<p>Hey guys, I got into the Engineering school for Computer Science. I also want to double major in economics or some kind of business (idk which school economics is in at Illinois).</p>
<p>Is it hard or even possible to double major at Illinois?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Economics is a major in Arts & Sciences. You cannot double major in business because the business school accepts no double majors from other colleges. You can possibly double major in economics. Usually to do so you need to take those courses that would normally be taken by econ majors in first two years so that you can apply for acceptance to the double major beginning 3d year; acceptance will depend on having first two year courses and your grades. The real problem to doing a double major is that engineering has so many requirements for courses, and the courses you take require so much out of class work, that it is not easy to be able to take courses needed to complete a second major in another college and still graduate in four years. Some have tried and succeeded, some have tried and failed ultimately dropping the second major, and most who consider it, once they see what is actually needed in devotion of time and energy to get an engineering degree, come to their senses and realize a double major is not necessary.</p>
<p>So its possible, just hard? Is it hard/possible to get a minor?</p>
<p>I am willing to spend another year (5 years in total) to get a double major. It seems worth it to me.</p>
<p>Yes, possible, just usually hard to do and easier to do in 5 instead of 4 years. Decision to actually do double major should await after you are in college for a while (except to try to take freshman year courses needed). Five years may not be enough as many engineering students take 4 1/2 to 5 years just to do the single major. A lot depends on the individual and also depends on what you actually want to do while thinking about it during sophomore year in college not while in high school. A double major diminishes the possiblity of doing a coop and still be able to graduate in 5 years. In a coop you work for a company (for pay) for a semester – often it is a combined summer and a semester; and many coops require you do it twice, usually junior and senior year with the result that you do graduate in 5 years even though your course work is only 4. Those are very good things to get because if you do well you can get an offer of employment for after graduation (and many even treat you on the pay level as already having the number of months of experience of your coop time when you join after graduation). </p>
<p>Minors are alot easier to pursue, although you still need approval from department having the minor, and you can minor in business.</p>
<p>I just checked engineering figures to see how popular double majors are among students who are actually there and thus have had some college experience under their belt before deciding to do a double major. The number of undergrad engineering students pursuing either double degrees or double majors this year is “0.” See <a href=“http://www.dmi.illinois.edu/cp/[/url]”>http://www.dmi.illinois.edu/cp/</a> at line 4085.</p>
<p>So here’s the problem specifically with CS. CS homework is often given out in the form of MPs (machine problems) and projects. MPs are essentially PSETS with coding problems that you must solve. In other words, CS classes are VERY time consuming. Even if you were able to double major Business and Engineering (which you aren’t, since the Business school down here is very stingy about letting anyone into their school - even a transfer from DGS), it would take you such a long time to complete a business degree (whichever concentration you decide on) and a CS degree that it wouldn’t be worth it.</p>
<p>I must ask you why you wish to pursue a double major in Business and CS anyhow. If it is because you want a boost on your resume or because you believe it makes you more “entitled” to start your own business down the road, you’re trying to go for the double for the wrong reason. There is a program called the “Technology and Management” program down here that is very prestigious. It’s a link between the Business and Engineering colleges, and it counts as a minor (yet it’s so much more than that). Also, you will find that you may very well be working on one or more startups down here as a CS major, which will definitely quench your thirst for a business-like college career.</p>