How Students Can Save the World: What to Study in College to Make an Impact
Key Points
Students curious about what to study in college should know that they can make a positive impact through multiple fields.
Business and entrepreneurship empower students to address social challenges, shape workplace practices, and improve companies' impact on community well-being.
Healthcare and public health offer paths to enhance population health, preventive care, research, and community education.
Law, policy, and advocacy equip students to protect human rights, advance social justice, and influence global and local systems.
Technology and interdisciplinary studies provide tools to innovate, solve complex problems, and create data-driven, sustainable solutions for society.
The world is full of challenges that need fresh ideas, innovative solutions, and dedicated leaders. Young people today have more opportunities than ever to make a real difference in their communities and beyond, whether through business, healthcare, law, technology, interdisciplinary work, or education.
Each field below offers a unique way to address pressing issues, from improving access to essential services and protecting human rights to advancing medical breakthroughs and creating sustainable systems. With proper guidance, training, and a commitment to learning, young scholars can harness their talents to tackle complex problems and contribute to a brighter, more equitable future. So, we invite young leaders to explore these disciplines and discover how their skills, passions, and creativity can be applied to meaningful work that improves lives, shapes communities, and inspires change.
Influence Lasting, Positive Change Through Business and Leadership
You don’t need to be a political leader to influence meaningful change. Studying business and mastering the art of leading others can be a powerful way to make a positive impact on the world.[1] In fact, regular people with a strong vision, strategy, and sense of purpose make a difference through business every day. There are several paths in the business world where students can pursue meaningful work that improves lives and contributes to community well-being.
One major opportunity for young people is entrepreneurship, which enables them to identify unmet needs and develop solutions to social challenges. For instance, starting a business to reduce food insecurity or improve access to essential services can directly benefit communities while also teaching students valuable problem‑solving and leadership skills. There’s also the study of business management or administration, which equips students with the tools to influence equitable practices across organizations. This can take the form of future leaders learning to influence workplace culture and to prioritize people over profit as a business model, thereby improving employee livelihoods through innovative wage policies.[2] This type of progressive approach could revolutionize how corporations interact with their employees and communities.
Students can also explore careers in real estate, supply chain management, and other business specialties to address systemic issues such as housing affordability and corporate price gauging. Overall, business education offers diverse pathways for students to help shape a more equitable and sustainable world.
Commit to Enriching the Quality of Healthcare from Within the Industry
The healthcare industry plays a vital role in improving and protecting human life, and there are many meaningful ways for students to contribute beyond becoming doctors or nurses. While clinical care is essential, healthcare also encompasses preventive care, research, and community well-being—each of which offers opportunities for students to make a positive impact on the world.
One subject area students can major in is public health, which aims to improve health outcomes for entire populations.[3] Public health professionals work on disease prevention, health education, and policy development. They study disciplines such as epidemiology, health policy, biostatistics, environmental health, and health behavior. These skills help address serious challenges like infectious diseases and health disparities. Students should also pay attention to oral health, an often overlooked yet important aspect of overall health care. Poor dental health can contribute to serious chronic illnesses, yet millions lack access to basic preventive care.[4] Professionals such as dentists and dental hygienists play key roles in educating communities about the importance of oral care in maintaining long‑term health.
Students interested in saving the world through healthcare have a range of paths to explore, from public health and research to education and community outreach. Each of these offers the opportunity to improve the quality of life for hundreds, thousands, or millions of people in meaningful ways.
Make an Impact Through Law, Policy, and Advocacy
Studying law offers many meaningful ways for students to make a difference, far beyond the more familiar courtroom dramas we often see in books and TV shows. While most people think of lawyers arguing criminal cases or debating big corporations, the legal field includes a wide range of career paths and specializations that intersect with major global issues, from human rights to international peace and justice.[5]
One important avenue is civil and political rights law, where lawyers work to protect individuals from discrimination and defend freedoms related to race, gender, disability, religion, and other protected characteristics. Advocates in this area help shape fairer societies by challenging systemic inequalities and advancing social justice, an honorable goal that has motivated many historical figures.
Another impactful path is international law, which focuses on how countries and global organizations relate to one another. Students who study international law can work on issues like world peace, human rights protections, environmental preservation, and global health. These lawyers can serve as diplomats, policy analysts, treaty negotiators, or advisors to governments and international bodies. Young scholars should also consider the role of judges, who interpret and enforce the law and have the authority to address wrongful convictions, protect public safety, and even shape the justice system's fairness from within.
Legal education equips students with powerful tools to advocate for fairness, influence policy, and contribute to solving some of society’s most complicated challenges.[6] Whether through defending civil liberties, negotiating peace, or shaping legal systems, a background in law provides a foundation for students who want to help create a more just and equitable world.
Lead From the Frontlines of the Technological Revolution
Technology touches nearly every part of modern life, and as our world becomes more digital, the need for skilled tech professionals continues to grow. That’s why studying technology can empower students to make meaningful contributions to society, from strengthening cybersecurity to improving healthcare systems and beyond. Technological expertise now shapes how we communicate, learn, and solve some of our most complex challenges, making careers in this field both impactful and essential.
Having a strong foundation in computer science opens doors to careers like software development, data science, and user experience (UX) design, where students learn to create the tools and systems that drive innovation. Studying computer science also helps students understand how digital systems function and equips them to build new technologies that improve daily life. And there are plenty of opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. These emerging areas enable future specialists to explore how intelligent systems can assist with tasks ranging from environmental research to advanced data analysis. As AI evolves, students with expertise in neural networks, programming, and algorithm design will be well-positioned to lead transformative work.
Students who want to save the world through impactful academic scholarship can also study robotics, where computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering converge to create machines that assist with tasks that are dangerous or difficult for humans. Robotics can touch fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and environmental protection. Tech education is an excellent way for scholars to apply their talents toward innovations that benefit communities and shape the future.
Save the World By Mastering More Than One Discipline
Real‑world challenges are often too complex to be solved through a single academic lens. Pursuing interdisciplinary studies—the combination of two or more fields—prepares students with flexible thinking, creative problem‑solving, and the ability to approach issues from multiple perspectives. This broad training equips future leaders to tackle large-scale global problems that cross disciplinary boundaries.
One example of this approach is the intersection of artificial intelligence and environmental science, where machine learning and data analysis are used to monitor ecosystems, predict extreme weather events, and support sustainable resource management.[7] Students skilled in both computer science and environmental studies can help create data‑driven solutions for climate and conservation challenges. The blend of philosophy and economics encourages thoughtful reflection on the ethical implications of economic systems, helping students examine how values influence policy, wealth distribution, and social justice. This kind of interdisciplinary inquiry lays the groundwork for careers that combine moral reasoning with practical economic insights.
Other powerful combinations include law and anthropology, in which cultural understanding informs legal reasoning on human rights and social systems, and biotechnology and biomedical engineering, which integrate biological science and engineering to drive breakthroughs in medical treatments and regenerative technologies. Studying interdisciplinary fields not only broadens career opportunities but also fosters intellectual flexibility. Students trained across multiple domains are better positioned to respond to evolving societal needs with innovative, informed, and humane solutions.
Improve Education on a Systemic Level
Education shapes almost every part of human life, from how well we think, communicate, and solve problems to our long‑term health, confidence, and economic opportunity. Yet in recent years, many school systems throughout the U.S. have experienced troubling declines in basic skills such as reading and math, with standardized test scores declining significantly and widening achievement gaps between student groups.[8] These trends indicate that merely attending school is insufficient. We need experts dedicated to improving education at scale through systemic change and thoughtful interventions.
To make a meaningful difference in education, students passionate about improving learning environments and outcomes can prepare themselves by studying disciplines that address both how people learn and how education systems operate. One such field is Education and Public Policy, in which students learn to analyze how schools are structured and funded and to develop policy recommendations to improve equity and academic success.
Another strong option is Learning Sciences and Educational Psychology, which focuses on the cognitive and social factors that influence learning. This type of coursework supports innovation in teaching methods and helps future leaders design evidence‑based educational programs. Instructional Design builds on this by applying learning science principles to develop effective curricula and learning tools. At the same time, Educational Technology (EdTech) examines how digital tools, software, and technology can enhance educational engagement, personalization, and accessibility for diverse learners.
Ultimately, teachers remain the heart of practical education, but addressing the broader challenges facing schools requires trained professionals who understand both the science of learning and the systems that support it.[9] By studying these fields, future advocates and innovators can help reshape education to better serve students everywhere — improving lives and strengthening communities for generations to come.
Whether a student is drawn to business, healthcare, law, technology, interdisciplinary studies, or education, there are countless ways to create meaningful change. The key is curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to learn and apply knowledge creatively to serve others. By pursuing their interests, gaining expertise, and embracing opportunities to lead and innovate, students can address pressing global challenges while shaping a career that reflects their values. Every authentically aligned path contributes to building stronger communities and a better world, proving that today’s academic scholars can truly be tomorrow’s changemakers.
Sources
[1] Forbes. (n.d.). Best business schools list. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/business-schools/list/#tab:rank
[2] Gravity Payments. (n.d.). The Gravity of $70K minimum wage. Gravity Payments. https://gravitypayments.com/the-gravity-70k-min/
[3] CDC Foundation. (n.d.). What is public health? https://www.cdcfoundation.org/what-public-health#:~:text=Public%20health%20is%20the%20science,and%20responding%20to%20infectious%20diseases
[4] World Health Organization. (2022, November 18). WHO highlights oral health neglect affecting nearly half of the world’s population. https://www.who.int/news/item/18-11-2022-who-highlights-oral-health-neglect-affecting-nearly-half-of-the-world-s-population
[5] U.S. News & World Report. (n.d.). Diverse careers for law school graduates (Best Graduate Schools Top Law Schools slideshow). Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/slideshows/diverse-careers-for-law-school-graduates?slide=4
[6] Merson, D. (2025, October 22). The different law specialties & how to choose the right one for you. Juris Education. https://www.juriseducation.com/blog/the-different-law-specialties-how-to-choose/
[7] EnvironmentalScience.org. (2024, April 11). The role of artificial intelligence in environmental sustainability. https://www.environmentalscience.org/the-role-of-artificial-intelligence-in-environmental-sustainability
[8] Center for Education Policy Research. (2024, September 20). The scary truth about how far behind American kids have fallen. Harvard University. https://cepr.harvard.edu/news/scary-truth-about-how-far-behind-american-kids-have-fallen/
[9] Los Angeles Pacific University. (2023, November 8). Why should I become a teacher? The impact and benefits of teaching. Los Angeles Pacific University. https://www.lapu.edu/post/teaching-impact-benefit-why-becoming-teacher/