<p>My son just finished his freshman year at CU-Boulder. His current major is aerospace engineering, and he had intended to enroll in a concurrent BS/MS program he could complete in 5 years. Now, home from college, he told us he now plans to double major - in Aerospace and Environmental Engineering. This will also take 5 years.</p>
<p>He likes aerospace, and the higher starting salaries, but environmental is his passion. He is afraid an aerospace job will stick him in a cubicle in a large city, perhaps far from Colorado</p>
<p>From a parent's perspective, I see 2 degrees in one field in 5 years being worth more than one degree in 2 fields in 5 years. Thoughts? Is this a waste of time and money? ANd will the workload be so impossible is he likely to eventually drop one of the majors?</p>
<p>In general I agree that a MS/BS in 5 years is a better bet. Can he check what the job opportunities are in the Environmental Eng field? Seems like the two majors would point at different job opportunities.</p>
<p>Just have him get an MS in environmental engineering if that is the direction he wants to go. Getting two BS degrees is generally not really worthwhile.</p>
<p>These are two completely different fields. Most likely one would end up being a waste. He should just pick one and go with it. Does he know what environmental engineering is? It can involve field work but it can just as easily have you sitting behind a desk. There is often a large amount of report writing and permitting as an environmental engineer. Field work tends to go away as you move up. If he chooses that route just make sure he knows what an environmental engineer does. It seems to me the water/waste water treatment is the most stable area. It also involves landfill design, remediation, air pollution management, ect. Some of these areas can be greatly affected by politics. </p>
<p>What about Civil Engineering? He could easily get a job as an environmental engineer but still have allot of other options (Structural, Water Resources, Geotechnical, Construction Management, Materials, Environmental, and Transportation). May be easier to find a field position. Civil does get bashed allot on this forum. It can take a hit when the economy goes down but I do not think its enough to not major in it.</p>
<p>AeroE tends to open up more options because it has higher overlap with more traditional fields, so I’d suggest the MS option.</p>
<p>A double major is very often a waste of time unless it’s planned for a specific career. Contrary to popular belief, double majoring doesn’t impress recruiters and often will scare them off (if I’m an Aerospace recruiter, I will question them motives of an applicant with a double major in AE and EnvE).</p>
<p>A person with a BS/MS is positioned much better in the market place than a double major.</p>
<p>@CivilEngr - My husband is an Environmental Engineer. He and 2 partners started their own water resources firm about 5 years ago. They do a wide variety of projects so I think S has an idea of what is possible. Although he is probably imagining his future self walking a stream bank in preparation for restoring a riparian area or designing new fish habitat, rather than sitting in front of a computer writing yet another bid proposal or attending a contentious Planning Commission hearing.</p>
<p>We agree he needs to pick one and see the desire to double major as a sign he still hasn’t decided what he really wants to do, and is hedging his bets, so to speak. We need to figure out how to help make a choice. Thanks, everyone.</p>
<p>Aero-nvironmental Engineering!!! </p>
<p>sounds like wind turbines :D</p>