Realistic Majors and Training Programs

This is a partial list of majors that match Holland's Realistic personality type. For a complete list, take The Career Key test or see our eBook, "Match Up! Your Personality to College Majors."

Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production 
A program that prepares individuals to select, breed, care for, process, and market livestock and small farm animals.  Includes instruction in basic animal science, animal nutrition, and animal health as applied to various species and breeds; design and operation of housing, feeding, and processing facilities; and related issues of safety, applicable regulations, logistics, and supply.

Crop Production 
A program that prepares individuals to cultivate grain, fiber, forage, oilseed, fruits and nuts, vegetables, and other domesticated plant products.  Includes instruction in basic principles of plant science, health, and nutrition as applied to particular species and breeds; soil preparation and irrigation; pest management; planting and harvesting operations; product marketing; and applicable issues of safety, regulation, logistics, and supply.

Forest Resources Production and Management  
A program that focuses on the application of forestry principles to the production, harvesting, and processing of forest resources and that prepares individuals to perform associated technical and managerial functions.  Includes instruction in forest production and utilization, industrial forestry, agroforestry, transplantation, timber harvesting, selection and identification of trees, processing technologies and systems, equipment operations and maintenance, and related management skills.

Turf and Turfgrass Management 
A program that focuses on turfgrasses and related groundcover plants and prepares individuals to develop ornamental or recreational grasses and related products; plant, transplant, and manage grassed areas; and to produce and store turf used for transplantation.  Includes instruction in applicable plant sciences, genetics of grasses, turf science, use analysis, turf management, and related economics.

 

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 
A program that prepares individuals to apply theories and practices of criminal justice to structuring, managing, directing and controlling criminal justice agencies, including police departments, sheriff's departments, law enforcement divisions and units, and private protective services.

Fire Protection and Safety Technology/Technician 
A program that prepares individuals to apply a knowledge of fire prevention and control skills to problems of reducing fire risk, loss limitation, supervising substance removal, conducting fire investigations, and advising on matters of safety procedures and fire prevention policy.

Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management 
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the husbandry and production of non-domesticated fish and shellfish populations for recreational and commercial purposes and the management of fishing and marine/aquatic product processing to ensure adequate conservation and efficient utilization.  Includes instruction in the principles of marine/aquatic biology, freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, water resources, fishing production operations and management, fishing policy and regulation, and the management of recreational and commercial fishing activities.

 

CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician 
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical skills and advanced computer software and hardware to the creation of graphic representations and simulations in support of engineering projects.  Includes instruction in engineering graphics, two-dimensional and three-dimensional engineering design, solids modeling, engineering animation, computer-aided drafting (CAD), computer-aided design (CADD), and auto-CAD techniques.

Materials Engineering 
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and materials science principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of materials and related processes used in manufacturing in a wide variety of settings; the synthesis of new industrial materials, including marrying and bonding composites; analysis of materials requirements and specifications; and related problems of system design dependent on materials factors.

Telecommunications Technology/Technician 
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills to help design and implement telecommunications systems.  Includes instruction in communications protocol, data networking, digital compression algorithms, digital signal processing, Internet access, object-oriented and relational databases, and programming languages.

 

Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operation 
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to drive trucks and buses, delivery vehicles, for-hire vehicles and other commercial vehicles.  Includes instruction in operating gas, diesel, or electrically-powered vehicles; loading and unloading cargo or passengers; reporting delays or accidents on the road; verifying load against shipping papers; arranging transportation for personnel; and keeping records of receipts and fares.

 

Drywall Installation/Drywaller 
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to install, tape, and plaster drywall installations in interior and exterior construction jobs. Includes instruction in drywall handling and transport, cutting and mounting, taping and spackling, finishing, job analysis and estimation, site safety, tool operation and maintenance, blueprint and specification interpretation, and applicable codes and standards.

Plumbing Technology/Plumber 
A program that prepares individuals to practice as licensed plumbers by applying technical knowledge and skills to lay out, assemble, install, and maintain piping fixtures and systems for steam, natural gas, oil,  hot water, heating, cooling, drainage, lubricating, sprinkling, and industrial processing systems in home and business environments.  Includes instruction in source determination, water distribution, waster removal, pressure adjustment, basic physics, technical mathematics, blueprint reading, pipe installation, pumps, welding and soldering, plumbing inspection, and applicable codes and standards.

Roofer 
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to prepare, install, and maintain exterior roofing materials and roofs.  Includes instruction in building materials, flashing, lag bolts, site safety, equipment operation and maintenance, layering, site preparation, basic internal structural design, finishing, waterproofing, and applicable codes and standards.

 

Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology  
A program that prepares individuals to maintain and repair specialized farm, ranch, and agribusiness power equipment and vehicles.  Includes instruction in the principles of diesel, combustion, electrical, steam, hydraulic, and mechanical systems and their application to the maintenance of terrestrial and airborne crop spraying equipment; tractors and hauling equipment; planting and harvesting equipment; cutting equipment; power sources and systems for silos; irrigation and pumping equipment; dairy, feeding and, shearing operations; and processing systems.

Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician 
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair, service, and maintain all types of aircraft powerplant and related systems.  Instruction includes engine inspection and maintenance, lubrication and cooling, electrical and ignition systems, carburetion, fuels and fuel systems, propeller and fan assemblies.

Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology/Technician 
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers and other professionals engaged in developing and using air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating systems.  Includes instruction in principles of heating and cooling technology, design and operational testing, inspection and maintenance procedures, installation and operation procedures, and report preparation.

Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician 
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in the field maintenance and repair of heavy equipment, and in the general maintenance and overhaul of such equipment.  Includes instruction in inspection, maintenance, and repair of tracks, wheels, brakes, operating controls, pneumatic and hydraulic systems, electrical circuitry, engines and in techniques of welding and brazing.

 

Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician 
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair, service, and maintain all types of aircraft operating, control, and electronic systems.  Includes instruction in flight instrumentation, aircraft communications and homing systems, radar and other sensory systems, navigation aids, and specialized systems for various types of civilian and military aircraft.

Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology 
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to assemble, install, operate, maintain, and repair one- and two- way communications equipment and systems, including television cable systems and mobile or stationary communication devices.  Includes instruction in diagnostic techniques, the use of testing equipment and the principles of mechanics, electricity, and electronics as they relate to the repair of communications systems.

 

Machine Shop Technology/Assistant 
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to fabricate and modify metal parts in support of other manufacturing, repair or design activities, or as an independent business.

Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking 
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to form, shape, bend and fold extruded metals, including the creation of new products, using hand tools and machines such as cornice brakes, forming rolls, and squaring shears.

 

Culinary Arts/Chef Training 
A program that prepares individuals to provide professional chef and related cooking services in restaurants and other commercial food establishments.  Includes instruction in recipe and menu planning, preparing and cooking of foods, supervising and training kitchen assistants, the management of food supplies and kitchen resources, aesthetics of food presentation, and familiarity or mastery of a wide variety of cuisines and culinary techniques.

Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter 
A program that prepares individuals to receive, cut, and package animal meat products in commercial establishments and to function as licensed meat cutters/butchers.  Includes instruction in product recognition for beef, veal, lamb, pork, poultry, and fancy and smoked meats; retail and wholesale cutting and specialty cuts; packaging and counter display; shop safety; meat sanitation, storage and rotation; quality control; meat handling laws and regulations; and customer service.

 

Systems Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of total systems solutions to a wide variety of engineering problems, including the integration of human, physical, energy, communications, management, and information requirements as needed, and the application of requisite analytical methods to specific situations.

 

Agricultural Power Machinery Operation 
A program that prepares individuals to operate specialized farm, ranch, and agribusiness power equipment of a stationary, mobile, and/or hand-operated nature.  Includes instruction in operating specialized equipment such as terrestrial and airborne crop spraying equipment; tractors and hauling equipment; planting and harvesting equipment; cutting equipment; power sources and systems for silos, irrigation, pumping, and applications such as dairy, feeding and, shearing operations; processing equipment; and applicable electrical, mechanical, and safety principles.

Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation 
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to operate and maintain a variety of heavy equipment, such as a crawler tractors, motor graders and scrapers, shovels, rigging devices, hoists, and jacks.  Includes instruction in digging, ditching, sloping, stripping, grading, and backfiling, clearing and excavating.

 

Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator, General Production 
A program that generally prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to plan, prepare, and execute a variety of commercial and industrial graphic communications jobs.  Includes instruction in the operation and maintenance of mechanical, electronic, and digital graphic, printing, and finishing equipment; and related processes. 

Robotics Technology/Technician

A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers and other professionals engaged in developing and using robots.  Includes instruction in the principles of robotics, design and operational testing, system maintenance and repair procedures, robot computer systems and control language, specific system types and applications to specific industrial tasks, and report preparation.

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