4 answers
3
Questions
Asked
1255 views
What factors should I think about when deciding if I should double major?
Hi! I am a current junior in high school right now and am wondering what I should think about when choosing whether or not to double major. I am interested in business and psychology. Film too, but business and psychology is on top of my list.
Login to comment
4 answers
Updated
Kelly’s Answer
Hi Christie! Thanks for your question. When thinking about your major, try to think about what gets you excited, curious and passionate. College is for exploring options, trying new things and expanding horizons. You may take a class that is required and absolutely fall in love with the topic. Try to keep an open mind.
Here's the thing: you don't need to declare a major, or a double major now. Minors are available and that might fit the bill as well.
And for total transparency, I went to undergraduate twice for two different things! I now teach Film Production at a Conservatory and I love it!
Here's the thing: you don't need to declare a major, or a double major now. Minors are available and that might fit the bill as well.
And for total transparency, I went to undergraduate twice for two different things! I now teach Film Production at a Conservatory and I love it!
Thank you, Ms.Donnellan for your response. I appreciate it!
Christie
Absolutely! Happy to help ☺️
Kelly Donnellan
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
Before considering a double major in business and psychology at a typical four-year college, think about the time and effort needed for each major:
- Total Credits for a Degree: 120 credits
- Average Credits per Semester: 15 credits (to graduate in 4 years)
- Weekly Class Hours: 15 hours
- Total Class Hours in 4 Years: About 1,800 hours
Not all 1,800 hours focus on your major. Typically, 30 to 60 credits (450–900 hours) are for major-specific courses. The rest cover general education like English, Math, and History, plus electives.
Classroom time is just part of the commitment. The common rule is to spend two hours studying for every hour in class.
- In-Class: 15 hours per week
- Out-of-Class Study: 30 hours per week
- Total Weekly Commitment: 45 hours
Treating college as a full-time job means you'll devote about 5,400 hours over four years for each major.
- Total Credits for a Degree: 120 credits
- Average Credits per Semester: 15 credits (to graduate in 4 years)
- Weekly Class Hours: 15 hours
- Total Class Hours in 4 Years: About 1,800 hours
Not all 1,800 hours focus on your major. Typically, 30 to 60 credits (450–900 hours) are for major-specific courses. The rest cover general education like English, Math, and History, plus electives.
Classroom time is just part of the commitment. The common rule is to spend two hours studying for every hour in class.
- In-Class: 15 hours per week
- Out-of-Class Study: 30 hours per week
- Total Weekly Commitment: 45 hours
Treating college as a full-time job means you'll devote about 5,400 hours over four years for each major.
Thank you, Mr.Aseo for your informative response.
Christie
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
Hi Christie!
Sounds like you are in a proactive mindset where you are thinking about the future and how to set yourself up for success. I double majored in college in both MIS (Management Information Systems) and healthcare management. My main focus going into college was on training myself to be a manager, but quickly realized that I am not likely to get a job in management right out of college as "how can I manage someone in an area in which I do not have those skills?" This got me thinking and adding MIS as a double major as the focus of the major was in IT hard skills. Here are the quick items that I would think about when wanting to pursue a double major:
1) Cost and time (for me it was an extra ~30 credit hours but I was luckily able to get out in 4 years but only because I took between 18 and 21 hours each semester, which was a heavy workload when trying to balance work, friends, and classes)
2) Do they compliment one another? (in my case it was healthcare as the industry but IT is everywhere, including in hospitals)
3) Do they build both your soft and hard skills? (hard skills get you initially noticed and can be directly written on your resume when applying for jobs; soft skills help you during the interview and help to keep you in your job and help provide advancement opportunities)
4) College is designed to help build foundational skills that enable you to get your first job or two. After that, it really is about what is on your resume and the places you worked and what skills you developed at each of those places
One of the phrases I remember when entering college was "our goal is to train and build you for jobs that do not exist today". I think that phrase still holds true as I graduated over 10 years ago and the foundational hard and soft skills I was introduced to back then still apply today to my role, which is not in either IT or the healthcare industry :)
I wish you best in your journey!
Sounds like you are in a proactive mindset where you are thinking about the future and how to set yourself up for success. I double majored in college in both MIS (Management Information Systems) and healthcare management. My main focus going into college was on training myself to be a manager, but quickly realized that I am not likely to get a job in management right out of college as "how can I manage someone in an area in which I do not have those skills?" This got me thinking and adding MIS as a double major as the focus of the major was in IT hard skills. Here are the quick items that I would think about when wanting to pursue a double major:
1) Cost and time (for me it was an extra ~30 credit hours but I was luckily able to get out in 4 years but only because I took between 18 and 21 hours each semester, which was a heavy workload when trying to balance work, friends, and classes)
2) Do they compliment one another? (in my case it was healthcare as the industry but IT is everywhere, including in hospitals)
3) Do they build both your soft and hard skills? (hard skills get you initially noticed and can be directly written on your resume when applying for jobs; soft skills help you during the interview and help to keep you in your job and help provide advancement opportunities)
4) College is designed to help build foundational skills that enable you to get your first job or two. After that, it really is about what is on your resume and the places you worked and what skills you developed at each of those places
One of the phrases I remember when entering college was "our goal is to train and build you for jobs that do not exist today". I think that phrase still holds true as I graduated over 10 years ago and the foundational hard and soft skills I was introduced to back then still apply today to my role, which is not in either IT or the healthcare industry :)
I wish you best in your journey!
Thank you, Mr.Emerson for your insightful response and for sharing your own experiences!
Christie
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1376
Answers
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Christie,
I appreciate how forward-thinking you are. I can already tell that you're planning for the future. Although a double major might be powerful, it must be strategic rather than just exciting.
First, think about why you want to double-major. Is it because you can actually see the connections between the two fields? Or is it the anxiety of picking just one? For instance, there is a strong complementary connection between psychology and business. Understanding individuals, behavior, and decision-making is made easier by psychology. Business uses the information in strategy, marketing, entrepreneurship, leadership, and human resources. It's a logical pairing. Film is different; it might still be appropriate, but depending on the university, it might result in a more demanding course load.
Second, think about time and workload. More mandatory courses, less freedom, and occasionally additional semesters are the standard for double majors. Do you want depth in one field and the freedom to explore leadership positions, study abroad opportunities, or internships, or do you want depth in two areas? A major plus minor may at times provide balance without becoming overwhelming.
Third, consider your career path, even if it's only a broad one. You don't need a set plan; instead, consider the following:
- Business + Psychology → marketing, consumer behavior, HR, entrepreneurship, consulting.
- Psychology + Film → storytelling with emotional insight, media psychology, content creation.
- Business + Film → media production companies, branding, entertainment management.
Notice how different combinations lead to different ecosystems.
Fourth, when selecting a college, ask useful questions. How flexible is the course of study? Is it simple to declare a second major? Are there any credits that overlap? While some colleges make double majoring easy, others make it quite challenging.
Here's a clever tactic: You don't need to make a decision just now. After their first year, many students declare a second major after they have a greater understanding of their interest levels and workload. You might take introductory courses in the other subjects, start with business or psychology as your main focus, and then make a data-driven choice.
It's alignment, not accumulation, that matters. If a double major enhances your story rather than just your transcript, it is worthwhile.
You’re asking the right questions early. That gives you an advantage already.
Best wishes!
I appreciate how forward-thinking you are. I can already tell that you're planning for the future. Although a double major might be powerful, it must be strategic rather than just exciting.
First, think about why you want to double-major. Is it because you can actually see the connections between the two fields? Or is it the anxiety of picking just one? For instance, there is a strong complementary connection between psychology and business. Understanding individuals, behavior, and decision-making is made easier by psychology. Business uses the information in strategy, marketing, entrepreneurship, leadership, and human resources. It's a logical pairing. Film is different; it might still be appropriate, but depending on the university, it might result in a more demanding course load.
Second, think about time and workload. More mandatory courses, less freedom, and occasionally additional semesters are the standard for double majors. Do you want depth in one field and the freedom to explore leadership positions, study abroad opportunities, or internships, or do you want depth in two areas? A major plus minor may at times provide balance without becoming overwhelming.
Third, consider your career path, even if it's only a broad one. You don't need a set plan; instead, consider the following:
- Business + Psychology → marketing, consumer behavior, HR, entrepreneurship, consulting.
- Psychology + Film → storytelling with emotional insight, media psychology, content creation.
- Business + Film → media production companies, branding, entertainment management.
Notice how different combinations lead to different ecosystems.
Fourth, when selecting a college, ask useful questions. How flexible is the course of study? Is it simple to declare a second major? Are there any credits that overlap? While some colleges make double majoring easy, others make it quite challenging.
Here's a clever tactic: You don't need to make a decision just now. After their first year, many students declare a second major after they have a greater understanding of their interest levels and workload. You might take introductory courses in the other subjects, start with business or psychology as your main focus, and then make a data-driven choice.
It's alignment, not accumulation, that matters. If a double major enhances your story rather than just your transcript, it is worthwhile.
You’re asking the right questions early. That gives you an advantage already.
Best wishes!
Thank you, Ms.Okafor for your informative and explanatory response. I have a question, does it go the same way when it comes to declaring a minor? Is it possible that I declare a minor as the year goes by? I am thinking of majoring in business and perhaps minoring in psychology as you mentioned it may provide more balance compared to double majoring.
Christie
Yes, Christie. It usually works the same way with minors. At most universities, you don’t have to declare a minor right away. Many students officially add a minor in their second year after taking a few introductory courses and confirming their interest. Majoring in business and minoring in psychology is a very smart, balanced strategy. It gives you depth in business while strengthening your understanding of people, which is incredibly valuable in marketing, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
Chinyere Okafor
Thank you, Ms.Okafor for your in-depth response.
Christie
You're welcome!
Chinyere Okafor