Managing a Double Major in College
Two degrees for the price of one? That’s double majoring. It’s difficult to manage, but it can pay off. Here, I’ll offer some tips and advice on managing a double major in college without it taking twice as long. By starting early, mapping out a four-year plan, and ensuring course overlap to the best of your ability, you’ll be well on your way to graduating with a double major in two complementary fields!
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The first piece of advice is simple: develop good relationships with your academic advisors in your respective fields. Your advisors are there to guide you and advocate on your behalf, and if you’re double-majoring, it’s even more important that you choose the right courses to enroll in.
Know What You’re Double Majoring in Early On
Double majoring can broaden your specialized knowledge, increase your self-discipline, and make you more attractive to prospective employers. In order to successfully pull it off, though, I recommend deciding early on what disciplines you plan on double-majoring in. Doing so will help you avoid the pain of having wasted time waffling back and forth over what to major in, all the while taking courses that aren’t required for graduation and don’t contribute to either major.
Aim to double major in areas that complement one another and make you a more well-rounded (and therefore, more marketable) candidate for jobs. Interested in political science? Consider a second major in economics or international relations. Perhaps you’re an artist and want to major in theatre, music, or creative writing. It may be wise to consider double majoring in business, advertising, or marketing. You’re going to need a day job! Trust me: I know from experience.
Map Out a Four-Year Plan
College is one of the best times in a person’s life, but you should still aim to finish on time. Don’t take five to seven years to complete what you ought to be able to complete in four. Double majors are especially prone to this risk. It’s important, therefore, to make a road map, a four-year plan that’s as specific as it can be while still allowing for unpredictable circumstances (such as getting closed out of a class).
Once you know the areas in which you’ll be double majoring, take note of all the required courses for each major, as well as required courses for graduation, and assemble a rough plan. What will you be taking in your freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years? Try to find out when specific required courses are offered and allow for the possibility of being closed out. The last thing you want is to enter your spring semester of your senior year only to find that you’ve been closed out of a required course that you ought to have taken earlier. Again, it’s wise to consult a course catalog–and your advisors, of course.
Remember, too, that your senior year may require intensive capstone work in each of your major fields. It’s wise to avoid undertaking two enormous projects at once–attempt to stagger capstone courses, if you can.
Optimize Your Course Schedule
Not all courses are created equal. Some count toward multiple majors. For example, if you’re double majoring in music and physics, consider taking Physics of Music. It’s very wise to kill two birds with one stone.
Electives are great, but if you’re double majoring, they shouldn’t be your first priority. Make certain that you plan your required courses out well in advance, and if there’s room for electives, then great. Knowing what you want to double major in early on can minimize the risk of taking courses that, in the end, will count for nothing, enjoyable though they may be.
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