<p>I'm not sure if I'll be able to get into Columbia, but I'd like to double major in college (English and Political Science [focussed on international affairs; for all the other schools I'm interested in that have an IA or IR major, I'd be doing that instead]), and I was wondering if the required core classes counted towards the general major requirements at Columbia (I'm pretty sure they don't count towards the distribution ones). I'd like to study a few languages too, so I'm trying to decide whether it would be better to just take four years to complete the poli sci requirements and spend a fifth finishing up the English before going on to grad school (this all assuming I manage to get accepted). Thank you very much.</p>
<p>The others can correct me if I'm wrong, but very few Columbians takemore than four years to graduate, and when it happens, it almost universally means they take a summer semester or an additional fall one, not an extra year. The university is loathe to provide housing and such to people who did not fulfill their graduation requirements in four years. Attempting to complete another major may not even be a sufficient excuse not to graduate in four.</p>
<p>That said, it's difficult to answer your first question without making some necessary distinctions. Most core classes exist outside of major requirements. You will not be able to count Lit Hum, CC, Art Hum, Music Hum, or Frontiers of Science toward any major, as far as I know. What you may be able to count are classes within Core distribution requirements. The science requirement isn't relevant for you, but anyone majoring in biology could count a class they took to fulfill the two-term science sequence. You could definitely fulfill a requirement in PoliSci or English with classes taken from the Major Cultures requirement. </p>
<p>As for languages, you'll be required to study at least one as part of the Core. It shouldn't be too difficult to add others if your heart's really in it, as these classes are generally easy (if they're not, say, Arabic or Chinese). Still, double majoring with the Core and the goal of learning multiple tongues may be overambitious. You may want to consider a concentration (basically Columbiaspeak for minor) in one of your intended majors or in both (Columbia allows you to graduate with only one concentration, or multiple concentrations; a major is not necessary). You can use your summers for language study too, releasing time to concentrate on your majors during the semester.</p>
<p>you MUST graduate in 9 semsters (for cc, it's 8 for seas).</p>
<p>Okay, thanks. If I manage to get in I'll look into some summer programs.</p>
<p>Columbia 2007 - Is there any disadvantage in terms of future employment or graduate school to graduating with a concentration as opposed to a major? I've heard mixed reviews.</p>
<p>Unless you're a pre-med or a finance major, odds are you'll end up doing something that has nothing to do with your english lit degree. So I wouldn't imagine that it's that big of a deal.</p>
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I'm not sure if I'll be able to get into Columbia,
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<p>You gotta love the overambitiousness of someone who's ready to quadruple major but hasn't gotten into Columbia and the likely mootness of this entire thread.</p>
<p>It's amusing (I hesitate to say "cute") how prospective students all want to do multiple majors; one isn't good enough, they have to be special. Then reality sets in - all these majors require a lot of WORK. If you're interested in a subject, you can take courses in it without actually majoring.</p>
<p>Well, a significant plurality (if not a majority) of Columbia College students are now double majors or at least majors/concentrators. It's caused a wide-ranging review of major requirements by Dean Quigley, who may try to pare them down or propose a replacement for the major system altogether.</p>
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Well, a significant plurality (if not a majority) of Columbia College students are now double majors or at least majors/concentrators.
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<p>So what's the problem? If a plurality/majority are able to handle two subjects as it is, why does anything need to be changed?</p>