Double Majoring

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello, I'm a junior and I was wondering if anyone knew which Universities would allow me to double major in subjects that are from different erm, sections/colleges..
I am pretty sure that one of my majors will be Philosophy & Linguistics, but for the 2nd it will either be Film or a Science. (strange?)
It didn't even occur to me that this would be a problem untill a friend said that I couldn't do this at UCLA and recommended USC, which appears to be completely awesome but I seriously doubt that I'd get into film..</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Well, a major is pretty much a field you are going to focus most of your college courses on. It is what you want to be when you grow up.
Just find a major you really like and try it in college and if you dislike it, find another one.</p>

<p>I think you can maybe search for a college with both majors and start off from there.
Or just find a college with your specific major.</p>

<p>I don't really know a lot about these things, but I'm just posting my thoughts, if it helps.</p>

3

<p>$$</p>

<p>Tons of colleges have both majors, but many won't let you do both.</p>

<p>I would like to double major over just doing one major. I have a broad range of interests and I don't know exactly what I want my career to be. I have a few in mind, but they happen to be in many different fields. I know that those I major in might not necessairily have to deal with the field that I end up in, but it's not just the career- it's the knowledge.</p>

<p>lol, thanks for the post. :]</p>

4

<p>You should searc around this site. many threads talk about double majoring vs major/minoring or just majoring while taking many classes in unrelated fields. Why double major when you have broad interests? Double majoring means setting yourself up to fulfill more requirements than you would for one major, and you're sacrificing much of the time that you would be using to take classes that you're in in different fields. Double majoring/ major/minoring is a way to get formal recognition for fulfilling requirements. One needn't have majored in a language to be fluent and educated in it, though. I could just learn a language and take various classes in it (literature, history, culture) and not get formal recognition. I ask you, why double major/major minor? Do you know that most people don't end up with a job even related to the field(s) in which they majored? </p>

<p>When you say film, do you mean production, writing or studies? It seems like the best film production programs want your full attention on film making. USC seems to encourage its students to take at least a minor, and they seem to hand them out like candy (every student seems to have one). However, how easy is it to group film there with anything? Film production (and not so much studies) is generally hard to double with anything, as the programs tend to demand your time and attention.</p>

<p>Why don't you take classes, see what requirements you're fulfilling at your university, and then see what's going on with your interests? Why spend your precious time, money, energy, and units on fulfilling requirements and not taking a broader range of classes that interests you more?</p>

5

<p>At USC they very highly encourage you to double major or major-minor. They make it easy for everyone to do it within 4 years too. It's significantly easier than at other places like UCLA.</p>

<p>In fact, if your two majors are sufficiently different they will even consider you for a special award they give to people who major in two very different fields of study - the top students who get the award even get scholarship money to attend grad school.</p>

<p>The only people who have trouble doing a double major are people who switch majors, transfer in from another university, or are in a very specific program. For example, it's hard for certain engineering students to double in 4 years because their program is so demanding. From what I've heard, it's the same for film, simply because it is so demanding and competitive.</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
You should searc around this site. many threads talk about double majoring vs major/minoring or just majoring while taking many classes in unrelated fields.

[/quote]

I have been. I haven't found threads that list specific universities.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Why double major when you have broad interests? Double majoring means setting yourself up to fulfill more requirements than you would for one major, and you're sacrificing much of the time that you would be using to take classes that you're in in different fields.

[/quote]

Why not when you have broad interests? </p>

<p>
[quote]
Double majoring/ major/minoring is a way to get formal recognition for fulfilling requirements. One needn't have majored in a language to be fluent and educated in it, though. I could just learn a language and take various classes in it (literature, history, culture) and not get formal recognition. I ask you, why double major/major minor? Do you know that most people don't end up with a job even related to the field(s) in which they majored?

[/quote]

Wouldn't it be better to double major and get the formal recognition v. just taking the classes? I know most people don't end up with a job related to field(s), but the fact is, it's something to fall back on. It's something to show when you don't have anything else, even if it doesn't go along with whatever field your career is in - it at least shows you can be dedicated.</p>

<p>
[quote]
When you say film, do you mean production, writing or studies? It seems like the best film production programs want your full attention on film making. USC seems to encourage its students to take at least a minor, and they seem to hand them out like candy (every student seems to have one). However, how easy is it to group film there with anything? Film production (and not so much studies) is generally hard to double with anything, as the programs tend to demand your time and attention.

[/quote]

I'd like production, but it might be writing. I have the silly belief that a person doing film should get some experience and knowledge outside the technical bits of the film field. Of course, you don't even have to major in some part of film to get into it, do you? But you need to get connections.. I will most likely not get in anyway.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Why don't you take classes, see what requirements you're fulfilling at your university, and then see what's going on with your interests? Why spend your precious time, money, energy, and units on fulfilling requirements and not taking a broader range of classes that interests you more?

[/quote]

It's a way to make sure I at least stick to two things. If I just spend time trying to take tons of classes that suit all of my interests I'd either never graduate or hastily try to graduate with something to just get out.</p>

<p>Besides, if it really is an issue, I could change my plan in college. This is just a preset.</p>

<p>
[quote]
At USC they very highly encourage you to double major or major-minor. They make it easy for everyone to do it within 4 years too. It's significantly easier than at other places like UCLA.</p>

<p>In fact, if your two majors are sufficiently different they will even consider you for a special award they give to people who major in two very different fields of study - the top students who get the award even get scholarship money to attend grad school.

[/quote]

Yeah, I saw. Very nice thing to try to get...</p>

<p>
[quote]
The only people who have trouble doing a double major are people who switch majors, transfer in from another university, or are in a very specific program. For example, it's hard for certain engineering students to double in 4 years because their program is so demanding. From what I've heard, it's the same for film, simply because it is so demanding and competitive.

[/quote]

I've heard...</p>

7

<p>I think of broad interests as being generally more than two. Perhaps you mean it differently than that.</p>

<p>Double majoring does show dedication, sure, it's something. If that's what you want with your degree, then so be it. It's fine. I just imagine someone who has broad interests would rather fulfill a major (which also show dedication, as getting a college degree does) and take classes all over the place that are interesting. Getting the formal recognition can come with its costs- taking classes you either don't want to take, have difficulty fitting into your schedule, or would rather not take (in place of another class), for instance. </p>

<p>
[quote]

It's a way to make sure I at least stick to two things. If I just spend time trying to take tons of classes that suit all of my interests I'd either never graduate or hastily try to graduate with something to just get out.
[quote]
</p>

<p>This is why almost all colleges make you satisfy a major. If you're thinking about doing two major, you wouldn't be doing one hastily. Also, you can't take classes to suit all of your interests (believe me, I'm trying :)). You have to find some balance. Don't feel as if you have to limit yourself so much, though. </p>

<p>Are you interested in linguistics as much, more than, or perhaps only when grouped with philosophy? Are you interested in philosophy? Which science(s)? I think the most difficult thing for you will be to find a place that has film (that has a good film program for production or writing). Good film programs are few and far between. Philosophy is fairly common, although a good department is slighlty, but not that much, harder to find, and linguistics is fairly common, but still uncommon. The sciences are fairly easy to find (but one of the top programs, harder). Film schools that I can name are NYU, USC, Chapman, UCLA. Did you have any in mind?</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
I think of broad interests as being generally more than two. Perhaps you mean it differently than that.

[/quote]

It does, but I can focus on all. So 2 is good.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Double majoring does show dedication, sure, it's something. If that's what you want with your degree, then so be it. It's fine. I just imagine someone who has broad interests would rather fulfill a major (which also show dedication, as getting a college degree does) and take classes all over the place that are interesting. Getting the formal recognition can come with its costs- taking classes you either don't want to take, have difficulty fitting into your schedule, or would rather not take (in place of another class), for instance.

[/quote]

I'd just self-study what I'm not taking, or leave it for a better time.</p>

<p>
[quote]
This is why almost all colleges make you satisfy a major. If you're thinking about doing two major, you wouldn't be doing one hastily. Also, you can't take classes to suit all of your interests (believe me, I'm trying ). You have to find some balance. Don't feel as if you have to limit yourself so much, though.

[/quote]

Yeah, but I'd rather focus on 2 and delve more into those than know a bit of everything.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Are you interested in linguistics as much, more than, or perhaps only when grouped with philosophy? Are you interested in philosophy? Which science(s)? I think the most difficult thing for you will be to find a place that has film (that has a good film program for production or writing). Good film programs are few and far between. Philosophy is fairly common, although a good department is slighlty, but not that much, harder to find, and linguistics is fairly common, but still uncommon. The sciences are fairly easy to find (but one of the top programs, harder). Film schools that I can name are NYU, USC, Chapman, UCLA. Did you have any in mind?

[/quote]

My original plan was to major in just philos in a UK uni (anglophilia and experience!), but the Unis also had Philos & Linguistics combined.. so I thought that'd be nicer, since I have some weird fascination with language. If you combine that with philosophy, you get, perhaps, a more indepth study philos of language :) I'd like to go to the UK, but I highly doubt it: parents are like, 'Only go if you get into oxbridge w/sholarships.'
Anyway, so I've been searching for a US uni that really appeals to me.. and the only one is USC. It has a great rep, location, TO, etc. My mind's somewhat set on it, but, again, I really doubt I can get in for film (don't really have anything to show, trying to work on that..). I'm just trying to find other Unis that offer great programs for both.. I think UT (yay texas -_-) is pretty good, but I don't think they'd let me do both. UCB I think is good and NYU - but again they might not let me do both.. which is why im trying to find out which ones that do.
I see myself going into film over medicine (hence the science other major, exactly what I don't know), I can do some much there, and med - it's viewed as "safer" and I also love it (or maybe I'm just being asian..) I guess I'd just minor in one of them..</p>

9

<p>UCB has little production compared to NYU or USC, schools with some pure production programs. UCB has some production in film studies classes, but not much formally besides that. It does have an amazing film studies program, though. Also, linguistics here is very good, as is philosophy.</p>

<p>You can major in a non-science and go into medicine. This would still require you to take many classes, and your requirements for two majors would require a lot. </p>

<p>I'd suggest finding a list of schools with film production programs, and then see which have linguistics (as most will have philosophy).</p>

10

<p>I know many have both and have excellent programs in both. But what if I can't find a Uni, besides USC, that allows me to double major in subjects that belong to different sections? This is what I am asking for help on here.</p>

11

<p>Many schools allow it. Berkeley does (but has no production). It's usually just difficult at many schools, as different colleges within the same university tend to have drastically different general requirements and policies for AP credit (amongst other things).</p>