....................80 2. Natural Sciences Managers ................... 104
Best Majors for Sensitive People ......................81 Microbiology .............................................106
Best Majors for People with Self-Control ........ 82 Related Jobs ................................................ 107
Best Majors for Stress-Tolerant People ............ 83 1. Medical Scientists, Except
Epidemiologists ................................... 107
Best Majors for Flexible People ...................... 84
2. Microbiologists ..................................... 107
Best Majors for Detail-Oriented People .......... 85
3. Natural Sciences Managers ................... 108
Best Majors for Innovators ............................. 86
Oceanography ...........................................109
Best Majors for Analytical T inkers ................ 87
Related Jobs ................................................ 110
Best Majors Related to Jobs Not Behind
1. Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and
a Desk .......................................................88
Geographers ....................................... 110
Best Majors Related to World-Improving
2. Hydrologists ..........................................111
Jobs ............................................................ 89
3. Natural Sciences Managers ....................111
Part IV: Descriptions of the Best College
Majors for Your Personality .......................... 91 Veterinary Medicine ................................. 113
Investigative Majors ...........................................114
Realistic Majors .................................................. 93
Biochemistry ............................................. 114
Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering ..........93
Related Jobs .................................................114
Related Jobs .................................................. 93
1. Biochemists and Biophysicists .................114
1. Aerospace Engineers ............................... 93
2. Medical Scientists, Except
2. Engineering Managers ............................ 94
Epidemiologists ....................................115
Civil Engineering .......................................95
3. Natural Sciences Managers ....................116
Related Jobs .................................................. 96
Computer Engineering ............................. 117
1. Civil Engineers ...................................... 96
Related Jobs .................................................118
2. Engineering Managers ............................98
1. Computer Hardware Engineers .............118
Computer Engineering ...............................99
2. Computer Software Engineers,
Dentistry ....................................................99
Applications .........................................119
Environmental Science ...............................99
3. Computer Software Engineers, Systems
Geology .......................................................99
Software .............................................119
Related Jobs ................................................100
4. Computer Specialists, All Other ............120
1. Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and
5. Engineering Managers .......................... 128
Geographers .......................................100
Computer Science .....................................129
2. Hydrologists ..........................................101
Related Jobs ................................................ 130
3. Natural Sciences Managers ....................101
1. Computer and Information Scientists,
Research ............................................. 130
10 Best College Majors for Your Personality © JIST Works
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________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents
2. Computer and Information Systems Artistic Majors ...................................................165
Managers ........................................... 130
Architecture .............................................. 165
3. Computer Software Engineers, Related Jobs ................................................ 166
Applications .........................................131
1. Architects, Except Landscape and
4. Computer Software Engineers, Systems Naval ................................................ 166
Software .............................................131
2. Engineering Managers .......................... 166
5. Computer Specialists, All Other ............ 132
Chinese ..................................................... 167
6. Database Administrators ...................... 139 Relate
d Jobs ................................................ 168
7. Network and Computer Systems
Interpreters and Translators ...................... 168
Administrators .................................... 140
Classics .....................................................168
8. Network Systems and Data
Related Jobs ................................................ 169
Communications Analysts ....................141
1. Anthropologists and Archeologists .......... 169
Dentistry ..................................................142
2. Interpreters and Translators .................. 170
Related Jobs ................................................ 143
French ....................................................... 171
Dentists, General ..................................... 143
Related Jobs ................................................ 172
Economics .................................................144
Interpreters and Translators ...................... 172
Related Jobs ................................................ 144
German .................................................... 172
1. Economists ........................................... 144
Related Jobs ................................................ 173
2. Market Research Analysts ......................145
Interpreters and Translators ...................... 173
3. Survey Researchers ............................... 146
Graphic Design, Commercial Art, and
Environmental Science ............................. 147
Illustration ............................................. 173
Related Jobs ................................................ 148
Related Jobs .................................................175
1. Environmental Science and Protection
1. Commercial and Industrial Designers ....175
Technicians, Including Health ............. 148
2. Computer Programmers ........................175
2. Environmental Scientists and
3. Computer Specialists, All Other ............ 176
Specialists, Including Health ............... 148
4. Graphic Designers ................................ 183
Medicine ...................................................150
5. Multi-Media Artists and Animators...... 184
Related Jobs ................................................ 152
6. Set and Exhibit Designers ..................... 184
Physicians and Surgeons ........................... 152
Interior Design ......................................... 185
Optometry ................................................160
Related Jobs ................................................ 185
Related Jobs ................................................ 160
Interior Designers .................................... 185
Optometrists ............................................ 160
Japanese ....................................................186
Pharmacy ................................................. 161
Related Jobs ................................................ 187
Related Jobs ................................................ 162
Interpreters and Translators ...................... 187
Pharmacists ............................................. 162
Modern Foreign Language ....................... 187
Veterinary Medicine .................................163
Related Jobs ................................................ 188
Related Jobs ................................................ 163
Interpreters and Translators ...................... 188
Veterinarians ........................................... 163
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