What Is a Metamajor?

A metamajor is a broad group of related majors that share similar foundational courses or career interests. Colleges often organize degree programs into these categories to help students explore options within a field before choosing a specific major. This approach makes it easier for students to stay on track, reduce excess units, and transfer more efficiently.

Rather than picking an exact major immediately, students can start within a metamajor and later decide on a specific focus—without losing time or credits.

Example: Hartnell College’s Metamajors

Let’s look at Hartnell College in California as an example. The college organizes its degree programs into six metamajors, making it easier for students to understand their academic path.

One of these metamajors is Health Sciences. This group includes majors such as:

- Registered Nursing

- Kinesiology

- Respiratory Care

- Vocational Nursing

- Public Health

These majors are closely connected. They all explore how humans function, behave, and experience the world—past, present, and future. Grouping them together gives students a clear academic and career direction early on.

Other metamajors at Hartnell College include:

- Agriculture, Business, and Industries

- Arts and Languages

- Social Sciences

- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)

These structured groupings help students understand how majors relate to one another and which careers they might lead to.

Why Metamajors Matter for First-Gen and Community College Students

If you're a first-generation student or attending a California community college, understanding metamajors is especially important. This structure:

- Helps you choose a path without pressure to declare a major right away

- Saves time by avoiding unnecessary courses

- Supports smoother transfer to a university

- Provides career direction through related coursework

How to Learn More About Metamajors

To find out which metamajor your major falls under, visit your California Community College campus website and search for “metamajors.” You’ll likely find a breakdown of all major groupings and guidance on how to use that information for your degree planning.

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