Hey! I am still a senior, but I will start a major in Engineering next fall. I am also planning to take two minors: one in business (accounting) and one in Environmental Sciences. Do you think it’s too much? Does Engineering (as a major) take too much time? I want to work for international organisations, such as United Nations, which is why I want to take environmental sciences. I am afraid of taking it as a major. I feel like 2 majors and a minor would be quite difficult.
Thank you!
I’m not an engineer but when my son was briefly considering that I looked into it a bit. I’d say yes, that would be very difficult. Engineering requires a lot of study time and a full load of classes.
But there might be other options. I remember looking at Virginia Tech and they had something like Biological Engineering or Bio Systems Engineering. Not Biomedical, but rather an engineering degree that could be focused on various plant or animal environments. Don’t remember all details, but seemed to cover core engineering along with environmental stuff. Maybe something like that would work for you.
This is very dependent on your school. Look at your curriculum and see if you have free electives or can dual purpose your required electives to see if it’s even possible. In most it won’t be unless you major in environmental engineering.
Okay. I will take your advice in consideration! Thank you! 
Why are you looking to get a minor in accounting? Only reason I can see would be to go into accounting and if that is what you want, skip the engineering. An engineer can figure out what trivial parts of accounting they need.
What are your career goals? Work for an international company is very vague as to what you would be actually doing. There are programs in Environmental Engineering that are within the Civil Engineering department usually that deal with water supply systems, waste treatment and management, etc. that may be what you are looking for. More info on your specific career goals would allow people to provide appropriate help.
Depending on your career goals and your academic strengths, there are many options you can consider. While you may be able to complete the major/minors you posted, that might not be the best option. Whether it’s doable in four years depends on the curriculum specifics and how many credits you can comfortably carry. Many students find that 12-18 is optimal, while a few thrive with 18+. I have one D who, with significant AP credit and some credit overloading, completed an engineering BS and a Spanish minor in three years. Doable, but a lot of work.
From what you’ve shared so far, I agree with those above who suggest you look into environmental engineering as opposed to a major in engineering and a minor in environmental sciences. If you want to pursue a business minor, I’d look at a broader option than accounting that exposes you to global business issues. Another option is to get your engineering/science degree, then follow-up with an MBA when/if it makes sense. (Some companies will help pay for an MBA.). Finally, there are dual degree undergrad engineering/business programs at some universities. Note these can be highly selective and require separate admission to the engineering and business schools.
Look at the options at the university(-ties) that you are considering. Academic advisors can also give you insight. Good luck with your decisions!
@HPuck35 Unfortunately, I do not know 100% sure what my career goals are yet. I simply try to combine my strengths. While I want to pursue engineering, I am also interested in issues that affect human lives. Therefore, I am considering environmental studies. I really enjoyed your answer about accounting! Thank you
@MomOf2TeenGirls I understand there is hard work doing so. I didn’t think of the option of an MBA. It would definitely allow me to concentrate at one thing at a time! Thank you!
Thank you all for your responses! As an international student, it means a lot!
beckytomeci, you have provided a snippet of a clue of what you might want to do when you said “issues that affect human lives”. What issues? Having clean water or enough to eat or cheap solar power or ??? The bet way to attack your dilemma is to start to answer that question or a least identify the ballpark(s) you want to be in. Then people can provide more meaningful responses.
My college experience had many twists and turns as I too wasn’t sure as at times what I really wanted to do. But when I went to look for a job after college, I focused on what I had really wanted to do all along, i.e. work in the space program. I got a job along those lines and that is what I did for my career.
You will also have decisions to make, but keep in mind the general area where you want to go with your career and keep adjusting accordingly. College is just a stepping stone to where you want to go, not a final destination.
An engineering major can be very demanding. Doing just the major alone can be difficult enough. Also, if you want to do minor(s), consider your purpose for doing them. Your diploma will not even mention that you did the minors. If you need to take extra semesters to do the minors, I would say that the extra tuition is not worth it. For you career, you will most likely only use one minor at most, if at all. To be honest, you will get little if any benefit from doing the two minors.
To be clear, there are two issues that have been raised that you need to consider: difficulty, and value.
An engineering major plus 2 minors will be difficult. Does that mean you cannot do it? No, people do that on a regular basis, but those with just the major drop out on a regular basis as well - the fact that it will be more difficult than the engineering major by itself is not as important as how difficult it will be for you. Maybe you’re an ace who can knock out the extra coursework with no problem, maybe you’re a student who is going to struggle just to finish the major. It is a hard thing to predict until you are experiencing it.
As to the value, colleges tend to tout the value of minors and multiple majors but industry generally does not care. It is unlikely that the UN would care if you had a minor or not, they are going to care about whether or not you have the skills they need, and you can get those skills without a formal minor. Remember that nothing comes for free, time spent on minors is time NOT spent on other things, so you have to consider whether or not you could use that time on improving your GPA, doing research, participating in major-related EC’s, or just staying sane.
Regardless, this would not seem to be a decision you need to make right now. Pick the major closest to what you want to do, and worry about minors and other such options once you have a couple of semesters under your belt.