Double Major

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Davis
1

<p>Hi, </p>

<p>I am entering UC Davis in a few weeks and am conflicted on whether to double major or not. I know that I want to study biosci/evolution and ecology, but I want to double major in maybe music or history, but am afraid that because of the biosci major being so many units I won’t be able to do it, alongside the requirements needed for the college of biological sciences and the college of letters and science. Is majoring in biosci and music doable in 4 years? because I can’t afford a 5th year. My classes are Medieval Culture (4 units), Chem 2a (5 units) Math 17a (4 units) and a freshman seminar on symmetry (1), should I try to include more units if I am going to double major, or should I take out medieval culture and put in a class that satisfies more of my GE requirements that way I can take more major requirements?</p>

2

<p>BioSci is listed as 104-114 units for the B.S. degree. The music minor is 22 units. That gives you 136 units of requirements on the high side. Then you still have about 40 units of wiggle room. I don’t really see an issue with that, especially since many engineers with 180 units IN THEIR MAJORS graduate in four years.</p>

3

<p>first off, i wouldn’t say MANY engineers graduate in four years. some definitely do though, and the engineers i know are on track, but they’re crazy, haha. </p>

<p>[UC</a> Davis News & Information :: UC Davis Facts: Graduation Rates for Incoming Freshmen](<a href=“http://facts.ucdavis.edu/graduation_rates_incoming_freshmen.lasso]UC”>http://facts.ucdavis.edu/graduation_rates_incoming_freshmen.lasso)
in 2003 the percent of people who graduated within 4 years was 50%, 5 years 75%, 6 years 80%. not trying to be pessimistic, but half of the people in your class will probably not graduate within four years, and that’s major-blind.</p>

<p>i don’t think the units are 136 on the high side - since music is a BA you have to keep in mind that you have to fulfill the BA/L&S requirements (breadth, foreign language, L&S English comp). that on top of the BS stuff could be a lot. you should speak to an advisor about what exactly you have to do - this is what they’re for.</p>

<p>oh and jonline, the music minor is 22 units, but the music major is 63-82.</p>

<p>if you plan on double majoring, especially with a BA and a BS which would be more unit heavy than 2 BAs or 2 BSs, you should probably try to knock as many things out as fast as possible, as in try to find a triple dipper or something. </p>

<p>but the bottom line is speak to an advisor</p>

4

<p>Yeah, my bad on the major/minor thing–wasn’t thinking when I looked at that. </p>

<p>The double major can definitely be done…it will just require some careful planning. </p>

<p>And when I said “many engineers,” I was basing it on the engineers I know (myself included), who are pretty much all on track to finish in four years.</p>