What are STEM majors?

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. These fields focus on critical thinking and problem solving skills that are crucial to technological advancements in the world. STEM majors lead to careers that improve our quality of life and can solve an array of problems presented.

Common STEM Disciplines - These individual disciplines each contain many more specific subfields that lead to diverse career paths.

• Astronomy

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Computer science

• Engineering

• Earth sciences

• Health sciences

• Information technology

• Mathematics

• Physics

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math programs might be an area of interest for you if you’re meticulous, creative, curious about how things work, and an avid learner. If your favorite high school classes are math or science related, if you like cooking, gardening, crafting, experimenting, or building your own computers, if you participate in extracurricular activities like Mathletes, Chemistry Club, or Science Olympiad, or if you enjoy architecture tours or volunteering for environmental cleanup projects, a STEM program might be right for you.

Common classes across all STEM disciplines are Organic Chemistry, Genetics, Cell Biology, Linear Algebra, and Computer Science. Depending on your major, you’ll specialize in certain areas. A Marine Biology major should take classes like Marine Biogeochemical Cycles, and an Applied Mathematics major should take classes like Numerical Analysis.

STEM majors often lead to high-demand, well-paying careers with strong job growth projections. Occupations like physicians, software developers, biologists, professors, engineers, computer programers, and scientists all spawn from STEM degrees. A STEM degree can take you far and is a great set-up for success later in life.