Do Double Majors Matter?

[KyleH]

So,

I have to decide (rather soon) between double majoring in History and Political Science at TESC or just getting a history degree. If I just go with History, I'll use Fema for free electives and save even more time and money than I'm already saving. Do employers even care about the double major? Will poli sci even help me with just a BA? It typically requires a PhD to be worth anything, right? I'm sort of desperate for answers and it kind of feels like there aren't any, so anything anybody can say will help.

[ryoder]

Also try your post on degreeforum dot com.
There tend to be a lot more discussions like this on that site.
Of course a moderator will probably disagree but its the truth.

[Maniac Craniac]

Also try your post on degreeforum dot com.
There tend to be a lot more discussions like this on that site.
Of course a moderator will probably disagree but its the truth.

I'm sure you mean degreeinfo.com. I agree with what you say, even though I'm a moderator milelol:

[KyleH]

haha alright, I did that too. Be nice if I could get some feedback here, though.

[ryoder]

ManiacCraniac - I didn't know you were a moderator. I think I saw you around on the other site

In my opinion a double major can matter.
For example, if I have a BS in accounting and a BS in computer science I will probably be a great benefit to the FBI in investigating the billions of dollars in fraud that they investigate.

History and political science make sense. I don't know what job you can get with a poli sci degree. I know someone who has one and she works as a secretary and is studying to be a pharmacy assistant. Of course, I have no degree yet and do very well as a software engineer.

I am thinking of doing a double major too once I finish my BSBA CIS since I have about 140 credits right now and more are coming soon. I want to put those credits to good use

I might do computer science, math, math/natural science or even social sciences. I'm not far away from any of those at this point. I could even do history since I love history.

[Maniac Craniac]

ManiacCraniac - I didn't know you were a moderator.

Oh, I'm not a moderator here. I'm a moderator at DI. That's what I meant in my earlier post. Eh... I guess another failed attempt at a cheap joke on my part

[Kaz]

Are you wondering whether having two majors will improve the odds of you getting one job? Or are you wondering whether it is worth the trouble to "double" the number of jobs you could get? My two ¢...

First, if the only difference between graduating with one major and two majors is a few classes then you should double major. Honestly, the only reasons not to are usually laziness and wanting to save a bit of money. Money is a big deal on this board, and to me too, but a few hundred bucks shouldn't make-or-break such a big, permanent decision. A couple years down the line those few hundred bucks won't look as big as your completed degree. On the other hand, if the second major drastically sets your graduating date farther back and will cost thousands more dollars then I say forget it.

Second, if the majors are very "close" to each other I don't think it helps much. Just my opinion. If you were going to get a job about the history of politics it would appear that it should help. But I'm sure prior work experience, GPA, references, interview skills, etc., all matter more. In other words, having only one major and being good at those other things would easily beat out completing both majors and lacking in those other things.

Third, if the majors are significantly different, I think it can actually set you apart. A friend of mine with a lot of comp sci industry experience, and a comp sci bachelor's, told me that if he had to do it all over again he'd double major physics and English and just put the computer languages he knew on his resume. His reasoning is setting himself apart: the physics major would prove his analytical skills, his English major would prove his communicative ability, and together they'd show that he had something different to bring to the table. With the listed languages, and an internship or two under his belt, he firmly believed that that resume would make it to interview over a lot of comp sci/IT resumes precisely because everyone else had a comp sci/IT degree.

Fourth, unless you know "exactly what you want to be when you grow up" or are simply "checking the box", completing a double major gives you a "Plan B". Lots of people have an idea of what they want to do, so they pursue a degree that will get them there, only to be a year into the job and not loving it nearly as much as they thought they would. Or parallel to that, the economy could shift and that chosen profession is no longer so great to be in. If you have a very similar second major completed, it won't give you that much ability to transition into a different career. If the second major is quite different, if gives you a chance at a transition. At least in theory :coolgleam: !

[KyleH]

I'm guessing this'll cost between $1200-$1500 and around 6 months time.

I'm not sure how different people consider history and political science.

I'm pretty sure I know what I want to do (foreign service) and I'm sure both history and political science would help me in that sort of job, I'm just not sure how much.

Thanks for all the help so far.

[djnorton15]

I'm guessing this'll cost between $1200-$1500 and around 6 months time.

I'm not sure how different people consider history and political science.

I'm pretty sure I know what I want to do (foreign service) and I'm sure both history and political science would help me in that sort of job, I'm just not sure how much.

Thanks for all the help so far.

Since you know what kind of job you are looking into, What I would do is email or contact a few companys that fit your line of work, see if it would matter to them. If it does or doesnt that would point you in the right direction.

[cookderosa]

So,

I have to decide (rather soon) between double majoring in History and Political Science at TESC or just getting a history degree. If I just go with History, I'll use Fema for free electives and save even more time and money than I'm already saving. Do employers even care about the double major? Will poli sci even help me with just a BA? It typically requires a PhD to be worth anything, right? I'm sort of desperate for answers and it kind of feels like there aren't any, so anything anybody can say will help.

Check the box, get to grad school this fall. 6 months and $1500 is crazy if you plan on getting a masters or phd, this is money and time into a black hole. I can't imagine a scenario where having a BA in political science and history is any more useful than having a BA in underwater basket weaving with a MA in history or political science. In other words- liberal arts fields ALWAYS value higher education. We are not talking about career training, accounting, secondary education, business, science, etc. We are talking about social science. NOT the same as the previously mentioned examples. Think of it as having a double major high school diploma and then going on to earn a college degree. Interesting, but not especially relevant.

*I challenge the suggestion that the reason not to get a double major is laziness or money, that's absurd. But, that's for another thread.

I can connect you with someone who is finishing up a double major MASTERS in history and poli sci from WESTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY It's the least expensive option for that degree in the country. He is a high school social science teacher but just landed a job teaching at the community college. A PhD is another animal- so if you are thinking of doing a B&M program, I'd contact those programs directly. You may have deficiencies that you need to fill rather than adding more classes that won't count. A PhD online usually asks for a master's, so your goals should be clear to you before you make those decisions. You should start looking at master's degrees and get through your undergrad as fast / cheap as possible.

I second the suggestion of checking out the forum at Degree info for grad school help.