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A major (also known as a major concentration or concentration) is a term for your concentration of courses that give you a basic knowledge of a field of study, which is in addition to your core curriculum. The nursing or allied health care school will define a framework for this specialized portion of your studies, including a certain number of required courses and a certain number of "elective" courses relevant to the major. The school will also define your general education or foundation education requirements. Some majors effectively define your full course of study; many others allow you considerable latitude both within your field of study and in their other courses.

Although many students choose their major before entering a university or college, many others will select it during their first or second year of a three- or four-year program. Typically schools do not allow you to officially declare your major until the end of your second year so that students experience a broad range of courses that will help them choose the most appropriate major for them.

Some schools actually require you to list a major choice on your application for admission, but this is rare.  If you are interested in a major that requires a lot of classes, or classes that are limited to students in that major, you might have to declare earlier than usual (i.e., the fall semester of your second year). As well, for some majors you will need to take specific courses (pre-requisites) during your first and second year before you can even be considered eligible for upper level courses.  Some majors have limited enrolment so in fact you may even be required to apply, including attending an interview or writing an essay.