What Does “Major Area of Study” Mean on Job Applications?

As a job board owner, I work with many employers who ask candidates to fill in their “area of study” when applying for a job.

When asking this question, employers expect you to answer with your major if you are still studying at the undergraduate level.

However, in graduate school and beyond, “major area of study” refers to your specialization.

How to Answer “What Is Your Major Area of Study” for Each Education Level

The trick is that the answer to your “major area of study” depends on your highest academic level.

Answering With an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree

You should simply write your major if you own an Associate’s and Bachelors’s degree.

For example, here are some sample answers:

If there are no fields to mention your education level during the application process, you can also mention it under the major area of study field in the following way: “Bachelor’s in Business Administration” or “Associate Degree in Nursing.”

Answering With a Master’s or Doctorate Degree

Master’s and Doctorate degrees are more specialized than undergraduate degrees. This is why you should put both your major AND your specialization/area of research.

Here are sample answers:

Mathematics Applied to Fluid Mechanics PDEs
Microeconomics Models of Consumer Behavior

Failing to do so can hurt your candidacy if the job is relevant to your current area of study.

Answering With a Specialization or Minor

If you have a specialization or minor, I recommend mentioning it if it is relevant to the job description.

Accounting with a minor in Commercial Finance
Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Fluid Dynamics

In any case, it doesn’t hurt to mention your minor when applying for a job, even if it not directly related to the actual job.

Answering With a Trade School Certificate

If you’re filling out a job application as a student at a welding trade school, you should put “Welding” under “major area of study.” Later on, the application may ask for work experience and certificates where you could list your skills and certificates received.

Answering With a High School Diploma

High school is a time to build core education and also to find interests and strengths when it comes to learning. In high school, you will not have a declared major. This is a great time to gain some work experience and find out what areas interest you and what kind of job you would like to have as a career.

You should write “High school education,” “Not applicable,” or leave it blank in this section. If you’re of high school age, they probably won’t expect to see much information in this section.

Answering With Undeclared Majors

Not everyone is sure what they want to study in college, which is okay! Those who are taking general classes in college and are unsure of what they want to study are “undeclared majors.” If you are applying for a job and do not have a specific study area, you can simply put “undeclared.”

The Bottom Line: Employers Want to Know Your Field of Expertise

When applying for a job position, your employer will want to know about your experience, knowledge, and level of training.

Asking for your major area of study helps the employer know who may be the most qualified for the job and can also help you make a robust application for the career you want and the position you are applying for.

However, if your major does not correlate with the job you are looking for, don’t be too worried. Even though a degree is required for the job, your employer may focus more on your personal experience and skill set than what you studied.