The Pros and Cons of Double Majoring

By Alicia Geigel on March 31, 2019

In college you are faced with a lot of decisions, some on a smaller, less stressful scale and others on a larger, more important one. One of the biggest and most significant decisions one can make in college if not the biggest, is what to major in. Some people know what they want to major in immediately, have their career path picked out, and need no additional help from anyone. On the other hand, there are some that either have no clue what to major in or want to major in more than one thing.

Double majoring is a foreign world to some and familiar to others. If you’re someone who is unfamiliar with the idea of double majoring, it can sound intimidating and kind of scary. However, there are plenty of students that take on an additional major in college, despite the percentage of students double majoring being on the decline — they’re still out there!

Cristos Makridis of PBS News writes, “Looking at all individuals between ages 20 and 29, only 12.5 percent of the population had a double major in 2015, which is down from 14.2 percent in 2009, according to my calculations from the American Community Survey (ACS) Census data.”

Whether you are a high school student curiously thinking about college or someone who has just started college, anyone can benefit from learning more about double majoring. Are you currently someone who is looking at or currently in college? Unsure of what to major in or considering picking up two majors? Unaware of the positives and negatives of taking on an additional major? Check out this comprehensive guide to understanding double majoring, which includes a pro and con list! Not only will this help you figure out what you want to major in, but it can also help you navigate your college experience a little better!  

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Double Major vs. Dual Degree

While you have probably heard of both terms, it can be super easy to confuse the two if you don’t know the difference. A double major means that you have one degree with two fields of specialty or specializations. While a dual degree means you are getting two separate degrees at the same time. According to Lisa McGreevy of ThePennyHoarder.com, “Students pursue double majors when they are equally passionate about two areas of study and don’t want to have to choose between them.”

With a better understanding of what double majoring is, it can be easier to evaluate the benefits and negatives of the decision.

Things to Consider 

Before jumping right into the pros and cons of double majoring, it’s important to dig deep and consider some factors that can influence your thoughts surrounding taking on a double major.

Reasons Why and Why Not: Jot down your reasons why you would or would not want to double major. Some people want to double major to please their parents, to make their credentials look better on a CV or resume, to expand their knowledge or skills set, or to broaden career opportunities. Reasons against double majoring could be financial obligations, the level of academic challenge, the amount of time and dedication, etc. Regardless, if you’re considering double-majoring, write down some potential reasons you would or wouldn’t want to so you can have a foundation to build on in making your decision.

Meet with an Advisor: Scheduling a meeting with an advisor can further help you get a better idea of what double-majoring entails. Academic advisors can give you a comprehensive breakdown of the requirements and obligations taking on an additional major. Kelci Lynn Lucier of Thoughtco.com writes, “If you plan on double majoring, he or she has to sign off on your plan anyway, so getting the conversation going early is a smart idea.”

Talk to Fellow Double Majors: Another way to help you decide whether or not you want to double major is to talk to peers who are double majoring themselves. There’s no better means of finding out the truth about double majoring than from students who are actually doing so. Engaging with other students can give you a better idea of what it takes and what you need in order to double major. It’s always better to talk with others before blindly making a decision because you can gain new perspectives and knowledge about something you otherwise may have not known about.

Weigh Financial Costs: Part of double-majoring means that there are more requirements, which can mean more time spent in college. One thing to consider when thinking about taking on an additional major are the financial costs. Will you have the extra money to spend for an extra semester or two to complete your degree? Will you have to take courses over the summer or online? Weighing financial costs is an important consideration when deciding on double majoring.

Weigh Personal Implications: Taking on an additional major requires a great deal of dedication, time, and discipline. Because you have another major with differing requirements and obligations, you have increased responsibility in staying on top of your studies. For some, this can be too difficult to deal with and too much to handle, while for others it can be a breeze. Try and consider what side of the spectrum you’d fall on to help you decide.

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Pros

The pros of double majoring are significant and can not only develop you in the academic world, but also in the professional world. The pros of taking on a double major include a diversified education/skill set, broader career opportunities, and the chance for classes to overlap which can lead to an easier college experience.

Diversified Education/Skill Set: Taking on a double major essentially means you’ll be getting double the education. As you have two majors that you’re working in and two degrees you’re completing, you will have a broader educational experience and thus develop different kinds of skills.

Allison Wignall of CollegeRaptor.com notes, “ A general Business major might learn a lot about corporations and how they run, but a Business / Marketing major will understand businesses and have a more in-depth look at a particular element of that business—which can be enticing for employers down the road.” Thus, a pro to double majoring is that you can expand your knowledge and broaden your skill set, which can not only benefit you personally, but it can also help you in terms of career options.

Broader Career Options: Because you will be well versed in two different majors and have a strong/diverse skill set, you can explore more career options. Since you have a foundation in two different areas, employers will be more inclined to consider your credentials and view you as a well-rounded, attractive candidate for their position.

Allison Wignall additionally writes, “Double majoring can open up many opportunities depending on your two chosen majors. Employers like seeing double majors because the candidate will have two specific areas of budding expertise, and the dedication to work on two different degrees at once.”  While double majoring you also have the opportunity to take on internships in different fields, which can also help to broaden your career opportunities and help you find what you want to do!

Lastly, have a double major under your belt can also help to increase your pay, according to Shannon Lee of AffordableCollegesOnline.com. She writes, “ Studies have indicated a double major can result in a 3.2 to 9.5 percent increase in income compared to a fellow college graduate with just one major.”

Classes Can Overlap: Another pro that can happen while double majoring is that the classes that your classes can overlap! If your double majors are intertwined, like a business and marketing degree, for example, you can often find that some of your classes can overlap. This can make your academic life a lot less stressful and easier since you can fulfill two requirements in one class.

In addition, if your classes overlap, you can also save some tuition money as you don’t have to worry about taking an additional class outside of school or during the summer. Potentially saving time, energy and money? Who doesn’t love killing two birds with one stone! Just remember when scheduling your classes to look into this opportunity and talk with an advisor to see if you can condense your schedule!

Cons

With anything in this world, there are positives and negatives. With double majoring, there are a few cons, however, this all depends on your ability to deal with an academically challenging schedule, the potential to graduate on a later date, and potentially sacrifice extracurriculars and a rigorous social life.

Academically Challenging: It is no surprise that taking on a double major can be academically challenging. Because you are doubling your education, you’re also doubling the amount of time, work and effort you put into your education. Double majoring means that your doing all of the homework, projects, studying, test taking, scheduling, etc. for not one major, but two. Thus, if you are someone who has trouble multi-tasking multiple courses at once and has difficulty balancing coursework, double majoring may not be the best choice for you. A less demanding, lighter option is taking on a minor, which has fewer requirements.

A guide post by WayUp.com suggests that a minor is a great alternative to double major if one can’t handle the academic demands, stating, “ If you love the idea of studying two subjects but find the prospect of a double major overwhelming, consider doing a minor instead. This is a great way to get in-depth knowledge of a second subject without taking a full course load of classes. In fact, the number of required classes for a minor is often half the number required for a major.”

Later Graduation: Another potential negative to picking up a double major is that there is a chance that you might graduate later than you first expected, i.e. the “standard” four years. Because of the extra coursework, you may need an extra semester or two to officially complete your degree. For some, this is no issue, while for others it can be an issue of both finances and self-esteem.

If you are someone that puts a lot of pressure on yourself and gets discouraged by the fact that you’re not graduating in the expected time frame, this might be a problem for you. Additionally, if you need extra time to finish your degree, you might have to take out another loan or finance your education in another way which can create added stress.

Lack of Extracurriculars: Taking on a load of extra work can hinder your opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, which is a large part of the college experience. Because of the needed dedication towards academics, there is less time to engage in sports, clubs, and other activities.

Additionally, your social life might take a significant hit because there is such a large responsibility to effectively carry and do all of your coursework. Time with friends and family may take the back burner for a while, but it’s all for a good cause! If this is something that doesn’t matter to you, then this is something you can check off your list! However, if this is something that bothers you, it is an important factor to consider when thinking about double majoring.

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Image via Pixabay

Double majoring in college is not an easy job. There are a whole new set of responsibilities to take on, which can make life difficult and stressful at times. If you do end up double majoring, there are great benefits, such as expanding your knowledge and skill set, giving yourself broader career options, and having the choice to combine classes. There is a rough side to double majoring, however, with negatives including academic challenges, graduating later than you expect, and missing out on extracurriculars. Ultimately the decision to double major is up to you and depends on what you want out of college and in your career. Just remember to do what is best for you and your life; not to cater to anyone else’s view of success because you create your own success. As always, good luck!

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