Find your perfect college degree
Facts and Stats
- Business is the most commonly picked degree* that is paired with another major. It is earned by about 36% of double degree earners.
- Next to Business, Social Sciences (21.06%), Humanities (21.05%), Communications (12.29%), and Education Administration and Teaching (9.08%) are the most-conferred degrees to people who are double majors.
- A survey of 145,826 students found that within 2009-2019, 10% of them (14,582) earned double majors**.
- Double majors get a whopping 56% buffer*** against “earnings shocks” (or unexpected drop in income) because they have a wider and more diversified skill set than single majors.
Without knowing the most complementary and career-enhancing combinations, students may end up with two disconnected degrees that don’t maximize their time in school. This guide aims to help students pursue a double major to complete the necessary credits and gain expertise in two sought-after fields.
Harmonious Duos: Crafting the Best Double Majors for Career Success
Popular double major combinations like Accounting and Finance, Biology and Chemistry, Education and Psychology, Engineering and Mathematics, Journalism and Political Science, and Economics and Business Management complement each other well. These majors build interdisciplinary skills, open diverse career paths, and demonstrate versatility on a resume.
Struggling to choose between two majors? You must consider your career choice, interest level in both majors, school requirements, tuition costs, and overall commitment to your education.
Accounting and Finance
Pursuing a career in either accounting or law is perhaps the best way to help optimize your vocational opportunities. The University of Pennsylvania is hailed as one of the best colleges for Accounting and Finance.
Biology and Chemistry
Biology and chemistry is an optimal double major for students pursuing scientific research or medical school. These provide comprehensive lab training and foundational knowledge.
Education and Psychology
Education and psychology is an ideal second major for students interested in school counseling or administration. The classes blend child development, teaching methods, and counseling coursework.
Engineering and Mathematics
Interested in robotics, data science, or other analytic roles? Engineering and mathematics is a strategic double major choice for technically-minded college students.
Journalism and Political Science
Journalism and political science as double majors complement communications coursework with government knowledge. Students can target a career path in political reporting, campaign strategizing, or policy analysis.
Economics and Business Management
Economics and business have overlapping courses as double majors. These provide practical business skills and a deeper understanding of modern society’s economic issues.
Economics and Statistics
Economics and statistics should help you take on a role that requires quantitative skills, such as financial engineering or computational finance. Stanford University in California is a high-ranked university offering statistics major programs.
Marketing and Communications
With marketing as your first major and communications as a second major, you’ll experience the best academic and extracurricular activities to prepare for your chosen career in public relations.
Business and Art
Pursuing a double major in Art and Business is a great option if you are interested in selling your art. Some of the best schools to study art in the United States include Stanford University, Yale University, and the University of California – Los Angeles.
Business and Communications
Business majors can consider adding communications as a second major to learn efficient marketing methods to promote products and services.
Communications and Science
When studying for a pre-med course, you can double major in communications to improve how you understand and deal with others.
Marketing and Communication
Marketing and communication as double majors are important to get into personal relations, branding, marketing, internal communication, and external communications roles. The top schools that offer marketing and communication are the University of California-Berkeley and the University of Texas-Austin.
Economics and Psychology
A combination of these fields helps conduct policy and social analyses. Harvard, Stanford, and the University of California-Berkley are the top universities for a major in economics or psychology.
Economics and Supply Chain Management
These disciplines are critical to business operations, from raw materials to completed goods. Supply Chain Management-Economics double majors work in firms and organizations’ operations management and procurement departments in today’s e-commerce-driven environment.
Economics and Global Politics or Political Science
Economics paired with global politics or political science as a second major is a program for doing research in macroeconomics. Students who take this path can work in political science, international relations, economics, and public policy fields.
Economics and Finance
The double majors of Economics and Finance are the right choices if you enjoy buying, selling, or trading stocks. Harvard University offers undergraduate and graduate programs in its Economics Department.
Foreign Language and Political Science
When interested in getting into jobs with a globalized workforce, studying foreign languages will make you a competitive candidate. Studying political science is a second major that will attract potential employers in international and domestic organizations.
Foreign Language and Business
According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, 10% of double-major combinations include a foreign language degree. Knowing another foreign language can help you form connections that will help your business grow.
Computer Information Systems and Marketing
Computer Information Systems and Marketing are the ideal double majors for more job opportunities in the computer science and program design industries. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford, and the University of California-Berkeley are some of the top institutions offering computer information systems.
Computer Information Systems and Accounting
Having a double major in Computer Information Systems and Accounting will help you present analyses better and more efficiently. The skills you’ve learned in this major will contribute to your accounting job, especially when making financial documents.
Computer Information Systems and Supply Chain Management
Obtaining a double major degree in Computer Information Systems and Supply Chain Management provides a broad understanding of logistics, information technology, and economics. This choice is perfect for those interested in a career in purchasing, procurement, or logistics.
Environmental Science and Public Policy
Having a background in public policy will help your cause in environmental science issues. Stanford and Harvard are among the top universities that offer degrees in environmental science and public policy.
Psychology and Criminal Justice
Psychology and criminal justice degrees will train you in criminology and the judicial system with psychology theory, research techniques, and psychological applications. Dual-degree holders in psychology and criminal justice may be qualified for investigative consultant, victim advocate, fraud investigator, and counterterrorism analyst positions.
Business Administration and Accounting
Graduates with a double degree in business administration and accounting can spot market inefficiencies, establish business plans, and mitigate risks. A study published by Cambridge University Press shows students who pair a business program with a science degree generally earn more than those with only one major.
Law and Accounting
A double degree in law and accounting is ideal for students interested in working in the financial compliance area. Considering law and accounting as college majors can prepare students who enter law school or take the CPA test.
Environmental Science and Marine Biology
Graduates of this double major can become environmental scientists and marine specialists. Boston University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Science, while the University of California offers a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology.
Business Administration and Public Health
These double majors prepare students for administrative careers in the complex and rapidly changing healthcare industry. Rutgers School of Public Health offers dual degrees in Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Business Administration (MBA).
What is a Double Major?
A double major involves earning two majors simultaneously, usually resulting in one degree with two areas of specialization. Students take courses to fulfill requirements for both majors, typically within the same department or with overlapping classes.
Dual Degree Versus Double Major
Attending a dual degree program and double majoring does not mean the same thing! Here are their stark differences:
- A double major entails studying two fields in a single-degree program. Dual-degree students study two fields in two separate college programs.
- A double major may not require extra coursework because they count toward the same degree. The dual degree track requires separate coursework for each degree program.
- A double major student is awarded a single degree. Dual degree programs confer two different degrees.
Benefits of Double Majors
Deciding to take a double major is a road less traveled in the college community. Substantial educational backgrounds easily impress future employers. As a holder of double major degrees, you show that you have the will, dedication, persistence, and value for hard work.
Downsides of Double Majors
Depending on your circumstances, double majoring can mean you shoulder twice the cost of one major. In some cases, it can mean extra years and consume your free time.
Double Major Course Requirements
A bachelor’s degree typically consists of 120 credits, although course requirements vary by school.
- Most double majors can be completed within the minimum required credits to graduate.
- Some majors may need more than the minimum number of credits to fulfill double major requirements.
- Schools often let sophomore-year students count general education and major courses toward multiple majors.
- Some colleges don’t allow shared courses to count toward a double major.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Double Major Worth It?
Pursuing a double major is worth it because it allows students to gain expertise in two subjects without necessarily extending their college years. For students interested in pursuing two fields, double majoring can be more efficient than earning two separate degrees.
Does It Cost More to Double Major?
Double major programs entail more classes, which means higher costs. Your school’s requirements and the individual program of each major will determine how many classes you must attend.
Can I Graduate From a Double Major in Four Years?
You can complete two majors in just four years with some careful planning and a massive amount of hard work. Consider taking AP or IB courses during high school to help you prepare for a college workload. Plan ahead, be smart with your majors, and manage stress in your free time.
Is Double Majoring Worth It?
Double majors are excellent choices if you are looking to broaden your horizons. However, you need to understand your strengths, weaknesses, objectives, interests, and career goals. It may be worthwhile to consider taking a second major to increase your chances of getting hired in your field of specialization.
When to Declare a Double Major?
Students are typically not required to declare any majors until sophomore year, so they wait until after starting college, exploring different subjects, and gaining practical experiences. However, for students certain about a double major, declaring earlier allows academic advisors to map out courses to maximize efficiency.
What are the Alternatives to a Double Major?
Rather than committing to a double major, students can explore interests and gain experience through minors, study abroad, internships, career bridge programs, certificates, and volunteering in their field of choice.
During junior year, substituting a double major with specialized electives and experience can clarify career goals while building attractive profiles.
Summary Points
Opting for a double major can make sense if you are passionate about the fields you’re studying and have a clear vision of how both majors can help you in your career. Whether you go for a second major or stick to one major, plan early and work hard!
Additional Resources:
