What is a Major? When we cover colleges / universities a question that always comes about concerns Majors and Minors. A Major is an emphasis of study. After you complete your General Ed. courses you will need to find a Major in order to graduate. Everyone takes general ed courses, but not everyone take the same major. I majored in Political Science at the University Ca. Santa Barbara. Political Science is the study of government[s] and the analysis of political behaviors. In other words, I was good at essay type exams. In communications, the exams were more A, B, C, etc … Political Science was essay based and a better fit for tastes.