One of the biggest changes freshmen experience upon entering college is the sudden and overwhelming abundance of choice. You can choose your classes, your schedule, where you eat, what you do, who you are and so much more to a degree you’ve never experienced before. Freedom of choice is nice, and it’s part of what makes college so great. But too much choice can also be crippling. Overwhelmed by the myriad of options, we often stagnate. Nowhere is this more obvious than in majors.
A major seems to define so much more than an area of study – in college, it comprises your identity. Majors lead to clubs, and friends, and internships, and it can feel like everything important is wrapped up in that one decision. For better or for worse, choice of major is important. And let’s face it – there are a lot of majors out there. It’s hard to choose, and emotionally speaking, even harder to change majors. With all the interesting choices, how are we supposed to narrow our focus down to just one major?
The answer is: you don’t have to. Students can double major, triple major, major and minor or even complete a dual degree. Majors, minors and degrees can be combined in infinite ways. What works for one person may not work for another. To help students decide what’s best for them, let’s break down the difference between a dual degree and a double major.
A double major is exactly what it sounds like – two majors. The student completes the college requirements for their home college only, but completes the major requirements for both.
A dual degree is also exactly what it sounds like – two degrees completed at the same time. The students completes the college requirements for both colleges and completes the major requirements for both majors.
The biggest difference between the two is that a dual degree means TWO diplomas, while a double major is just ONE diploma. A dual degree is also more work – you have to meet the college requirements of both colleges, not just the primary.
A dual degree is better for students who have credit hours to spare. If you came in with lots of AP credit, or your first degree has only a few requirements, then you’ll have extra room in your schedule to complete the second degree.
If you don’t already have a lot of credit under your belt, and/or your first college has a heavy or stressful course load, then a double major is better. That is, if two majors is something you even want. Don’t feel like you have to add a major just because – it should be something you’re interested in!
Dual degrees and double majors are both best suited to students with multiple and even overlapping interests – don’t just add a major because you feel like you should! A double major or a dual degree should be in complementary areas and are geared towards students who will pursue more education after undergrad. For example, someone planning on medical school might double major in chemistry and health sciences, while a student applying for law school might dual degree in political science and philosophy.
Dual degrees and double majors aren’t for everyone. Not everyone needs or even wants more than one area of study, but for those that do, the option is out there. Dual degrees and double majors are just two of the ways you can enrich your education. Many colleges offer certificate and licensing programs is well. The opportunities are out there – it just might take a little research to learn what your school has and what suits you best. But ultimately, the choice is yours.