On Nov. 8, the Center for Career Exploration and Success (CCES) hosted an informational session to teach students about its benefits and career resources. Michela Buccini, CCES assistant director, led the event, guiding students through researching a field of study. 

Miami University’s College of Arts and Science (CAS) boasts a rate of 98.4% of May 2022 graduates advancing to employment or graduate school by the fall. As a whole, Payscale.com ranked Miami No. 1 among Ohio public universities for return on investment in its 2021–2022 salary report. Faculty and staff work to continue these success rates and guide students through college and into the workforce. 

CCES staff in spring 2023.                                         

The national online resource What Can I Do With This Major? is an easy-to-navigate guide that takes student interests and recommends different areas of study. From there, students can click on individual sites and see an extensive overview of that topic, showing different branches within that area, specific coursework, and professional resources. The tool is beneficial for undecided majors and students looking to explore other areas of study in a co-major or minor. 

“We see this resource used most extensively by fourth-year students and recent alumni making decisions on what might be a logical next step,” said Charlie Chen, CCES assistant director and CAS liaison. “I think it is particularly helpful because it can sometimes help students see beyond the ‘name brand recognition’ that might be associated with certain academic fields.” 

To access What Can I Do With This Major?, Miami students can navigate from the CCES website’s online resources, and then scroll down to “What Can I Do With This Major?” A Miami login is required.

“Regardless of if you’re declared, if you’re exploring, what major you’re looking into, more than likely it’s a part of this website, or we have something similar,” Buccini said. “It gives tangible employers, strategies, and job titles that you can then begin searching for. I think it’s a good starting point to continue and launch your research.”

While emphasizing that “major does not equal career,” the resource offers an outlook for students who want more guidance on where to go after graduation, no matter their class year or how sure they might be in choosing their major. 

“Just because a student studies psychology or history does not mean that they can only work as a psychiatrist or as a museum historian,” Chen said. “Those are both certainly respectable options, but others might include careers in human services, non-profits, education, or business.” 

The CCES handles career-related questions, puts students in touch with a career advisor, and provides a variety of resources to help them build their resumé and prepare for interviews.

“We also have amazing peer career coaches and mock interviewers who work in our office,” said Buccini. “We have a ton of resources that can support students in that process; that way, when they graduate, they can feel confident in the skills they’ve learned.”