I was wondering how doable a double major between global studies and Economics (possibly Business-Econ) would be. Please note I’m looking to study for a quarter overseas and not be overwhelmed by my academics while at UChicago. Thanks for commenting!
Both Business Economics and Global Studies are relatively recent creations. No one is going to have actual experience with this double major combination yet, because the fall quarter hasn’t started yet, and it will be the first in which the Business Economics track exists.
Looking at the requirements, it seems do-able, with some caveats. It will help a lot if you come in having placed out of some of your Core requirements. To graduate, you need a minimum of 42 courses, and you can take a maximum of 48 (and maybe a few more), but most people wind up somewhere between those numbers.
The course requirements for the two majors (assuming a BA in Economics) add up to 26 courses (although maybe it would be 25 if the Economics Department would not make you take an extra a non-Economics upper level course because you were double-majoring in something as different as Global Studies). But Global Studies also has a requirement that you have the equivalent of 7 quarters of a foreign language – 4 more than the Core requires. So the real combined requirement is up to 30 courses.
The Core potentially requires you to take as many as 18 courses. If you have to take all 18 – i.e., if you don’t place out of any of the Core courses – you would need 48 courses to complete the Core and both majors. Maybe 47. That’s basically 100% of your college courses – no non-major electives ever, and four courses every quarter. No one will tell you that’s a good plan.
However, with AP scores and good placement tests you can place out of as many as 7 of the Core courses. If you were able to do that, or close to it, it would make your schedule a lot more flexible, and make the double major more do-able. You could conceivably place out of more than just the Core foreign language requirement, which would free up as many as another 3 course slots.
You should be able to work in a quarter abroad. Several of the University’s study-abroad programs are designed to accommodate Economics majors. Most people only take 3 course credits abroad, however, and you will have to work to get courses that meet major requirements. So depending on how tight your schedule is, and what courses are offered where, it could be easy or hard to plan a quarter abroad.
It’s also good news that Economics does not require a senior research essay. Global Studies does have that requirement. You would not want to do two of them at the same time.
TL;DR: It will be a lot easier to do if you can place out of at least a full year of foreign language, and maybe more than that, and if you can place out of a few quarters of Core math and science.
Doable if you work closely with your general and major advisors to maximize the number of courses satisfying both major requirements. Keep in mind that many courses satisfying your Core requirements may not be used to satisfy majors or electives (although they can, indeed, double as pre-reqs when needed). Also, consider using your time abroad to knock off the foreign lang requirement.
If you map out a couple of potential paths now, you can get a head start on how your curriculum might look over the next four years. Bus. Econ. is probably more sequential, GLST more flexible. So one example path might include prioritizing the Core for Fall and Winter, layering in a bit of Bus Econ by Spring, and adding GLST courses once you’ve satisfied most of the Core. Make sure to think through a couple of study abroad scenarios (including timing and country) since some of the more popular ones can fill up quick.
What does “not be overwhelmed by my academics while at UChicago” mean to you? Most take 3-4 courses in any given quarter and double majors will naturally take relatively more required courses and fewer electives than single majors. The more you take in years one-two, the fewer courses later on or the more electives you get to do. Some start with three till they get used to the pace; most will complete the first year fulfilling at least 11 courses. So you should probably expect to be taking four courses by Winter quarter. If you are coming in with 400 credits from AP/IB and/or have placed/tested out of some of the Math and Science, you might consider still loading up a bit early on in order to give yourself options down the road (ie a few more electives, a lighter load when doing your BA seminar etc.). That way you won’t have a huge number of crucial graduation requirements all bunched up together and stressing you out in 4th year.