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Would a double major followed by a PhD be too much?

I don't want to spend the rest of my life in school, but I do want to teach at the college level. I'm debating between getting my PhD in history or English/writing. Would it be too much of a hassle to double major and then decide?
#double-major #phd #history #writing #creative-writing

creative-writing history double-major phd
Thank you comment icon I'm currently double majoring in Psychology and Environmental Studies and it's definitely not too much to handle! It's made my college experience so much more fun and enriching, allowing me to take upper division class in two areas of interest rather than limiting myself to one. History and English are also very complimentary fields, so you might even see some overlap in terms of classes that count for both areas -- which would reduce your overall coursework slightly. I would say definitely go for it!! Double majoring has clarified my career goals so much. Marlowe
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Martina’s Answer

Double majoring is a lot of work and will take longer than the traditional 4 years. I also expected to teach at the college level and after obtaining a Masters degree in history I ended up as an adjunct teaching 7 classes per semester and not making enough money to survive. I still expect to obtain my Ph. D in History later however since there are very few full-time professorships available (since most schools use adjuncts) I have transitioned into museum as it is a bit more steady. My advice would be to take your time and really decided what your options are. Explore the job market for the type of work you would like to do. I love teaching and will go back to traditional teaching at some point but museum work is also teaching the public.

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Jo’s Answer

Hi Kira! Double-majoring is a great option when you're starting out in college if you can't decide between to areas of study that you're passionate about. I think you'll find that English and History go well together - both involve similar skills with writing and reading comprehension. I will also warn you that both areas of study will include a large amount of reading (more than 100 pages a night) and larger essays than some other studies. However, if you're an organized student, you can totally handle it! You would also have the option at any point to change one to a minor if you decided it was too demanding or your interest wasn't as strong at the other area. Good luck!
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Rachel’s Answer

I double majored in film and media studies and sociology. I was interested in both of these topics and I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do as a career. I am so happy I majored in both of these things and didn't limit myself. I graduated in four years and I even almost minored in music, so I wasn't struggling to keep up (not to mention I was highly involved in extracurricular activities). I encourage you to pursue both of your interests and see where it takes you. You should just consider the practicalities as well, like if you could afford to spend more time in college if need be.
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Sara’s Answer

I would second Rachael and Jo’s comments. When I went to college I was interested in practically everything, and I ended up majoring in Political Science and Sociology. They went very well together. I also graduated in four years (and studied abroad during my junior year, which at my school frequently set people behind). I actually didn’t go into it thinking I wanted to get a Ph.D., but I loved (and still love) Sociology so much that I couldn’t get enough so I got a Ph.D. Choosing to double major didn’t affect my length of time in school and just enriched my experience. If you want to teach at the college level, I’m glad to hear that you intend to get a Ph.D. because that’s essentially a requirement, especially if you want good opportunities. What I will say is I ended up becoming a professor for a few years, and then because of academia (not Sociology, again, I love it) I left. There used to be a lot more freedom, fewer demands/stress, and less bureaucracy. I don’t regret getting a Ph.D., though. I loved the coursework and research, and it has given me great opportunities.

Overall, just be open to exploring your interests and the possibility that it may change (I started undergrad orientation as a marketing major for 15 minutes before I knew it was wrong for me.)
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