Hi everyone! I’m having a little bit of trouble figuring out what to put for my intended major since I plan to double major in both Math and Computer Science (equal emphasis on each, but no interested in the integrated major)
Should I need to write on my apps that I’m planning on double majoring, or should I apply for one of my intended majors and declare a double major later down the road? How hard is it to declare a double major after getting accepted, especially if those majors are in different schools?
If the two majors are in different divisions of a university, it may be more difficult than if they are in the same division. If the general education requirements differ, then you may have to fulfill both divisions’ general education requirements.
The difficulty of adding the second major can depend on the difficulty of declaring or changing into the second major. For example, it is often much harder to declare, change into, or add as a second major computer science than for many other majors, since computer science is commonly a very popular major where student interest exceeds department capacity.
@ucbalumnus I know this differs from college to college, so I’m going to take UCB as an example. What requirements would one need in order to add computer science as a double major? Is it simply taking required classes for a comp sci major while fulfilling the required classes for his/her current major (and of course passing those classes), and then filling out a double major form? Or would there be times when it’s simply impossible to add Computer Science as a second major due to popularity?
With my current AP test scores, I should be able to graduate in 3 years at public universities, but I’m willing to stay for a 4th year if I need to in order to double major.
First of all, don’t indicate double majors on your applications, as not all schools allow double majors, to avoid the appearance of your lack of awareness, and perhaps your presumptuousness. For schools where CS must be applied directly, select CS as your major. For others, you can select either math or CS. Follow the directions of your college and declare your second major later as you make your progress in college, if allowed by the college.
For UCB specifically, you would need to meet the declaration requirements of both majors in order to do a double major. For example, to do a double in math and L&S CS, you need to meet the requirements for math:
https://math.berkeley.edu/programs/undergraduate/major/declaring
and the requirements for L&S CS:
https://eecs.berkeley.edu/academics/undergraduate/cs-ba
In general, you should assume that adding CS as a second major will be as difficult as declaring CS as a single major or changing your single major to CS.
@ucbalumnus Do you know why it’s nearly impossible to double major into comp sci from another major? Is it because the comp sci classes give comp sci majors priority, or is it something else?
It is the same reason why CS can be hard to change into or declare as a single major: the college’s CS department is enrolled to its full capacity and cannot effectively teach every interested student. In these kinds of situations, the CS courses give enrollment priority to CS majors, and entry to the CS major is limited.