<p>I plan on double majoring (Computer Science and Film) wherever I decide to go to college, but I'm worried about the limitations that this will put on me. One of the reasons I'm looking at Oberlin is the study abroad programs at Prague or NYU. I was wondering if many students who double majored were still able to study abroad.</p>
<p>With study abroad, the main thing is that you are able to still collect enough credits there that will count towards your Oberlin degrees (if you plan to graduate in time). For me, as a double major, it wasn’t as difficult because my majors sort of overlap and I study the language of where I went. I’m guessing it’s definitely still possible in your case, but you’d just need to figure out a plan earlier to make sure you’re on track. For example, a program where you can definitely study one (or both), and then make sure you take a few extra courses in the other before you leave (or just a lot when you come back).</p>
<p>It’s definitely possible, especially since you already know what you want to study. Just make sure you plan things out early and make your goals clear to your advisor, and you should have no problems. (AFAIK neither of those majors requires an unusual number of courses; film is probably on the lower side, which definitely works to your advantage.)</p>
<p>Double-majoring is very common, and many people study abroad as well. The only thing that complicates either is if you have a major in the physical sciences; labs can make it hard to schedule other courses in the afternoon (e.g., humanities/social studies seminars), and it isn’t always easy to find a place to study abroad that fits with U.S. science curricula. Not that it’s not doable - it’s just more complicated.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info and the quick responses. I was worried that it would be impossible. Now I feel a bit better about it.</p>
<p>Totally not impossible! Quite doable, actually!</p>
<p>re: double major
Most Obies double-major (around 60%), so you’ll be in good company. Because we have distribution requirements, instead of a “core,” it’s easy to finish on time with a double major.
As a note: both Computer Science (CS) and Cinema Studies are time consuming, with assignments taking up a lot of time. That said, the CS majors have a “social lab” so folks can work together and use each other as resources. Cinema majors can get lots of support from students in other majors (theater, music composition, Creative Writing) and often network among their friends to assemble shooting crews and casts. It’s hard, but it works. </p>
<p>re: study away
As Estargrl88 mentioned: it works if you study away in a place where you can earn credits for one of your majors. Both Prague and NYU add a lot of credits for the Cinema major; I’ve known several Cinema majors who’ve done those programs and learned a lot from them. And quaere is totally right- talk to your first year adviser, as well as profs in both majors. They’ll give you specifics.</p>
<p>Would double majoring in History & Biology be strenuous, as compared to other double majors?</p>
<p>Yes and no. Biology is the most popular major at Oberlin (it trades off with English, year to year); History is always number three. Because of their size, there’s a lot of different classes to take, so scheduling won’t be as difficult as it would be for other pairings. As long as your study away compliments a major, you’re great.</p>
<p>That said, they’re both very hard majors, and quite time intensive.</p>
<p>Would you recommend maybe turning Biology into a minor? How popular is religion as a major?</p>
<p>There is no minor offered in Biology. Religion is a medium sized department in terms of faculty, but I’m not certain on their number of majors. History is not a particularly strenuous major, since the requirements are pretty loose, and there are so many courses offered that you can take whatever interests you and fit it into your schedule.</p>
<p>How about DM in Biology and English? Is this achievable? Do you think that it would be more of a benefit that they are so popular at Oberlin, or a drawback?</p>
<p>Sorry, but this whole thread troubles me. Prospective students should not be worrying about double majors, or even about majors at all. There’s a reason why Oberlin doesn’t ask students to declare a major until the end of the sophomore year: the first two years should be used as an opportunity to try out various possibilities, including departments you don’t really know anything about, before you commit yourself to a major (or, possibly, two). Yes, a double major in biology and English is certainly possible, but it’s neither a benefit or a drawback that they are popular majors–the only important question is whether they are the right majors for <em>you</em>. You don’t need to be worrying about it at this point!</p>
<p>Dave, I can undertand that. A liberal arts college like Oberlin does seem to provide a good opportunity for their students to explore different areas, etc. However, if a student was considering a double major, wouldn’t the planning have to start as a freshman in order to ensure they would graduate within 4 years? Or do you think it would it depend on the intended majors??</p>
<p>Maggie, you are making a good point. My intended majors, for example, would have no overlapping courses: so, I have to keep in mind that. Plus, if someone really knows what he or she wants to do, this does not mean that this person will not experiment a bit; only that they will prioritize their work, which is, after all, a very valuable lesson to learn. :)</p>
<p>I read that only 15% of freshman end up majoring in what they intend to. I know I ended up in the one field I knew I wasn’t going into as a freshman. You will exposed to a lot that you haven’t been exposed to before and it will most likely change what you want to do. Just relax and let yourself experience all the opportunities out there. Don’t fence yourself in.</p>
<p>For more on this issue, see [Oberlin</a> Blogs | Blog Entry: “Double or Triple Major Madness”](<a href=“http://blogs.oberlin.edu/about/ethos/double_or_tripl.shtml]Oberlin”>http://blogs.oberlin.edu/about/ethos/double_or_tripl.shtml) .</p>
<p>well… I admit, 3 majors does sound over the top :)</p>
<p>having 3 majors*</p>
<p>Well, I have a friend who is double majoring in physics and english, AND she’s going abroad. So it’s definitely possible to double major in english and a lab science and still go abroad.</p>
<p>My freshman year roommate is a religion major. The religion department is more or less why I came to Oberlin. It’s absolutely phenomenal. Granted, not all of the professors are great, but Cory Barnes and Cindy Chapman are just out of control smart and wonderful. I’m minoring in religion for sure, and I think it’s just an awesome department. Take classes in it. Especially if you’re going to be a freshman next year, we have a visiting professor coming who’s teaching a really cool class on pop cultural depictions of Jesus.</p>