Career Pathways

Meta Majors

A meta major is a new way to begin your college journey by focusing on what you want to do in the world, not just what you plan to major in. As the central organizing structure of CAL Advance, meta majors bring you together with peers from many different majors who share similar interests, values, and goals for making an impact after graduation.

This approach helps you build a supportive community on campus, explore career possibilities, and discover how different fields of study can lead to meaningful professional pathways. By starting with purpose and possibility, meta majors help you see how a liberal arts education can open doors to a wide range of futures.

What will you learn and do in your meta major?

  • Focus on how your passions can link to improving the world.
  • Meet established professionals and young alumni doing work you might want to pursue.
  • Meet current students and faculty who can guide you and provide opportunities to get involved.
  • Gain exposure to a variety of potential career mentors.
  • Take your first steps toward an on- or off-campus internship, research position, and/or study abroad — all of which can position you for success.

Career Pathways: Meta Majors

Explore digital tools, financial literacy, and creative ways to turn ideas into ventures and solutions. This pathway may appeal to you if you’re curious about how new ideas become products, companies, or technologies that shape the future.

Discover teaching, research, and the transformative power of learning. You may find this pathway a good fit if you enjoy helping others learn by asking big questions and exploring how knowledge is created and shared.

Gain insight into law, public policy, justice, and the institutions that shape civic life. This pathway is a strong fit if you’re interested in debate, fairness, civic leadership, or how laws and policies influence society.

Make a difference through community leadership, advocacy, or international engagement. You may be drawn to this pathway if you care deeply about social challenges and want to work with others to create meaningful change.

Improve human and environmental health at both the individual and systemic levels. This pathway may resonate with you if you’re motivated by questions about well-being, sustainability, and the health of people, communities, and the planet.

Alumni Stories

Nick Vallejo found his calling when he switched his major from communications to sustainability. Vallejo registered for two courses in geography that changed his career focus. “I see a world thriving in an equitable, sustainable, energy-efficient way of life...That's what motivates me to keep going because the future is bound only by our imagination and collaboration.”