Should I finish my second major?

January 11, 2007 6:16 PM

I'm currently a senior undergrad planning on graduating in May. My majors are biology and history, but I'll be working in finance after graduation with a large firm in NYC (and I already have a job lined up). After meeting with an advisor this week, I realized that the "perspective classes" (classes outside my majors that are required for graduation) I had taken to complete the requirements for my bachelors of science in biology are different from those required for my bachelors of arts in history.

Basically, by May I will have completed all the requirements for my biology degree and everything except for 2-3 perspective classes for my history degree.

So I have two options: take these 2-3 classes online during the summer while I begin my job in NYC, finish the history major and get the dual degree, or forget about the whole thing and graduate with a major and a minor instead.

The tuition for the online classes would be about $800. Initially I thought that I would just suck it up and dish out the $800, but then I asked myself - what good will having a second major do for me, besides being able to tell people at cocktail parties that I majored in history? I already have a good job lined up, and although I may not stay in finance my whole life I'm certain that I won't return to grad school in history. I will, however, probably go to some sort of grad school at some point - most likely business, medical, or a PhD program in the biological sciences. Is there any real value to having a second major on my resume, either for future grad school applications, job applications, or something else? Should I finish the second major?

posted by btkuhn to Education (17 answers total)

Well, a lot of college classes expire in ten years (so to re-qualify for the degree, you'd have to start all over on those classes), so if there's any chance you'll ever use your 2nd degree for a career, get it.
posted by IndigoRain at 6:22 PM on January 11, 2007

I would say unless you specifically plan to enter a field (academically or otherwise) that makes use of a history degree, it's not going to matter much. That said, $800 in the scheme of an education isn't that much - it may be worth it to pony up so you fully accomplish what you set out to do.
posted by gnutron at 6:26 PM on January 11, 2007

Unless you're planning to go on to a career in history, don't worry about it. In fact, even many high school history teachers can qualify with what you've studied (plus teacher training). Most employers will be pleased to see you have strong writing , research and analysis skills. You don't need to have a BA in history.

I studied English, but wanted to do a dual major in Communication. I didn't figure this out till second year and I realized I'd spend longer in school if I did a double major. So I just minored in Communication. Is that an option for you? It has never held me back. I got one of the highest paying entry-level marketing communication jobs available at the time I graduated. And I went on to become a manager and then an independent consultant. It's never been an issue.
posted by acoutu at 6:26 PM on January 11, 2007

I was a history/biology dual major in college -- actually, I scrambled to finish the bio requirements fairly late in my college career. I can honestly say I never expected to use the biology degree, and yet here I am, using the biology degree.

The moral of the story: it's nice to have the flexibility a dual major in the humanities and the sciences affords you. Even if you don't end up "using" your history degree in the strictest sense, you may find, as I have, that documented interests in both domains will stand you in good stead professionally. Since you're so close to finishing the history degree, I say jump through the hoops and get it done.
posted by killdevil at 6:48 PM on January 11, 2007

I wouldn't worry at all about the $800, especially if your job is a good one, and even if you don't know how you'd use it now, that BA could be of use to you someday.

However, I would be concerned about the time the classes will cost you. I have a good deal of experience with trying to knock out just the last few courses necessary to finish a degree (and a second degree) by distance learning, and I can tell you, it takes an extra level of discipline and focus, more so while working full-time. *Everything* in your life will seem more pressing than the flexible-schedule independent study kind of classes, especially work, and you don't have the support of the temporary community a classroom becomes.

I'm assuming the perspective classes will be easy, and that will help. But if you decide to do it, make sure your schedule will have time for the coursework and take the commitment to it very seriously. And if you wake up next October and you haven't done your online classes, cut your losses and apply for December graduation with just the minor.
posted by weston at 6:56 PM on January 11, 2007

Don't bother. You'll have a B.S. and a job. Having a second degree doesn't make you one iota more hireable, and it barely makes you more interesting to graduate programs -- outside of the knowledge learned, it's not good for much more than cocktail party conversation. You've already learned part of this by landing a job in finance (one that probably required a degree -- but not a degree in finance)

Your $800 and (especially) your time will be better spent establishing your network of similarly-minded people in NY, and being a kick-ass eager new employee that gets noticed.
posted by toxic at 7:23 PM on January 11, 2007

Do you have two advisors? If an advisor gave you the wrong advice, you may be able to convince your college that you can graduate with the double major anyway.

I was told I needed the wrong math class for a physics class. I didn't take the proper one until my final semester (after the physics class). I didn't list the final math class on my application for graduation, which my advisor signed. I found out later that since my advisor had signed my application without the math class, I didn't need the math class.

So these things are sometimes flexible. Might be worth a shot.
posted by Monday at 7:28 PM on January 11, 2007

It's worth seeing if you can petition the college to make an exception in your case, especially if you were badly advised. There is some flexibility in the system, and a sympathetic department head will be able to pull some strings for you.

Having said that, I doubt it will be that important to have a second major. You will have a degree and a lot of hours in history, which for most purposes is as good as a degree in history. I also don't think it will make any difference to a grad program. If you have a degree, a decent GPA, and some extra-curriculars that catch their attention, that should be plenty. Unless you're aiming for the Ivy League, graduate schools aren't that hard to get into.

So, if it were me, I'd try to get an exception that would let me get both degrees by filing the right petition form with the right person. Worth a shot. If that didn't work out, I'd take my one degree and go on with life.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 8:17 PM on January 11, 2007

I agree with Monday and Peter. I was incorrectly advised in college, and my advisor filled out and signed my application for a degree with one class missing. I did not notice the mistake myself, but the advisor did several weeks later. She called me back to her office, explained the mistake, and told me that I did not have to make up the class because the error was hers. The university had a very clear policy about this, which leads me to believe that these mistakes are somewhat common, and that they are often resolved to the student's benefit.
posted by foxinthesnow at 8:32 PM on January 11, 2007

Realize that right now there is an individual out there that can sign a piece of paper that will result in you receiving your second major. Getting that person to sign that paper is probably as simple as finding out who that person is (usually any dean will do, and you would probably be surprised to find out how deans are scattered throughout any institution of higher learning) and asking them nicely. College rules are the most bendy rules in the universe.

Get the second major.
posted by Nahum Tate at 8:49 PM on January 11, 2007

I had the same realization my fifth year of college. I was tired and broke, so I just kind of gave up and got out with the chemistry major and geology minor, instead of the double major. Anyway, I really regret not bitching and moaning and making The Powers That Be work something out so I got my double major.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 8:59 PM on January 11, 2007

I really think you should take the classes for that double major. You took all the classes except for 2-3, make it count. At least look for ways to get a minor, if possible, but if it's just another semester or two, and it's history, as opposed to biology, which I believe requires more of you, you should definitely take it. History classes consist of bunch of readings and writing a handful of short papers anyway. People don't use their major, but your degrees look good wherever you go. It's only 800bucks. You've paid tens of thousands of dollars for all the history classes so far...what's another grand.

Take it and get the second major!
posted by icollectpurses at 9:03 PM on January 11, 2007

I agree that you should take a stab at getting someone to bend the rules. I got out of taking a stats course by convincing an advisor that my journalism courses had focused on research and analysis of data!
posted by acoutu at 11:07 PM on January 11, 2007

Can you get a bachelors of science in history? Why does it have to be a bachelors of art in history and a bachelors of science in biology? Why not a BS in both?
posted by Houstonian at 2:58 AM on January 12, 2007

You enrolled and spent the last four years of your life trying to get a dual degree in Biology and History. Are you really going to stop 2 classes short of that goal?

You're not doing this for someone else, you're doing this for yourself. Take the two classes and finish.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 4:53 AM on January 12, 2007

Yes, go talk to the head of the history department. Make a strong case. It's worth a try.
posted by lampoil at 5:34 AM on January 12, 2007

Given that these are 'perspective' classes, I should think that your biology courses give you a nice science perspective suitable for a humanities major, extra classes not withstanding. That's how I'd argue. Sure these perspective classes aren't designed with dual science/humanities majors in mind.
posted by Goofyy at 5:55 AM on January 12, 2007