Double majoring provides extra edge for college grads

By Amanda Phipps
phippsa@mytjnow.com

The number of students double majoring has increased in recent years.Graphic by Courtney Niskala • niskalac@mytjnow.comStudents have stepped up their idea of a college education by taking on, not one, but two majors.

The number of undergraduates with double majors rose from 79 in Fall 2010 to 92 in Fall 2011, according to Winthrop’s Office of Accreditation, Accountability and Academic Services.

Vice President for Academic Affairs Debra Boyd said students choose to double major for different reasons. 

“I think most students pursue double majors because they clearly know what career they want and having two majors will help them in that chosen career,” she said. 

Boyd said some students will also choose another major to gain a “different type of intellectual enrichment.” 

Boyd said the most popular double-major combinations include history and political science, biology and chemistry, psychology and sociology and business administration and world languages.

She said these combinations may be popular because both majors can be connected. Students may have classes that overlap both majors, such as chemistry and biology classes. 

Boyd said some double majors, such as business administration and world languages allow students to devlop useful career skills. 

“Those who are fluent in multiple languages would certainly have an edge in almost any for-profit or not-for-profit enterprise,” she said. 

Boyd said, while the most popular, these combinations aren’t the only ones that exist. 

“The range of combinations includes double majors between and among programs in all the degree-granting colleges at Winthrop,” she said.

Boyd said most colleges have policies concerning double majors. Winthrop makes double majoring easier for students through advisors that listen to students’ goals and help them plan their classes to meet these goals, Boyd said.

Students who double major have two academic advisors, she said. DegreeWorks, which has the degree requirements of both majors available to students and advisors, is a tool to help double majors.

Double majoring can open more opportunities for students, said Tom Injaychock, associate director for the center for career and civic engagement.

“(Double majoring) opens up more doors for you than a single major,” he said.

Injaychock said employers look for potential employees who have well-developed communication and critical thinking/problem-solving abilities. He said double majoring helps students develop these skills from multiple perspectives.

While there isn’t a high percentage of students who double major, it has become more common for students to have minors, even if they aren’t required, for the same reason students double major – to open opportunities, Injaychock said.

“From a student’s perspective, it is about getting more competencies,” Injaychock said.

Boyd said students who double major should have a plan. 

“Students who double major should make sure that they understand the requirements of both majors, that they develop a plan of study to complete both majors and that they meet with advisors from each discipline to keep informed about each program,” she said.