Exploring what to study as a future consultant? This guide helps students and aspiring consultants compare fields of study by what each field studies, how it approaches problems, and the skills it develops. Explore different fields of study, their coursework and methods, and how the knowledge and capabilities gained through each field can prepare you to analyze problems, understand organizations and industries, and contribute to future consulting engagements.
Eight Areas of Study
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Browse the Fields
Business and Organizations
Mathematics, Computing, and Quantitative Fields
Engineering and the Built Environment
- Engineering Sciences and General Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Biomedical and Biological Engineering
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Architecture
Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and the Environment
- Biology
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
- Biochemistry and Chemical Biology
- Biophysics
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Human Biology and Human Evolution
- Neuroscience
- Chemistry
- Physics and Applied Physics
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Environmental Science
- Atmospheric and Climate Science
- Marine Science and Oceanography
- Environmental Studies, Energy, and Sustainability
Health, Agriculture, Education, and Social Services
Social Sciences and Public Affairs
- Anthropology
- Sociology
- Economics
- Political Science and Government
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- International Relations and Global Affairs
- Public Policy and Public Administration
- Geography and Geographic Information Science
- Urban Studies and Planning
- Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Communication Studies and Journalism
- Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Social Thought
Humanities and the Arts
- History
- English Literature and Creative Writing
- Comparative Literature
- Linguistics
- Philosophy
- Religious Studies
- Classics and Greek Studies
- Archaeology
- Folklore and Mythology
- History and Social Studies of Science, Medicine, and Technology
- Interdisciplinary Humanities and History and Literature
- Art History
- Studio Art and Design
- Film and Media Studies
- Music
- Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies
Languages, Area Studies, and the Study of Identity
- African Studies
- African American, Black, and African Diaspora Studies
- American Studies
- Latin American and Caribbean Studies
- East Asian Studies
- South Asian Studies
- Middle Eastern and Near Eastern Studies
- Jewish Studies
- Russian, Slavic, and Eurasian Studies
- French and Francophone Studies
- German and Germanic Studies
- Italian Studies
- Spanish and Hispanic Studies
- Portuguese and Lusophone Studies
- Ethnic Studies, Race, and Migration
- Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
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Disclaimer: This directory groups majors into 100 academic chapters, sometimes combining related fields. Program names, requirements, and professional pathways vary by institution and may change. Use it for exploration, then confirm current details in each college's catalog.
Brief field summaries were reviewed in October 2026 using official program information from Yale, Penn State, Cornell, and Harvard. Consult each college's current catalog for its degree options and requirements.