<p>I want a double major in marine biology and zoology. Don't bother saying it's pointless, because for my career goals, it's not. How difficult would this be? Would I realistically have time for anything other than school such as clubs, sports, sororities, etc.? Could I finish in 4 years?</p>
<p>As people have told you before in the other threads in which you asked this question, the answer depends entirely on the university/college you decide to attend. At some schools, a double major (especially in two related fields) will be easy cake and you’ll have plenty of time to get involved in other things. At others, it will be very difficult to complete in four years even if you do nothing but study. It depends on how many general education requirements the school has as well as whether your two departments will double-count certain courses you take to count for both majors. It also depends on how often the two colleges offer the classes you need to take to double major and whether they are offered at the same time.</p>
<p>While I believe that a double major in marine biology and zoology is indeed pointless for you for a variety of reasons, the most practice of them is that I actually checked the website of both of the schools between which you were choosing (FIU and Auburn). FIU has a marine biology major but not zoology, so it’s a moot point. Auburn also does not have a zoology major, but they do have “marine biology” as well as “organismal biology,” with a zoology track. The majors are SO similar to each other that it would, quite literally, be pointless to major in both. They differ by about 2-3 classes. So I guess technically by picking up those extra 2 or 3 classes you could earn both majors, although I’m not sure the department would let you (it depends) or how much it would make a difference to you career-wise.</p>
<p>In fact, it’s probably more worth it to you to minor in psychology, since many of the principles of animal training come from psychology. Some psychology departments offer classes in animal behavior. FIU doesn’t seem to have any but they do have psychology of learning, experimental analysis of behavior, and behavior modification. Auburn has similar classes.</p>
<p>If the 2 majors at Auburn are too close, then no-go
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<p>^So, OP, your answer is that it’s not difficult: it’s impossible. 3 classes of difference = 9 hours. So Auburn would not allow you to double major.</p>
<p>You know you’re allowed/encouraged/required to take classes in your major IN ADDITION TO the required ones, and that you can choose to take them in one subspecialty, right? So you could just take as many classes that are animal-focused without needing the major.</p>
<p>First, apply to FIU’s Honors College. Then, if you’re not sure about FIU, apply to a few other universities. UNC Wilmington has a top program, for instance.
Gulf Coast State, Florida Southern, FIT, Nova Southeastern, UMiami, UWF, and UTampa are all Florida schools that offer some form of the majors you want (zoology or animal behavior + marine biology). Check them out.
If you’re interested in Animal Behavior/Ethology, apparently Bucknell, Southwestern, and Canisius all offer the major (I had to look it up - use “big future” from the college board).
If you want to double major to be an animal trainer, do marine biology (with extra courses in animal biology), with something related to tourism or psychology, and do an internship & a research project.</p>
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If you want to spend 4-5 years in pointless pursuit of degrees, read no further.</p>
<p>The OP, like many HS kids, has no real understanding of how the working world operates. Which is not an indictment, because how could they? Their focus is (or should be) education. But therein lies the rub. In education “credentialism” is the name of the game. Garner awards, degrees, etc. because those are seemingly objective measures and are used as a “fair” standard for advancement. Without any experience to the contrary it is easy to over-generalize and assume that is how the world works. More degrees -> more better. </p>
<p>The problem is that it isn’t how the world works. It seems like the OP is interested in animal training, and I can promise her/him that a History major who spent a few summers working their way up from a volunteer cleaning stables to a low-paid summer job assisting the trainer is going to be a much stronger job candidate than anyone who has an armful of degrees seemingly related but nothing else. Not only is the value of a 2nd or 3rd major zero, to a large degree so is any college major at schools like Auburn for those hoping to be animal trainers. The people that actually get hired into trainer jobs go to places like the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program at California’s Moorpark College (about which there is a fascinating book, “Kicked, Bitten, and Scratched”). </p>
<p>I see a double-problem here. First, your plan won’t work. Second, you have already announced you won’t listen to anyone who doesn’t enthusisastically support what you’ve already decided must work. Good luck with that…</p>
<p>Let’s start with asking you exactly what IS your career goal? We can give you better guidance. My daughter majored in marine biology, less than 1/3rd of those that started with that major ended up graduating with that degree. It is a very rigorous course of study. If you are intent with a career in that field, you will be very involved in research projects, lab assistant roles and volunteer assignments. Summers will be spent working in the lab on yours or your mentors research project, out in the field or most likely a non-paid internship. You will not have a great amount of time for the extras that you mention in a previous thread.</p>