Double major or minor in Spanish?

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I'm a sophomore International Affairs major, focusing on Latin America. I also anticipate minoring in Social Entrepreneurship and then maybe going on to business school. I went into Intl Affairs with a change-the-world, I'm-gonna-work-for-a-non-profit mindset and I've really loved the major. However, I've realized (especially since I'm living with engineers) that this major isn't giving me any marketable skills or anything. I'm definitely learning a lot, but I don't really know how to actually do anything, you know? When we talked about Social Entrepreneurship in my intro to Intl Affairs class, I was extremely intrigued by it and I'm definitely going to try to get into the intro class for next semester. Half of that minor is participating in a Field Study in either South Africa or the Dominican Republic. As much as I would LOVE to be in South Africa for five weeks, I would have to do the DR (which I also really want to go to) and I think it would tie IAF, SE, and Spanish together quite nicely.</p>

<p>So. I thought I would end up minoring in Spanish. It's always been my favorite subject and I studied in Spain for five weeks this past summer. Somewhere along the road I heard that minoring doesn't really mean anything (which is why SE would be supplemented by business school obviously). And I also ended up having to take an honors class this semester, Intro to Linguistics, which counts towards the major but not the minor. So that inspired me to double major with Spanish and made me realize that is what I am most passionate about. I've taken at least five classes so far that would go towards the major and there's plenty of overlap between IAF and Spanish. However it would still be an extremely tight fit getting all three of these majors/minors. The majority of the Spanish major classes left are all literature classes. I haven't taken any yet, and I'm definitely interested in taking one or two at least, but the major requires five. I don't know if that's what I want to be doing with the rest of my college career. (There's also cultural classes that seem like a bit of a joke, so Idk how I feel about spending the big tuition bucks on them.) I also feel weird majoring in a subject that so much of the world already naturally knows. Oh and there's also a sliiiiight chance that I might end up wanting to be a Spanish teacher if I don't find the right career path (I know that would entail going back to school and doing a ton more work and spending a ton more money). </p>

<p>Is it worth it for me to go for the double major? I really am wicked passionate when it comes to Spanish and I might even end up absolutely loving all the lit courses. I'm also probably going to study in Peru spring 2012. I love Spanish-- do I need the double major to prove it? (That's not really how I'm looking at this, but maybe it's a valid question.)</p>

<p>[Cross posting in Parents' Forum]</p>

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<p>No, you don’t need the double major to prove it. Just go around speaking Spanish and put that you’re fluent in Spanish on your resume :)</p>

<p>I was once excited to be double majoring this semester until I realized there were so many hidden requirements. Sometimes there are seminar/capstone classes that can give you hell, especially on top of ones you’re taking for your other major. Plus there might be pre-reqs you need or just other requirements you’re not aware of, so I would definitely go talk to an advisor before making any decisions.</p>

<p>Do you think you’ll love the literature classes enough to want to take multiple classes? Will these classes interfere with scheduling for the major you already have?</p>

<p>On the other hand, like you said you could always get certified to be a Spanish teacher, which would be great since you like it, and that would be a great fallback if you can’t decide on a career or can’t find one.</p>

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<p>Yeah there’s a chance I’d have to do two capstones. I definitely gotta talk to my advisor. I’m going to take one lit class next semester (which I think is the last minor req I gotta do) and see how it goes. There is a ton of overlap between the IAF and Spanish majors since I am concentrating on Latin America. But I may or may not have enough free electives to do the Spanish major without overloading. I’m thinking I might elect to do the Spanish minor and perhaps look into the Education minor (I’d have to decide if I’d be interested in ultimately teaching at an urban bilingual elementary school or teaching Spanish at the secondary level). </p>

<p>Thanks so much for the response!</p>