College is all about navigating uncharted waters.
As soon as students choose to do a double major, strong currents and unpredictable storms await them. But after the storm, the sky is clear.
The number of students double majoring nationwide has increased by 64% over the last two decades, Emma Whitford wrote in a Feb. 11 Forbes article. Double majors face challenges, such as scheduling conflicts, completing general education requirements, dealing with summer classes and balancing their studies with their personal lives. Although their paths are demanding, double majors said following their passion is a rewarding experience.
“I do think having both of these majors could be advantageous for my future because I could go many different directions,” said Nicholas Heard, a double major in music composition and theatre. “The more tools I have in my toolbelt, the more jobs I’m going to get.”
Studies show that graduates with two majors are less likely to face significant earnings disruptions than single-major graduates. At Pepperdine, the new Seaver Core curriculum is supposed to open space for students who want to pursue more than one passion.
Why Students Double Major
Students have different reasons why they have added another major or even two additional majors.
Stottlemyer added her religion major after taking her first GE religion class.
“I just fell in love with it,” Stottlemyer said.
Stottlemyer decided to take a French course to prepare for a semester in Switzerland and was enchanted by the language. She first added it as a minor and turned it into a major during her fifth year.
Heard started as a music composition and religion major. But last year, Heard was involved in “Silent Sky,” class of 2024 alumn Cole Wagner’s theatre directing thesis project. After realizing he loved the experience, he switched his religion major to theatre directing.
“Who wouldn’t want to do this for a living?” Heard said.
Abigail Green, a first-year double major in theatre and psychology, couldn’t let go of her long-standing passion for theatre when she got to college. She added the theatre major as soon as she got to Pepperdine and earned a spot in the fall musical.
Sophie Rogers, a first-year double major in political science and psychology, said she just couldn’t choose between her majors.
With the dream of opening a business, Jandy Nguyen, a first-year student double major in accounting and finance, is very confident in her chances of flourishing through her education.
One of the most rewarding experiences for double majors is to use knowledge from both their majors to create something new.
Stottlemyer is currently working with both chemistry and French faculty to translate one of Marie Curie’s untranslated books, being the bridge between the two departments.
“I am able to start fusing together my interests and do what I want,” Stottlemyer said.
Heard never thought of giving up his dream of working with both music composition and directing theatre.
“I value the education that I am getting too much and ultimately I am getting to do what I want lifelong right now and that is very fulfilling,” Heard said.
Future Expectations Are Of Utmost Importance
The journey’s end is the most important for a double major.
Graduates with two majors are 56% less likely to face significant earnings disruptions, such as pay cuts, layoffs or unemployment, than single-major graduates, according to a January 2024 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Students who major in both liberal arts and business or STEM have the best statistical outcomes in research, development and job placement, Alison F. Del Rossi and Joni Hersch wrote in an August 2016 Cambridge University Press article.
Green wants to pursue her graduate degree in psychology to eventually become a clinical therapist, while also spending time doing what she loves the most.
“If I could be getting master’s and work in community theatre doing what I love, that’s the dream,” Green said.
Rogers is looking ahead to her future career in juvenile law.
“I think having a background in psychology and knowing how to work with kids better will help me a lot getting into law school as well as specializing in that field of law,” Rogers said.
Nguyen said that being a double major will give her the opportunity to be considered for twice as many internships.
“Honestly, to just put on my LinkedIn: I am a double major,” Nguyen said jokingly.
Double Majors Face Challenges
The most common double majors and easiest to complete at Pepperdine are political science, economics, sociology, philosophy, sustainability, and language studies, the OneStop academic advisors team wrote in an email.
Double majoring within four years is challenging, depending on the majors a student selects and factors like AP credits, study abroad and overlapping classes. Business and science majors are more challenging due to the number of requirements and prerequisites.
When two classes from different majors fall on the same day and time, it is the student’s responsibility to work around it.
Heard works closely with faculty to resolve scheduling issues, including around conflicting rehearsals. He said both faculties are aware of his situation and are always generous with help.
“Trying to do two fine arts majors raises some problems that I don’t think other double majors necessarily have,” Heard said.
Stottlemyer is sure that she would not be able to graduate if it weren’t for the faculty accommodating her schedule.
“Chemistry was very set in stone, so I had to go to religion,” Stottlemyer said.
Stottlemyer was so certain that she wanted to finish studying her passions, that she decided to spend another year in Malibu.
Stottlemyer attempted a fifth-year senior appeal to maintain her full scholarship, but she didn’t know that it is typically for students facing financial difficulties. Eventually, through generous financial help from the religion and French departments, she was able to stay one more year to finish all three majors.
Nguyen is planning to take summer classes every summer she is a student at Pepperdine. As an international student, she is particularly struggling with the idea of not visiting her family during the summer.
After 24 years of the same GE requirements, the new Seaver Core curriculum contains fewer overall units.
“There were concerns about just students being able to finish their single major with the old curriculum,” said Timothy Lucas, co-chair of the Seaver Academic Council.
Since the connections categories offer greater flexibility, it’s more likely that a student pursuing a double major can fulfill multiple category requirements within one of their majors.
“Double major wasn’t part of our intent, because we were hoping that people would pursue a second interest, maybe a minor,” Lucas said. “But there are certainly gonna be more students that have the time to complete a double major.”
First-year students are excited about the opportunity of having more room to complete their double majors.
“Less courses equals less stressed Abby, which equals happier place,” Green said.
Students Struggle to Balance School and Personal Life
Finding balance is one of the most difficult aspects of being a double major.
Stottlemyer has every minute of her day accounted for. She juggles three on-campus jobs, does undergraduate research and is taking more than 18 units this semester.
Besides college life, Stottlemyer is currently training for a marathon. In her free time, she reads books or listens to audiobooks and tries to journal too.
“I don’t know if my fun resonates with everyone else’s fun,” Stottlemyer said.
Rogers is aware that those around her don’t quite understand the responsibilities of being a double major.
“All the people that I’ve known that are double majors had to turn down a lot more than everyone else,” Rogers said. “That can create misunderstanding from other students that just don’t have as much work.”
Nicolle Assumpcao produced this story in in Jour 490, Advanced Storytelling, during the Spring 2024 semester under the supervision of Dr. Christina Littlefield.
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