<p>So UPenn has this joint degree program where Wharton students can do a dual degree with Engineering (or the College) and graduate with TWO diplomas--a B.S. in Economics from Wharton and a BSE in some engineering field. </p>
<p>I was just wondering if this was typical of most schools when students pursue a dual degree/double major. Do they actually graduate with two separate degrees? I was always under the impression that a double major was just one diploma with two areas of concentration?</p>
<p>I think it would be pretty sick to graduate with two degrees in four years...</p>
<p>The Penn program does not guarantee you will graduate in four years and course requirements to do it are difficult to complete in only four years, five would be more reasonable. </p>
<p>Universities usually have multiple “colleges” – such as one for liberal arts and sciences, one for engineering, one for business, others. At many, a dual major is something you would do within the same college, while a dual degree would be completing the required courses and a major in each of two separate colleges. Some allow dual degrees, some will allow it only for certain kinds of dual degrees, and some either prevent it or have sufficient barriers to doing it that it is impracticable to do so. For example, it is virtually impossible to do the Penn program at UIUC where the business college generally won’t accept anyone into its program from another college at the university unless the student gives up pursuing the degree in the other college. However, the business college there has never said doing so is prohibited – it just prevents it as a matter of preference.</p>
<p>I think most people complete Penn’s dual degree program in four years. Double majors are generally easier than dual degrees except you only graduate with one degree (in most cases).</p>
<p>And yes, graduating with two diplomas is pretty sick. It also helps when applying to grad school if you can keep your GPA up.</p>
<p>A dual degree is different than a double major. In a double major, you are within the same college or school. You major in 2 things, but any distribution requirements cover both majors. You meet the general requirements for one degree, but major in 2 subjects. A dual degree means that you are getting 2 seperate degrees, usually in two different colleges or schools within the university. You have to meet general requirements and distribution requirements for EACH seperate school. Besides the ones mentioned above, another common dual degree choice is a Bachelor of Music in performance and a Bachelor of Arts or Science. The requirements of both degrees must be met and there is often little overlap.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m hoping to do a business/engineering combo myself, so I’ll let y’all know in 5-6 years how it all turns out (starting my senior year in a month).</p>
<p>I’ll also probably be doing this at a small to mid-sized private or state university.</p>