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The college major, long revered as a symbol of academic depth, may be increasingly out of step with today’s educational and workforce realities. Most students change majors at least once, signaling that the current model may not adequately support exploration or adaptability.

John Weigand, a professor emeritus at Miami University, writes that customizable degrees, composed of certificates, minors and course sequences that cross multiple disciplines, could better serve students and employers. This approach could allow students to integrate varied interests, prior learning and career readiness into their course of study. Weigand also suggests that more flexible majors can highlight students’ unique strengths and ensure that higher education is responsive to the needs of the people the system is designed to support.

Ultimately, the college major is a relatively recent construct, and like the workforce it was designed to serve, it may have to adapt to keep up with the times.

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Corey Mitchell

Education Editor

Rethinking the college major could help colleges better understand what employers and students need. Westend61/Getty Images

Why the traditional college major may be holding students back in a rapidly changing job market

John Weigand, Miami University

A scholar and former college dean explains why higher education’s reliance on majors to measure academic quality may be an outdated approach.

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