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Yes, you can go to graduate school for a different subject than what you earned your bachelor鈥檚 degree in. While some students pursue a master鈥檚 degree in order to deepen their knowledge about a subject, others use grad school to pivot to something related鈥攐r entirely new.聽聽

In this article, we鈥檒l go over some important distinctions between undergraduate and graduate programs when you鈥檙e interested in studying a new area and how to strengthen your application when you鈥檙e applying with a different background.聽

Can you go to grad school for a different major than under undergrad?

Education tends to be complementary, meaning that learning about one subject can often impact what you know about something else. At the undergrad level, you see this when students choose college majors and minors. For instance, a student interested in game development may major in computer science and minor in English to supplement their technical knowledge with information about story craft and narrative.聽聽

It can help to approach graduate school in a similar fashion by choosing a subject that complements what you learned during your bachelor鈥檚 degree program. But you can also choose something completely unrelated if you鈥檝e developed a new interest and wish to either pursue a career in it or learn more about it.聽

Can you go to grad school for any major?听

Graduate programs operate a bit differently than undergraduate programs. As an undergraduate, you likely applied to a college or university, and when it came time to select your college major鈥攗sually after you鈥檝e finished your general education requirements鈥攜ou either declared one or applied to majors that choose a select number of students, such as tends to happen for nursing, computer science, and business 尘补箩辞谤蝉.听

As a potential graduate student, you鈥檒l instead apply directly to programs or departments at a college or university. That鈥檚 because master鈥檚 degrees emphasize specialized knowledge, meaning that you鈥檒l declare your intent to study a specific area when you apply.聽

It鈥檚 worth noting that even within that larger area, there will be opportunities to narrow your focus. For instance, a computer science master鈥檚 degree student can often choose from one of several concentrations, such as systems and networking, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, or security.聽聽

Course prerequisites聽

While many graduate programs tend to welcome applicants from different backgrounds, they may still require that you have fulfilled certain prerequisites, such as completing specific coursework or showing prior knowledge.聽

Some programs may expect you to have taken and passed courses that will be relevant to your graduate studies, while others may simply state that you should have some background in relevant subjects. For example, when you鈥檙e interested in earning a master鈥檚 degree in data science, some programs want proof that you鈥檝e taken calculus, linear algebra, and other math courses that will be important as you begin a graduate program.

Can you change your major in grad school?

Yes, you can change your concentration or degree type in graduate school as long as you have approval from the program you want to pursue. If the new concentration is in the same program you're currently enrolled in (such as pivoting from general psychology to forensic psychology), the process may be as simple as submitting a form indicating your status change. At some schools, you may need to complete the application process for the new program if it's in a different field than your original concentration (such as switching from a master's degree in information technology to a master's degree in civil engineering).

Choosing a new subject for grad school

鈥淔it鈥� is a word you鈥檒l come across often when you鈥檙e interested in earning your master鈥檚 degree. Graduate admissions committees evaluate each applicant on the potential fit they will add to a program. For this reason, coming into a program with a different background can be a unique strength.聽

At the same time, you鈥檒l want to make sure that you research graduate programs that will be a good fit for you. Take into account what you want to learn, and as you look at different programs, pay close attention to:聽

• Curriculum: The courses you take in a graduate program are important and worth spending time reviewing. Many graduate programs will list the coursework you鈥檙e expected to take. Look over that curriculum to make sure it aligns with what you鈥檙e hoping to get out of the degree. If not, you may want to research other programs鈥攐r other areas.聽

• Outcomes: Many graduate programs will detail student outcomes, including the kinds of jobs they鈥檝e been able to pursue and the salaries they command. Take a look at those outcomes to get a sense of whether they align with your goals in pursuing a graduate degree.聽

• Learning modality: There are many in-person and online graduate programs available nowadays. Because many master鈥檚 students tend to be slightly older or working either part-time or full-time, how you learn will be an important thing to reflect upon. Would you benefit from the structure of an in-person class? Or do you require more flexibility, such as what you can get from an asynchronous class?听

• Cost: Graduate degree programs vary in price. Often, online master鈥檚 degrees tend to cost less than in-person master鈥檚 degrees because there鈥檚 less overhead required to operate them. Spend time reviewing your resources, as well as different ways to pay for grad school, as you look at each program鈥檚 cost. Learn more about whether a master鈥檚 degree is worth it.

How to get into a graduate program when you鈥檙e choosing a new field

As we mentioned, you will apply directly to a specific department or program when you鈥檙e ready to apply to graduate school. When you have a different background than the area you鈥檙e applying to鈥攐r in which you earned your bachelor鈥檚鈥攖here are two primary ways to strengthen the materials you submit as part of your application:聽

Letter of intent

When you apply to graduate school, you鈥檒l submit a letter of intent (sometimes called a personal statement). In this document, you鈥檒l want to talk about what you鈥檝e done in the lead-up to graduate school, be it academic or professional, why you鈥檙e interested in attending that particular program, why you want to study the area you鈥檝e chosen, and what you hope to get out of the program.聽

Your letter will also provide you with the space to go into more detail about studying a different subject than your college major. In your letter, spend time discussing:聽

• What led you to become interested in the area: A personal statement is a great time to tell your story, and that can include how you became interested in this new area and why you want to study it at the master鈥檚 level.聽聽

• Anything you鈥檝e done to build on that interest: More than becoming interested, have you done anything鈥攍ike completing a certificate course or internship鈥攖hat shows you鈥檝e developed some experience or skills that would make you a stronger graduate student? Even if you haven鈥檛 done anything pertaining to this new area, what have you done that might be transferable? For example, perhaps your college major helped you hone certain technical skills that you can highlight.聽聽

• What you hope to get out of studying that area: As we mentioned, programs want to make sure you will be a good fit. When you explain your goals in pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in this new area, it can help an admissions committee understand what you would add to their program.聽

Graduate school resume

If you鈥檝e taken the time to complete additional coursework on your own, earn a professional certificate, or intern with a company that works in the field鈥攖o name just a few possibilities鈥攎ake sure to incorporate those details on your graduate school resume.

If a program requires certain coursework prereqs, your grad school resume is also a great space to show that you鈥檝e fulfilled them underneath the education section.

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