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Double Major vs. Dual Degree: What's the Difference?

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You have options when earning your degree. Learn more about each track and which one is best suited for your career goals.

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Enrolling in a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree program means declaring a major in order to graduate. However, some undergraduates opt to double major or earn dual degrees, deepening their knowledge in two subject areas and potentially broadening their employment options after graduation. In 2015, 12.5 percent of students between the ages of 20 and 29 declared a double major [闭.听

But, there are important differences between the two options. Double majors fulfill the coursework and requirements for two separate majors, such as communications and economics or business and psychology, but only earn one degree. Dual degree enrollees, on the other hand, fulfill the requirements necessary to earn two separate degrees, which tends to take longer to finish than a traditional four-year 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 program.听

In this article, we鈥檒l discuss the different requirements for each choice鈥攄ouble majors versus dual degrees鈥攁s well as the potential benefits of graduating with each of these distinctive options.听听

Double majors vs. dual degrees

It typically takes a minimum of 120 credits to graduate with a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree, with anywhere from one-third to one-half of those credits going toward a major. Let鈥檚 review the major requirements for double majoring and enrolling in a dual degree program.听

Double MajorDual Degree
DefinitionA single bachelor's degree in two distinct fields. Undergraduates who double major fulfill the course requirements for two different major programs.Two separate degrees for two different majors. College students who earn dual degrees often study for an additional year to earn two different degrees covering two different subjects.
ExampleA bachelor's degree in criminal justice and psychology.An undergraduate who earns both a bachelor's in internal relations and another in Arabic.
BenefitsPotentially broader career options and higher earning potential.Potentially broader career options and higher earning potential.

Below, we'll go into these differences and similarities in greater detail.

Double major meaning

When you graduate with a double major, you graduate with a single 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree in two distinct subjects or areas. To obtain a double major, you'll need to complete all the required coursework for each of your majors. Those majors can either be related or entirely distinct, though it can be beneficial to choose complementary majors.听听

Examples of double majors:

  • Communications and business

  • Economics and mathematics

  • Criminal justice and psychology

  • Foreign language and political science

  • Public health and statistics

Depending on what you study, earning a double major should take the same amount of time as earning a single major. But some majors require more credits in order to finish, which can add time to your degree鈥攅ven if you attend full-time. If you鈥檙e interested in double majoring, it鈥檚 a good idea to speak with your college advisor and determine each major鈥檚 requirements as well as how much time it will take to complete them.

Read more: 10 Most Popular College Majors

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Benefits of pursuing a double major听

A double major ideally helps you achieve a more extensive education by deepening your knowledge of two subjects without adding significantly to the time it takes to earn your 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree. With a double major, you may have broader career options when you graduate, as well as a higher earning potential over time.听

A 2003 study using data from the National Survey of College Graduates found that double majors made 2.3 percent more than those who chose a single major. That number grew to between 7 and 50 percent when the graduate paired a major in the arts and humanities with a major in STEM or business []. If you鈥檙e torn between two subjects, earning a double major can be an opportunity to choose contrasting areas, each of which may help you develop or strengthen different skills.听听听

Remember that you can also opt to minor in a subject or area rather than complete a second major. It鈥檚 a good idea to think about your timeline, resources, and goals before deciding whether a double major is the best option for you.听

Dual degree meaning

Earning a dual degree does not mean fulfilling the entirety of a new 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree program, such as taking your general education requirements twice. Instead, for colleges and universities that offer such programs, earning a dual 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree generally means at least one extra year of study in order to fulfill the often-overlapping requirements for two related degrees.听

There are dual degree programs available at each educational level: associate, 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚, 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚, and professional, but not every college or university offers dual degrees, and even when they do, the types of degrees or majors may be limited. There are also a number of undergraduate-to-graduate dual degrees programs that decrease the amount of time it takes to earn each type of degree individually. Let鈥檚 take a look at dual 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree options:听

Examples of 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 dual degree programs:

  • Chemistry and biology听

  • Business administration and marketing

  • International relations and a foreign language

  • Engineering and music

If you鈥檙e interested in earning two 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degrees, research whether your college or university has such a program available in the areas you鈥檇 like to study.听

Bachelor鈥檚 and 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 dual degree programs

If you know you鈥檇 like to attend graduate school after completing your 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚, you may want to consider dual degree programs designed to reduce the amount of time you spend earning both. On average, you can expect to spend five years rather than six earning your undergraduate and graduate degrees, though it depends on your ability to attend full-time and your program鈥檚 specifications.听

Examples of 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚/尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 dual degrees:听

  • Business: BA/MBA

  • Computer science: BS/MS

  • Public health: BPH/MPH

  • Social work: BSW/MSW听

  • Nursing: BSN/MSN

If you鈥檙e interested in earning a dual 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree, or combined 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 and 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degrees, search for colleges and universities that offer such programs in your area of choice so you can reflect on whether it aligns with your larger goals.听

Benefits of pursuing a dual degree

A dual degree program, whether at the 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 level or 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚-to-尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 level, gives you the distinction of graduating with two degrees鈥攗sually in less time than it would take to earn each one individually. Moreover, because many dual degree programs are built on related subject matter, you can deepen your knowledge and potentially develop new skills.

Which is better: Double major or dual degree?听听

One option is not better than the other. The best option is the one that makes the most sense for your personal and professional goals.听

If you do not plan on pursuing graduate school after earning your 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 but still want the benefit of broader subject knowledge, then a double major may be the best choice for you. However, if you鈥檙e interested in two areas but want the distinction of two degrees rather than one, then dual degrees may be the best choice for you.

Ultimately, you should take time to think about your resources, your goals, and which path makes the most sense given those factors. If you鈥檙e still not sure, speak to your academic counselor or college advisor for help determining the best path for you.听

Explore further听

On 糖心vlog官网观看, you can earn your 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree online in high-demand fields like marketing, computer science, and business administration from top universities. Complete your coursework at your own pace and schedule, and learn from anywhere with internet access. If you鈥檝e earned college credit previously, you may be able to transfer up to 45 hours to the University of North Texas Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences.听听

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Article sources

1.听

PBS. 鈥, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/pay-get-double-major-college." Accessed February 1, 2024.

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.