The staff of the Eclipse is writing a series of five articles about the most popular majors in the United States and the colleges that offer the best programs for them.

The most popular majors fall into the liberal arts and sciences category.

Liberal arts and sciences are subjects such as literature, philosophy, mathematics, and social and physical subjects that encompass most majors.

Political Science

Political science is the study of the systems of government and the analysis of political behavior and activity.

Political science majors can get jobs in the federal, state, or local governments, law, business, international organizations, campaign management and polling, journalism, pre-collegiate education, and research.

According to U.S. News and World Report, the top 10 best colleges to study political science with their cost of attendance are:

1. Harvard University – $62,250 – $68,050
2. Princeton University – about $55,832
3. Stanford University – $62,801
4. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor – $26,984-$55,404
5. Yale University – $63,250
6. University of California-Berkeley – $35,470
7. Columbia University – $63,440
8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology – $61,030
9. University of California-San Diego – $30,975-$53,853
10. Duke University – $63,530

Mr. Andy Nester, political science teacher, has some advice to offer students who want to get a political science major.

“I would advise students to carefully weigh the cost and potential return on investment when choosing a college or career path,” Nester said.

“I would just caution that there are thousands with a political science degree who work for minimum wage,” Nester said.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2012 that the median salary for a political scientist was $102,000 a year.

History

A history major is one that allows students who love learning about the past to make it into a career.

History majors can go into fields such as education, research, communications, information managers, advocates (lawyers and paralegals), and can be involved in businesses and associations.

The top 10 colleges to receive a history major, with their estimated cost of attendance, are:

1. Princeton University – about $55,832
2. University of California-Berkeley – $35,470
3. Yale University – $63,250
4. Harvard University – $62,250 – $68,050
5. Stanford University – $62,801
6. University of Chicago – $64,258
7. Columbia University – $63,440
8. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor – $26,984-$55,404
9. University of California -Los Angeles – $56,077
10. University of Pennsylvania – $64,200

The median salary for history majors is $52,480 a year. There is expected to be 21 percent increase in the field between 2012 and 2022.

Human Resources

Human resources is a major that allows students to get prepared for managing employees and setting policies in the workplace.

Human resources majors can go into jobs such as being company organizers, human resources managers, and other manager level positions.

The top 10 colleges to get a human resource major and their estimated cost of attendance are:

1. Stanford University – $62,801
2. Northwestern University – $45,120
3. University of Chicago – $64,258
4. University of California-Berkeley – $35,470
5. Vanderbilt University – $41,928
6. University of Southern California – $55,535
7. Purdue University – $41,954
8. Michigan State University – $44,230
9. University of Wisconsin – $41,366
10. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor – $26,984-$55,404

The median annual salary for people with human resource majors is between $55,000 and $100,000.

Paralegal Studies

Paralegal studies allow people to become educated and gain experience in the field of law.

Paralegals can assist lawyers, law firms, corporations, governmental agencies, or others who want their assistance or advice with their legal work.

The top 10 colleges to get a major in paralegal studies and their estimated cost of attendance are:

1. University of California – Los Angeles – $56,077
2. Syracuse University – $59,318
3. Georgetown University – $64,980
4. Auburn University – $39,116
5. Texas A&M University – $39,584
6. Tulane University – $63,110
7. University of Louisville -$32,844
8. University of Arkansas – $35,156
9. University of Cincinnati –  about $35,000
10. University of Tulsa – $51,572

The median salary for a paralegal is $46,990. Between 2012 and 2022 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 17 percent growth in the job market for paralegals.

English

An English major deals with the study of the English language through studying the works of authors from nations such as the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and Australia.

English majors also study the linguistics of the English language, as well as the history and development of modern day English and its dialects.

Common jobs for English majors include speech writers, English teachers, communications managers, and content managers.

The top 10 colleges to go to and get an English major and their estimated cost of attendance are:

1. Emory University – $54,720-$61,344
2. Hamilton College – $59,970 
3. John Hopkins University – about $62,000
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology – $61,030
5. New York University – $66,542
6. Washington University in St. Louis – $44,100
7. University of Iowa – $44,100
8. Columbia University – $63,440
9. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor – $26,984-$55,404
10. Colorado College – $60,500

An English major earns an average between $78,000 and $88,000.

Mr. Jared Rawls, English teacher, has a major in English as well as a minor in history.

Rawls said, “If you are thinking about obtaining a degree in English, you’d better know what you are going to do with that degree.  There are a lot of opportunities out there, but you need a plan before you begin college. ”

Education Degree

An education degree is one that prepares students to work as teachers in schools.

In the United States, people interested in getting a job in education must complete their degrees, then prepare and take their state’s board of education certification examination.

People with teaching degrees most often become teachers; however, there are other alternatives such as becoming a librarian.

The top 10 colleges to get a major in education and their estimated cost of attendance are:

1. Vanderbilt University (Peabody) – $41,928
2. University of Wisconsin-Madison -$41,366
3. Stanford University –  $62,801
4. Harvard University –  $62,250 – $68,050
5. Teachers College, Columbia University – $63,440
6. University of Texas-Austin – about $32,000
7. Michigan State University –  $44,230
8. Pennsylvania State University-University Park – $47,548
9. University of Virginia (Curry) – about $40,000
10. Ohio State University –  $41,766

A high school teacher, on average, makes $55,050 per year with a slow growth rate between 2012 and 2022.

Senior KC O’Brien plans on getting an education degree, specializing in special education.

O’Brien thinks that the top colleges to get education degrees are “pricey” but thinks that in the long run “they could help.”

Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, mainly those that deal with emotions.

A psychology major allows students to pursue careers in counseling, social work, therapy, or as a psychologist.

The top colleges to get a major in psychology and their estimated cost of attendance are:

1. Stanford University – $62,801
2. University of California-Berkeley – $35,470
3. University of California-Los Angeles – $56,077
4. Harvard University – $62,250 – $68,050
5. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor – $26,984-$55,404
6. Yale University – $63,250
7. Princeton University – $55,832
8. University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign – $44,194
9. Massachusetts Institute of Technology – $61,030
10. University of Wisconsin-Madison – $41,366

A psychologist makes $69,280 per year on average. There is expected to be a 12 percent growth rate in this job between the years of 2012-2022.

Criminal Justice

A criminal justice major is one that prepares students to work inside the criminal justice system.

Jobs that criminal justice majors can obtain include police officers, private detectives, and forensics science technicians.

The top 10 colleges to get a criminal justice major  and their estimated cost of attendance are:

1. University of Maryland-College Park – $47,353
2. University at Albany-SUNY (State University of New York) – $33,343
3. University of Cincinnati – about $35,000
4. University of Missouri-St. Louis – $33,755
5. Pennsylvania State University-University Park – $47,456
6. University of California-Irvine – $31,576
7. Florida State University – $37,826
8. Michigan State University – $44,230
9. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—​Newark – $25,096
10. CUNY—​John Jay College – $32,339

The average median salary for a criminal justice major is between $50,000 and $58,000 a year, depending on the occupation.

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