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Majors by Holland Type

Holland Theory introduces six kinds of personality types and six kinds of environments, both with the same titles-Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. While students can display bits and pieces of all types and even have the potential to be successful in all environments, students usually gravitate the most  towards 1 - 3 areas (Holland Code) for both work settings & college majors.*

Please note, the below is just an overview of how this theory could be applied---personality, majors, and careers are complex. Any type can enjoy any major, they may just approach it differently than the typical person in that major.

Want to know more about your personal Holland Code & how it matches to careers? Take a career assessment in the Major & Career Exploration center today!

Realistic- "Doers"

  • Individuals who have athletic or mechanical ability, prefer to work with objects, machines, tools, plants, animanls, or the outdoors
  • Practical, tradional & direct
  • Examples of Realistic Majors: Criminal Justice, Environmental Sciences, Engineering , Industrial Technology, etc.

Investigative- "Thinkers"

  • Individuals who like to observe, learn, investigate, analyze, evaluate or solve problems
  • Rational, precise & scientific
  • Exampless of Investigative Majors: Anthropology, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Computer Science,  Psychology, etc.

Artistic- "Creators"

  • Individuals who like to work with others who have artistic, innovating or intuitional abilities and like to work in unstructured environments using their imagination and creativity
  • Original, expressive & independent
  • Examples of Artistic Majors: Mass Communication, English, Music, Performing Arts, Modern Languages, Archiecture, Visual Arts, Graphic Design,Computer Art & Animation, Moving Image Arts, etc.

Social- "Helpers"

  • Individuals who like to work with people to enlighten, inform, help, or train them, or are skilled with words
  • Approachable, insightful & cooperative
  • Examples of Social Majors: Speech Pathology, Education, Child & Family Studies, Sociology, Allied Health, Education, Counseling, etc.

Enterprising- "Persuaders"

  • Individuals who like to work with people, influencing, persuading, performing, leading or managing for organizational goals or economic gain
  • Ambitious, sociable & assertive
  • Examples of Enterprising Majors: Marketing, Professional Sales, History, Political Science, Strategic Communications, etc.

Conventional- "Organizers"

  • Individuals who like to work with data, have administrative or numberical ability, carry out tasks in detail or follow through on others' instructions
  • Orderly, skilled at following a set plan & conscientious
  • Examples of Conventional Majors: Accounting, Management, Finance, Economics, Informatics, etc.

*Sources: Career key and O*net