Multiple major in the United States

Not to be confused with Dual degree.

In the United States, a multiple major[1][2][3][4] refers to an academic program in which an undergraduate student fulfills the requirements for two or more distinct disciplines or fields of study, receiving a single bachelor's degree with all majors listed on the diploma or transcript. This practice allows students to pursue diverse interests or enhance their career prospects by demonstrating expertise in multiple areas.[5]

Unlike dual degrees, which involve completing two separate degrees and often require more time and credits, a double major typically fits within the standard time frame for a bachelor's degree. In the United States, undergraduate programs toward a bachelor's degree often follow a liberal arts model, and have a set group or type of coursework (sometimes called distribution or core requirements) together with a specialization, called a major—a double major would usually complete one set of the core requirements and two sets of the degree specialization requirements.[5]

Increasing numbers of college students in the United States are accumulating more than one major, with an estimated 25% of college graduates with more than one major.[6][7][8] Some schools report that 30% to 40% of their undergraduates are double majors.[9][10] The added benefits of a second major include the opportunity to increase student knowledge and the expectation of increased earnings and competitiveness.[6] Students cite enjoying the coursework, gaining parental approval, and finding a job after graduation as the three most important reasons for pursuing a second major.[8] Additionally, the pursuit of a double major can be an “identity project” by which students appear to focus on their “low status” major as their “core identity,” while their high status major is used when discussing their education with parents and potential employers.[10]

  1. ^ "Undergraduate Majors and Minors | Student Services". studentservices.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  2. ^ "Multiple Majors | U-M LSA U-M College of LSA". lsa.umich.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  3. ^ "Multiple Majors | Office of the Registrar". registrar.ucmerced.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  4. ^ "Multiple Major Policy". cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  5. ^ a b Lam, Phyllis (March 24, 2015). "Consider a Dual Major at a U.S. College". U.S. News & World Report.
  6. ^ a b Del Rossi, Allison; Hersch, Joni (2008). "Double Your Major, Double Your Return?". Economics of Education Review. 27 (4): 375–386. doi:10.1016/j.econedurev.2007.03.001. S2CID 154459527. Retrieved 2013-02-16.[dead link‍]
  7. ^ Pitt, Richard N.; Packard, Josh; Reed, Art (2012). "Gender and Academic Identity Negotiation Among Hypo-Specializing College Students". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ a b Zafar, Basit (1 April 2012). "Double Majors: One for Me, One for the Parents?" (PDF). Economic Inquiry. 50 (2): 287–308. doi:10.1111/j.1465-7295.2011.00403.x. hdl:10419/60872. S2CID 158588067. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2012.
  9. ^ "Double Majors: Influences, Identities and Impacts". JournalistsResource.org, retrieved March 28, 2013
  10. ^ a b Pitt, Richard N.; Steven, Tepper (2012). Double Majors: Influences, Identities, and Impacts (Report). New York, NY: Teagle Foundation.