Is a double major worth it?

Is a double major worth the time and investment? It depends on whom you ask.

In this brief we are going to answer the question ‘’Is a double major worth it?’’ We will highlight the advantages and disadvantages of a double major and we will give you some tips so you don’t die trying.

Is a double major worth it?

Yes, a double major may be worth it if you are in a competitive field of study where finding jobs may be difficult.You are in your first year of college taking core subjects. Your second year is approaching and you should be thinking about what better to choose. However, you are torn between two totally different areas of study, maybe you are thinking of a double major.

Double is better? It’s a question many college students ask themselves. While pursuing two majors at the same time it sounds like an effective way to get school out of the way, it means more work and a tighter schedule. Before deciding to become a dual major, it’s important to know what it entails and how it may affect your college life.

It seems attractive to owe a double major on your resume, this can give you an advantage over other applicants and have a higher income. However it is not always so. Some companies may not even take it into consideration, and simply do not value the time it took you to do the double major.

Not everyone values the double major. Even while some students believe that the best thing was to have completed two double majors, others simply regret it.

Let’s see, there is no absolute truth. Whether a double major is worth it depends on many things: the career you choose, your interest, your commitment, and your goals.

What is a double major?

A double major, or dual major, is to obtain two majors with the same bachelor’s degree. For example, a student may have a double major in Economics and Business, but with a Bachelor of Science.

In general, double majors are awarded within the same department, that is, Sciences or Arts, they can be closely related as well as they have nothing to do with each other.

In fact, it’s funny because a double major is quite common, so you won’t be alone. At least 25% of enrolled students want a dual major.

Difference between double major and double degree

There are students who are not satisfied with pursuing a single degree in college as they have varied interests and the ability to handle two or more subjects at the same time. These students complete the requirements of two majors at the same time obtaining a double major or a double degree.

Many students cannot differentiate between these two terms and therefore cannot decide whether to opt for a double major or a double degree. We will review these two terms to allow readers to understand the differences between the two concepts.

Double major

A dual major is an undergraduate level course that leads to a single degree, although you may have completed the requirements for two different majors, either at the same college or at two different colleges.

You can choose to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the same university or from different universities doing different specialties, such as sociology and psychology, or history and English.

You still earn a single BA degree even though it is mentioned in the degree that you have completed two majors. Different colleges have different senior credit requirements.

Major is the core of a course. You can tell others that you are graduating from the arts or sciences, but it is the major that lets others know your field of expertise. You can choose to specialize in English, and you can also choose to do your BA with another specialty, such as literature or history, to do a BA with two specialties.

A double major is thus picking up another specialty within the same grade. These could be closely related majors or majors that are quite different from each other. However, the majors remain within the same degree of arts or science as the case may be.

Double degree

As the name implies, a double degree leads a student to obtain two degrees. Therefore, if a student chooses two specializations that belong to different streams, such as science and business, he is required to receive a double degree. It all depends on a student’s areas of interest or, more importantly, their career options.

If art is what you love, but you know your career options are better in science, you can choose to pursue a dual degree that includes majors in science as well as arts. You are passionate about history or French, but you know that your career takes shape and direction with physics. This is how you end up doing a double degree.

What does an important ‘’double’’ imply?

Fortunately, many of the same classes can often be used towards the two majors if desired. If you need, for example, a year of foreign language to obtain a degree at your school, you can use the Spanish class you took in your first year towards both majors. This can lighten your class load, as you won’t have to take a second year of language studies.

Once you get to higher level courses, things get more complicated. The use of the higher level courses may not be allowed for both majors. These classes may include those that are not among the general education requirements and classes that require prerequisites.

Depending on your school or program, you may also be limited with the number of classes you can use toward both grades. For example, it may only allow you to have four of the courses you took for your major in psychology to complete the other courses required for your major in sociology.

Pros and Cons of a Double Major

Contemplating the pros and cons of choosing a double major will help you make a better decision.

Pros

1. Job opportunities

Some employers will value your double major, and will undoubtedly take you more seriously than other candidates. A double major means a strong work ethic, a committed, organized person and of course, more knowledgeable.

Also, this could give you a financial benefit. Cambridge University Press highlights in its study that those students with a major in business and another in STEM have higher income than those with only one major. This can be from 3 to 9.5 percent increase.

2. Learning as much as possible

A double major implies a deeper level of knowledge, especially if both areas are involved. If you are interested in theater but you also love psychology and cannot choose one, you can make the most of it. You would get a more complete education, with skills that you can use in your career, since the knowledge will be much more detailed.

3. Exposure to new things

Sometimes we get locked into a single idea “I’m good at this, I’ll study this” and actually, the university can give us surprises. You can discover new songs that you will end up liking even perhaps more than your first major.

A double major will not only open up more job opportunities, but it can also give you a backup plan in case your career changes.

4. Personal accomplishment

Many students who complete a double major feel less worried and more optimistic about their future employment. Many of them may congratulate themselves on achieving their goals.

Cons

1. Additional time spent studying

If you are considering a double major, consider that it may take longer. Let’s see, we know that you must pass all your general education courses, and also the classes for each of your specialties.

If you plan on graduating in all 4 years, that means a heavy class load, more homework, and more pressure. You may need 1 or 2 extra semesters to successfully pass everything.

Be sure to check the requirements of each major before making your decision. Plan yourself, you can take summer courses, advance credits, etc.

2. Missing out on extracurriculars

A double major can end your free time. You may not be able to participate in extracurricular activities. This leads to fewer opportunities to explore new areas of study. The rigorous demands of your study program can affect other opportunities to take electives, extracurricular activities, or even internships.

3. More expensive

Depending on the college you attend, the extra time you spend in college may increase your initial cost. If you have to stay one more semester, it means re-enrolling. It is definitely a financial burden.

The best thing you can do is know the details of your university, especially in those universities where tuition is paid by credit (by subject). If you have the opportunity to have scholarships or some financial support, much better. All this you should consider before taking a double major.

Tips for Managing a Double Major

1. Plan your Time

The key to studying two majors is organization. A very useful tool for this are study calendars. Experts recommend dedicating about 3 hours a day to studying and always making time for a different activity that clears you up: sports, leisure or anything else that helps you relax your mind.

2. Optimize the Study

You have the same time as a single major student and twice as many subjects. That is why it is very important that when studying you always have clear the main ideas of each topic so that you can later deepen if you wish.

To achieve this, the review cards are a good method. Also, underlining with colors, using keywords or making mind maps are other additional techniques that will help you in this mission.

3. Be neat

One of the keys to success is to keep an order and clearly separate the subjects, since you are faced with a large number of them. For this, we recommend that you archive your notes by subjects and topics.

  In addition, you can take advantage of different colors and icons to locate them even better when you need to search or review information.

4. Look for support

Talk to your advisor, at the time you make the decision, let him advise you with the best options, to adjust your schedule so that you can perform your two majors.

There will always be moments of indecision, of confusion. At any moment of stress, you may ask yourself “ Was this the best decision? ” For this, we recommend talking to your parents, your friends or someone with whom you feel like they can give you the support you need and give you a few words of support. breath.

Lastly, remember to think positive. A double major is something that can be achieved and everything you learn will serve you in the future to practice the profession you want. Cheer up!

FAQS: Is a double major worth it?

In this brief we answered the question ‘’Is a double major worth it?’’ We highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of a double major and gave you some tips so you don’t die trying.

If you have any questions or comments please let us know!

References

Hemelt, S. W. (2010). The college double major and subsequent earnings. Education Economics, 18(2), 167-189.

Del Rossi, A. F., & Hersch, J. (2008). Double your major, double your return?. Economics of Education Review, 27(4), 375-386.

Roksa, J. (2005). Double disadvantage or blessing in disguise? Understanding the relationship between college major and employment sector. Sociology of Education, 78(3), 207-232.

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