<p>I'm currently an English major in my 3rd year, but many of the dry readings and literary criticisms I have to read are wearing me out. I only need 4 more classes to finish my major, but it seems like a chore to plod on.</p>
<p>I've also taken a lot of philosophy and some math classes. I'll admit - I'm a formal logic geek, and I like the rigor of philosophical arguments. In my current logic class we've discussed set theory, turing machines, modal semantics, and even Robinson arithmetic (basically, axioms from which all truths of arithmetic can be derived).</p>
<p>Getting to my point: I can graduate with a dual B.A. in English & philosophy, or I can get a philosophy major/math minor, or an English major/math minor.</p>
<p>(I think I can rule out the last choice now that I've thought about it... and I guess a philosophy major and two minors in english and math is also possible.)</p>
<p>Which one of these options do you all think is best? I know my degree won't have as much cachet as say, an engineering major, but which of these looks better to employers?</p>
<p>A math minor will be useless because all minors are pretty much useless come time to actually get a job. That being said, whether your major is philosophy or English or both it won’t really matter because both majors essentially teach the exact same skill set - critical reading, analysis of arguments, strong writing, etc. Essentially, I’m saying that any combination of any of those areas will pretty much amount to the exact same thing.</p>
<p>minoring in something doesn’t really mean anything, at least to the employers. I would say double major in them since you seem to enjoy philosophy and you’re not that far from completing English anyway</p>
<p>These are surprising responses – yes, I do know minors don’t mean much, but it’s not as if I was planning to be something like an actuary with just a math minor.</p>
<p>I’m actually interested in all three subjects, but English a little less now.</p>
<p>I would disagree that math gives you the same skillset as a humanities major. Subjects like English, philosophy, or history universally give you “critical thinking and writing skills”… but taking math gives you problem solving abilities and makes you more numerate, which fewer people are.</p>
<p>Maybe in this case the benefits of the minor are understated?</p>
<p>I meant that English and philosophy give you the same skill set - I should have been clearer. Yes, math teaches different skills, but no minor provides enough background to give you an edge in a career.</p>
<p>You can probably tell which way I’m leaning here. Thinking about careers is just too long term IMO, especially given the economy and the fact that the average person switches careers multiple times in his/her life. I’m not picky at all about landing a “perfect job.”</p>
<p>I think that having a math minor could help distinguish me (at least, for my first job) from the sea of liberal arts and business management majors, no?</p>
<p>I have a scattershot history of internships/part-time jobs in theatre and IT, so I do have some work experience, but I’m not looking specifically in either field.</p>
<p>At the end of the day a liberal arts degree is a liberal arts degree, regardless of the major or minors. No matter what programs you ultimately choose you are going to have the exact same job choices as every other liberal arts student out there - virtually anything. There are some jobs where a background in math could give you an edge, certainly, but my concern is that math majors usually scoop them all up. Just study whatever you find fun and enjoyable - that’d what a liberal arts education is all about. Don’t stress about majors and minors too much. Hell, if you can’t find a job there’s always the ever-popular grad school.</p>
<p>I would imagine that a math minor would open up some doors because perceived quantitative skills that you would have acquired.
What about econ minor?</p>