So Im starting to look at colleges and a double major is an essential for me, because i want both a business and communications degree. Since it is different colleges, its hard and unclear to find information on this topic! Does anyone know if I could double major in communication and business management at Penn State? Do many students double major between 2 different colleges? How common is it to double major, and can you graduate on time?
Thanks!
A useful research step might be to look up the recommended academic plans for both majors and see how different they are.
yes and yes. You are less likely to find overlap in majors between colleges. All students I know (they are honors) who double majored finished in 4 years. Most have ample AP credits, but the honors students do a thesis. In my area it invokes a significant amount of time in lab, so even with these additional requirements, 4 year graduation is feasible. Depending on the majors, it is difficult to take a semester abroad and graduate in 4 years unless you have a good amount of AP credit in your area or are willing to take a few classes over the summer.
What bodangles mentions is important. You should do your research and chart out a plan for how to fit the coursework in for the entire 4 years. If you do this on a year-by-year basis you are more likely to find yourself painted into a corner.
Both points that @bodangles and @luvthej raise are important. Another issue to consider is course registration prioritization. Registering for classes at any school becomes an exercise in compromise. A principle reason PSU honors students are able to double-major is that they get scheduling priority - the only students who register before them are 4th year seniors, so they have a very good chance of landing the courses they need in the order they need to finish those multiple majors on time.
D2 was able to double major in both the College of the Liberal Arts and the College of Arts and Architecture on time, and with honors in both degrees. She came in with only 6 AP credits, but was a Schreyer Scholar which greatly helped her in getting necessary classes. It can be done, but it takes close attention to details and a well laid out plan.
It takes a lot of preparation, motivation, and planning. Yes it can be done. Both my kids had majors in Liberal Arts and the College of Science. They both graduated in 4 years with 9 degrees between them (2 masters, 7 bachelors). Being in the Schreyer honors college and having a sizable number of AP credits were big enablers. Honors advisers also have a lot more leeway approving course substitutions.