Pääaineina

Pääaineina is a Finnish word that translates to "as majors" or "in the main subjects" in English. It is commonly used in the context of higher education, particularly at universities and universities of applied sciences in Finland. When a student is said to be studying "pääaineina" certain subjects, it means those are their primary fields of study, the core of their degree program.

In the Finnish higher education system, students typically declare one or two pääaineet, which are the subjects they will focus on to earn their degree. These subjects determine the curriculum, the required courses, and often the thesis topic. For example, a student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree might have English as their pääaine, meaning their coursework and academic focus will be on the English language, literature, and culture. Similarly, a student in an engineering program might have computer science as their pääaine. The term emphasizes the main area of specialization and academic pursuit within a broader degree program. It distinguishes the core disciplines from minor subjects or supporting studies.