When choosing to study and compete as a student-athlete in the United States, you aren't just choosing a sports team—you are selecting an academic degree program. The US higher education system is world-renowned for its flexibility, variety, and broad range of degree options. Many prospective students ask themselves what they can actually study in the US and how selecting a degree program works. What is a Major or a Minor? What if you aren't 100% sure what you want to study before you arrive? On this page, we explain how the American higher education system works and which majors are most popular among student-athletes.
Understanding the US college degree system
In many European countries, you must choose a specific degree track (like Law or Business) before you even step foot on campus. Many American universities follow a liberal arts approach during the first years of study.
After graduating from high school, students enroll in a four-year Bachelor’s Degree. The first year consists primarily of general electives (also known as general education requirements or gen eds). During this year, you take introductory courses across subjects such as history, mathematics, psychology, natural sciences, and writing.
The idea behind this model is to build broad academic knowledge and let you explore different disciplines before committing to a single academic major.
What is a major?
A major is your primary area of study. This is the specific academic discipline in which you will graduate and where most of your upper-level coursework during your third and fourth years will be concentrated (e.g., business administration, psychology, or sports management).
What is a minor?
A minor is a secondary concentration. It is not mandatory, but rather an optional secondary area of study you can add to broaden or deepen your academic profile. For instance, alongside a major in marketing, you could complete a minor in Spanish or data analytics. A minor looks great on your resume and rarely extends your graduation timeline, as it utilizes your elective credit slots.
What is a double major?
If a minor isn’t extensive enough and you want to achieve full degree qualification in two academic fields at once, you can pursue a double major. Within your four-year bachelor’s degree, you earn two complete majors (for example, finance and economics). This requires careful planning with your academic advisor, but with proper time management, it can be combined with college sports. Keep in mind that not every university offers the option for a double major.
What if you don’t know yet? (undecided)
Not sure what you want to study before moving to the US? That is completely fine. In the American system, you can start your freshman year as undecided (or general studies). You complete your general education requirements first and officially declare your major at the end of your first or second year.
⚠️ Important for your visa application:
While you can attend campus as an undecided major, the US government requires an official program of study to be listed on your form I-20 for your F-1 student visa. In these cases, universities list a broad overarching area, such as general studies or liberal arts. You can easily update this on campus once you declare your official major.
Read more: Step-by-step guide to applying for your F-1 student visa
While exploring different classes in your first year is very common in the US, we advise our athletes to have at least a general academic direction in mind beforehand (such as business, healthcare, or engineering). If you realize during your freshman year that you want to pursue a specialized major that your university does not offer, you face a major issue. You want to avoid being stuck at a school that doesn’t offer the right degree for your long-term career goals.
Popular majors for student-athletes
American universities offer thousands of different degree programs. Certain majors are particularly popular among student-athletes because their course schedules align well with daily practice, travel, and competition schedules.
Frequently chosen majors among student-athletes include:
- Business & economics: Business administration, marketing, finance, management, and entrepreneurship.
- Engineering: Mechanical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and biomedical engineering.
- Health Sciences & Sports: Exercise science, kinesiology, nutrition, and physical therapy.
- Communication & Media: Communication studies, digital media, journalism, and public relations.
- Computer Science & IT: Computer science, data analytics, and information technology.
- Social Sciences: Psychology, sociology, and criminology.
Medical or Legal Ambitions
Specialized fields like medicine (MD) and law (JD) do not exist as direct four-year undergraduate degrees in the US. Instead, you complete a relevant undergraduate bachelor’s degree (often on a pre-med or pre-law track) before applying to graduate school (medical school or law school).
Can you combine academics with college sports?
Yes. The American university system is built around supporting student-athletes. In addition to your general academic advisor, many athletic departments assign dedicated athletic academic advisors who assist student-athletes in scheduling classes around team practices, workouts, and travel obligations.
Curious about what a weekly schedule looks like for a college athlete? Read all about a day in the life of a student-athlete in the US.
What routes can you take to earn your Bachelor’s degree?
Whatever major you choose, most students in the US work toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree (a four-year undergraduate degree). There are two main pathways to complete this degree:
The direct 4-year route
You enroll directly at a four-year college or university. You complete all your coursework—from your first-year General Electives to your senior-year Major courses—at the same institution over four years.
The 2+2 route (via a community college)
You can choose to complete your first two years at a community college.
- Academically identical: The general education courses you take during your first two years at a community college are equivalent to those taken at a four-year university.
- Associate Degree: After two years, you complete this phase and earn an Associate Degree.
- Transferring to a Bachelor’s program: With your Associate Degree, you transfer directly into the third year (Junior year) of a four-year college or university to complete your Major and earn your full Bachelor’s Degree.
Learn more about different school type i our article about the difference between a college and a university.
Discover which study path fits your athletic profile
Curious which majors and universities best match your academic background and athletic goals? We help student-athletes find universities that match both their athletic level and academic goals.
Contact our team today for a personal consultation!