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| SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENT LIFE :: Double Majoring |
Taking on a Double MajorMustafa Rupawalla of Pleasanton started his freshman year as a physics major. By the end of the fall quarter, he changed the focus of his studies to economics. Then he decided to pursue medical school, and he added a major in biochemistry and molecular biology. Now a junior, he is among the more than 10 percent of UC Davis students who pursue a double major to formalize their concentration in a second area of interest or in the belief they will enhance their prospects for graduate school or the job market. "It's a lot of work, especially if you're trying to graduate in four years," said Rupawalla, who is a peer academic counselor for the College of Letters and Science. Aiming toward a career as an orthopedic surgeon, he said he is using in his daily life what he's learned in economics, and hopes it will help him as a doctor to better understand healthcare policy. More than 100 majorsUC Davis offers more than 100 majors, which are directed courses of study in a specific discipline. Each major requires that a student earn about one-third to one-half of all academic units in the designated major, with about 24 to 30 units of preparatory study in the lower division and 36 to 58 units of in-depth study in the upper division. In 2005-06, about 780 of 5,820 baccalaureate graduates earned a degree with a double major. Among those degrees, the top 10 double majors most often included psychology, communications, economics and international relations. Cris Breivik, an academic counselor and outreach coordinator in Letters and Science, often advises students considering a double major. He said a student does not need a second major to succeed, and research has found that it offers no hiring advantage over a single major. For interest's sake Some students take a certain major to satisfy career goals or family pressures and then add a second for interest's sake. "It's something that they really want to do," Breivik said. "I love that spark when they're really taken in by it." Katie Bartscherer of Pasadena added a history major after enjoying the history courses she took for her international relations major. A senior on track to graduate in June and aiming for a career in diplomacy, she said the second major diversifies her record and may be beneficial when she applies to graduate school. However, Bartscherer, who is also a peer academic counselor, said the focused pursuit of a double major can limit a student's ability to pursue a broad range of interesting elective courses. Advice on the double major For students considering a second major, Breivik suggests planning early and consulting with the department's adviser. He also recommends that students explore the aptitude tests, occupational forecasts and other career resources of Counseling and Psychological Services and the Internship and Career Center. He said if students plan well, they can graduate with a double major on time and with no additional expense. Breivik offered an important caveat: Students shouldn't bite off more than they can chew—a single major with a good grade point average would be better than a double major with a lower GPA. "Do what you enjoy and what you reasonably have time for," Breivik said. "Choose a major because you enjoy the discipline and will do well in it." Originally published in the Aggie Family Pack, January 2008 |