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How to choose the right business major for you

Exploring your options? You’re not alone—and you’re in the right place to start.

| Author: Alisha Draper

Choosing a major is a process of reflection, exploration, and action. It also takes time. Whether you’re deciding between business and another path or narrowing down your options within the College of Business Administration at Central Michigan University, we’re here to help. 

Many students change their major at least once. The key is learning how to navigate the uncertainty and turn it into momentum. Here's how to explore with confidence: 

1. Follow your curiosity 

Think about what energizes you—past classes, part-time jobs, volunteer roles. You don’t need a detailed plan, just a few clues about what sparks your interest. 

2. Understand your options 

Your major doesn’t lock you in. Your major is one part of your degree.  While a major is a specialization, your degree includes a broad skill set of transferable skills. A marketing major can lead to brand strategy, sales, event planning, and more. A hospitality major might take you outside of traditional pathways in hotel management and into healthcare or nonprofit leadership. A business degree builds versatile skills that open doors across industries. 

3. Try things 

Join a student org. Attend a workshop. Get an internship early in your academic journey. Even one new experience can shift your perspective. 

4. Ask better questions 

Swap “What job will I get?” for: 

  • What skills will I build? 

  • What problems will I solve? 

  • What industries need these skills? 

Talk to professors, upper-level students, and alumni. Their paths may surprise you. 

5. Use your resources 

Business Student Services Office and the HUB offer advising, assessments, employer connections, and resume help. LinkedIn is also powerful—search alumni by major and explore how they got to where they are. 

6. Watch for patterns 

What types of problems do you enjoy solving? Do you like leading, analyzing, or building relationships? These patterns can help you narrow your choices. 

Are you noticing a pattern of indecision about what you want to major in? Career research indicates that high achieving students actually may have more difficulty reaching a decision about their major because they can see themselves being successful in multiple career paths. 

7. Think long-term 

Business is one of the most flexible degrees available. Your career path will evolve, and that’s a strength, not a weakness. Build skills, explore opportunities, and stay open. 

“Career mobility is your ability to navigate between positions and industries across your lifetime,” said director of Business Student Services Karen Arthur. “A business degree offers exceptional career mobility because the courses required for the BSBA degree provide a solid foundation in all functional areas of business—developing in-demand, transferable skills like managing people and processes, evaluating information, and creating solutions. This broad preparation equips you to thrive in a variety of careers.”

Still exploring?

Good. That means you’re thinking carefully.  

In the College of Business, we support students who ask questions, stay curious, and want to make meaningful choices about their future. 

Ready to take the next step? Visit the Business Student Services Office or the HUB to talk with an advisor, take an assessment, find an internship opportunity and learn more.  

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