Dual Degree vs Double Major: Navigating Your Academic Choices
Summary
In this post, Crimson strategist Tze Kwang Teo provides an authoritative and nuanced guide to the world of dual degrees. Explore different dual degree and concurrent degree options and get a full run down on how they work and the key benefits and drawbacks of each approach. Students also get tips for deciding whether a dual degree or double major is a better approach and what kinds of requirements and commitments these programs entail.
When you think of getting your undergraduate degree, and you’re like most students, you’re envisioning picking one major, possibly one major and a minor, and completing a bachelor’s degree in four years.
Dual degrees and double majors offer an alternative approach — allowing you to pack more into and get more out of your undergraduate experience. And, the advantage of this approach, is that it allows you to do so in a way that’s quite efficient and streamlined — allowing you to pursue studies in two separate fields simultaneously for the least amount of extra time and with limited additional costs.
This makes dual degrees and double majors worth your consideration — whether for your own intellectual growth or to equip yourself with more multifaceted skillsets for a career aspiration you have.
But, because these approaches are less common, most students have questions…
- How do these approaches impact time to graduation and college costs?
- Which schools offer them or don’t?
- How do you choose when deciding if a dual degree is better than a double major or vice versa?
In this post we’re going to tell you exactly what dual degree programs and double majors are, how each approach is likely to impact your undergraduate requirements and experience, and help you weigh the pros and cons of each approach, based on your personal goals, interests, and preferences.
As added benefits, you'll also find an insightful Q & A with our contributing strategist, Tze Kwang Teo and a thoughtfully curated list of diverse dual degree offerings across a wide range of top colleges and universities.
What Are Dual Degrees and Double Majors?
Dual Degrees
Many universities offer dual degree programs that are designed to help students obtain two degrees simultaneously. With a program design that allows students to apply some coursework towards both degrees and complete all requirements concurrently, a dual degree allows for significant time and cost savings, compared to completing each degree independently and consecutively.
It’s important to remember that dual degree programs can take many forms and are offered for virtually all types of college degrees across undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Undergraduate Dual Degree Programs
- These programs offer a pathway to earning two bachelor’s degrees (instead of just one) before you graduate.
- While options vary from school to school, you'll find overall that dual degree pairings are wide ranging in their variety, from earning two bachelor’s in the same category — such as two BA degrees, or two BS degrees, a BA/BS combination, or a combination including a BBA, BFA, BAA, BArch, BSW, or BEng for example.
Postgraduate Dual Degree Programs
- If you’re pursuing a master’s degree, you’ll find lots of dual degree offerings to choose from. There are dual degree programs for doctorate degrees as well.
- As with undergraduate dual degree programs, the degree pairings will typically be complementary and often aligned with specific professional qualifications, such as MBA/JD or MPH/MSW, for example.
Concurrent Degree Programs
- An intriguing twist on a dual degree approach, concurrent degree programs allow students to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree concurrently — by combining the last year or two years of undergraduate study with graduate-level coursework.
- If you want to bolster your academic resume with a master’s degree, then a concurrent degree program is a possibility to consider, an effective strategy for streamlining, compressing, and accelerating your academic timeline.
- Remember, a dual degree program offers some unique benefits, but availability and options can be limited and vary from school to school.
An intriguing twist on a dual degree approach, concurrent degree programs allow students to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree concurrently — by combining the last year or two years of undergraduate study with graduate-level coursework.
Course Load, Planning, and Timelines
Completing two separate degrees in four years is likely to entail more credit hours — compared to getting a single degree, and even exceeding the requirements of pursuing a double major.
Here are some important academic planning requirements you're likely to encounter if you opt to enroll in a dual degree program:
- You’ll typically need to do more diligent academic planning, in order to complete a larger menu of required courses and still graduate on time.
- Dual degree programs are likely to require a more rigorous workload each term.
- A dual degree program is typically going to require extra summer sessions or a full fifth year of coursework.
- A dual degree program — like a regular degree program — may also require a capstone project or thesis if the degree you’re pursuing requires it. You may need to complete two independent capstone requirements.
Academic Flexibility
While the types and flavors of dual degree programs will differ from school to school, with a little research you’ll find this approach can offer a fair degree of flexibility and variety:
- Earn two BA or two BS degrees
- Earn one BA and one BS degree
- Earn one bachelor’s degree and one master’s degree
- Earn two complementary degrees, such as combining Engineering and Environmental Science, or Nursing and Public Health, for example
- Earn two degrees that give you more of an interdisciplinary approach, such as Biomedical Engineering and Visual Arts, or Neuroscience and Music
- Earn one bachelor’s degree and one master’s degree, in complementary fields, such as a BS in Nursing and a Master's in Public Health
- Earn one bachelor’s degree and one master’s degree, but with a more interdisciplinary approach, such as a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science and a Master's in Urban Planning
We have a list of top dual degree programs below, but as you can see dual degree programs can offer a fair amount of choice. Remember, though, your choices and options can be far more limited and can vary significantly depending on the school you want to attend.
Academic Transcripts and Diplomas
Your academic transcripts and diplomas will show that you have earned two separate degrees. If you earned the degrees from different departmental schools or “colleges” within your university, this will likely show for each degree as well.
Double Majors
A double major entails completing the credit-hour requirements for two distinct majors, not just one, giving you a much broader academic footprint when you graduate!
Although a double major doesn’t earn you a second degree, it gives you an opportunity to develop similar levels of academic breadth and depth as you would with a dual degree approach, but often with a shorter timeline and with more flexibility and choice, making it a great option for many students.
Course Load, Planning, and Timelines
You’ll need to complete the required number of upper-division courses for each of your two majors. The good news is that it’s often possible to apply some or all general education course credits to both majors, and you may be able to apply some upper-division course credits to both majors as well.
If you decide to seriously consider taking a double major, here are some potential academic planning challenges:
- Managing and planning your academic schedule to meet the requirements of having two majors, instead of just one, including getting the necessary approvals, meeting with respective faculty members or advisors in each department, and so forth…
- Keeping up with a more intensive, full-time academic schedule in order to fulfill requirements and still graduate on a regular timeline
- Bearing some additional costs — associated with taking additional courses, or enrolling in summer terms...
Q. Many students want to know, can you really pursue a double major and graduate within a regular four-year timeline?
A. It's possible in some circumstances but can be harder if the two majors don’t have much overlap. Also what's possible can depend on the applicable policies at different schools, and if you're willing to enroll in one or more summer terms or carry a more-than-fulltime course load some terms.
Academic Flexibility
- Many schools will allow you the option of pursuing a double major.
- If you’re up to the challenges and prerequisites are not an obstacle, you should have wide latitude in choosing the majors you most want to pursue, at most schools.
Academic Transcripts and Diplomas
- Unlike a dual degree program, a double major only confers one degree.
- Both majors will typically show only on your transcripts, not on your diploma.
Dual Degree: You'll get two diplomas and two degrees when you graduate.
Double Major: Despite the term "double," you'll only get one diploma, showing one major and one degree, when you graduate. However, your two majors will be documented on your transcript — for you, for prospective graduate programs, and for prospective employers...
Purpose and Benefits of Dual Degrees and Double Majors
Pursuing a dual degree or double major helps you make your learning objectives more robust and more cohesive.
Instead of settling for an academic plan that is a hodgepodge of general ed requirements, single-major requirements, and somewhat random elective choices, pursuing a double major helps you add greater academic depth or breadth to your learning experience, based on a specific academic or career interest.
Increased Academic Breadth
Pursuing a double major can help you add interdisciplinary breadth to your learning that aligns coherently with a chosen goal, such as developing expertise across two entirely different disciplines.
Examples
- Pursuing a dual degree or double major in biology and communications as a foundation for a career in technical writing
- Pursuing a dual degree or double major in public administration and psychology as preparation for pursuing a future masters degree in organizational psychology
Academic Depth
A double major can also be a great way to go deeper into a chosen subject area.
Examples
- Pursuing a dual degree or double major in economics and statistics/data science to prepare for a postgraduate program in econometrics
- Pursuing a dual degree or double major in public policy and political science to combine both practical and theoretical knowledge into your academic foundation
- Pursuing a dual degree or double major in engineering and physics or engineering and math, to enhance your engineering credentials
Pursuing a double major almost always predicts greater earnings than pursuing either major alone. A combination of business and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), two business majors or two STEM majors will be the most lucrative.
- “Double Majors in College…” US News & World ReportDual Degree vs. Double Major: A Snapshot of Key Differences
We’ve covered a lot of ground so far. Below is a snapshot comparison of the information we’ve presented. Subsequently, you’ll also find a snapshot of the pros and cons of each option!
Key Differences Between Dual Degrees and Double Majors
| Keep in mind that options, availability, program length, and academic requirements can vary from school to school, so it’s important to inquire about the options and requirements at the schools you’re interested in applying to. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual Degree | Double Major | |
| Flexibility & Choice | Less access & choice: There are dual degree programs available at each educational level, but options may be more limited at some schools and are likely to vary from school to school. | More access & choice: A double major is easier to build into almost any academic program you’re accepted into, something you can do at almost any university, and usually allowing freedom and flexibility for choosing a second major. |
| Credit Requirements & Time to Graduation | Requires more credits than a double major: Credit requirements vary by program — typically about 180 to 230 credits for two bachelor’s or a bachelor’s and a master’s, or 60 credits for dual master’s degrees. Time to graduation is typically five years for two bachelor’s or for a bachelor’s and a master’s, and three years for two master’s. | Requires less credits than a dual degree: A double major will often require an additional 30 to 60 credit hours — so about 150 to 180 credits total. To graduate in four years you’ll typically need to enroll full time or more than full time every term, possibly including one or more summer terms, or an additional school year or partial year. |
| Degree Requirements | Additional graduation requirements: Curriculum requirements may be fairly rigid, for both of the degrees, depending on school or department affiliations for both of the disciplines, stipulated course and capstone requirements, how coordinated and streamlined the dual degree track is (or isn't). | Additional prescribed courses: You’ll typically need to fulfill all the requirements for the one degree program, in addition to taking the additional upper-division courses required for the second major. |
| What You Get | Two degrees and two diplomas, sometimes from different schools or colleges within a larger university, or across two distinct partnering institutions | One degree and one diploma with your transcripts documenting your double major |
Dual Degree vs. Double Major — Pros and Cons
Of the three options, double majors and secondary majors are far more common than a dual degree. A dual degree requires significantly more course units, and does not necessarily provide any significant advantages for future employment or an academic career. Many students find they may wish to use their time and energy to pursue other options, such as a co-term program (which results in a master's degree).
- Stanford University, Office of Academic AdvisingWith so many similarities, it’s easy to feel stuck if you’re weighing which is the best path for you personally — a dual degree/concurrent degree or a double major — based on your individual circumstances, goals, and preferences.
Use the snapshot comparison below to help you home in on the right choice!
Dual Bachelor Degree Programs — Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Earning two degrees concurrently typically saves you time and money, compared to earning two degrees consecutively Finish your undergraduate program with a more comprehensive level of academic preparation and qualifications Graduate with two bachelor’s degrees | Limited offerings that vary considerably school to school Takes five years or more to complete May involve additional capstone requirements Despite taking more time, you still won’t have a degree higher than a bachelor’s |
Double Major — Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Most schools allow students a fair amount of flexibility in pursuing a double major and picking combinations Finish your undergraduate program with a more comprehensive level of academic preparation and qualifications Your transcript will indicate two majors, not just one | Requires additional coursework (but less than a dual degree program) Will limit your opportunities for more freely exploring a wide range of different subjects and electives (assuming you want to graduate as soon as possible) You’ll graduate with only one degree even though you completed requirements for two majors |
Concurrent Degree (Bachelor’s + Master’s) — Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Saves you time and money, compared to earning these two degrees consecutively, in separate programs Graduate with two degrees, including a postgraduate degree Effective way to qualify for additional job opportunities and earnings after you graduate | Limited offerings that vary considerably school to school Takes five years or more to complete May involve additional capstone requirements |
Advice From US Admissions Strategist Tze Kwang Teo
What advice do you have for students who are trying to decide if taking either a double major or a dual degree/concurrent degree is a good way to go?
In general, I would say that many students tend to overlook the advantages and benefits these approaches offer, as a way of getting more in return on their educational investment.
At Crimson Education, we always take a personalized approach to our advising, so it does depend on an individual’s circumstances, the colleges they’re applying to, and key academic goals and career aspirations.
That said, I like to make sure students are at least thinking about dual degree and double major options, simply because they do offer a streamlined way to pack more into your undergraduate experience academically, without adding a lot to your graduation timeline and total education costs.
One more thing students have to consider is that options and policies do vary from school to school.
For example, a student may have their sights set on Yale AND they may want to go for a dual degree, but Yale doesn’t really offer that option — so each student may first need to decide which preference takes priority: the school they want to attend, or attending a school with the right dual degree options and programs for their interests.
Which is better to aim for, a dual degree, or concurrent degree?
A bachelor’s + master’s dual degree program — the concurrent degree program — has a distinct advantage compared to a dual degree program. Both approaches take longer than a traditional single-degree program, but the first option allows you to finish college with a more advanced degree in hand, both a bachelor’s and a master’s.
Of course, concurrent degree programs take longer than a traditional bachelor’s of course, and they tend to be better for specialization and depth within a single discipline.
By comparison, a dual degree tends to help you build a broader academic foundation, in the way a double major does as well.
What advice do you have for students trying to decide between a dual degree approach or simply taking a double major?
One way to think of this is that a double major has most of the advantages of a dual bachelor’s degree pathway, while offering more flexibility and being supported at almost all schools.
Ultimately, if you want a dual degree in order to develop a relevant, integrated skill set for a particular field or career track, then you simply want to consider pursuing that option at the best school possible — it doesn’t really matter much in my view if it’s a double major or a dual degree, the outcome and benefits are roughly the same. And, the options available vary so much from school to school that it’s hard to know what choices you’ll actually have.
If access to a dual degree track with the right design is really your overarching priority — more than which school you can get into — then it’s a good idea to do lots of research about possible destination schools early on, before and during the process of drawing up your college list!
What are partner school dual degree programs?
One kind of dual degree program that’s becoming popular involves a 5-year timeline and is sometimes referred to as a “partner school dual degree” or as a 4–1 or 3–2 dual degree program.
Columbia’s partner school dual degree program and Dartmouth’s partner school dual degree program are two examples suited to students who want to earn a BEng from an Ivy League school.
How it works… Students who get accepted will finish with a BA and a Bachelor’s in Engineering.
The quirk is that you’ll start your study at what is typically a smaller, less prestigious liberal arts college that’s a "partner school." After spending a year or two, or three, doing preparatory STEM-related courses and more general BA degree coursework at the designated partner school, students do the upper-division engineering coursework at the host school — such as Columbia or Dartmouth, in these examples.
If you see the label 3–2 or 4–1, or something similar, attached to the program, that indicates how your five years of study are divided between the home school and host engineering school. For example, Columbia’s program is a 3–2 program because students spend the initial three years at the smaller home college and then two years at Columbia’s school of engineering.
You can find some intriguing partner school dual degree programs for postgraduates too. UPenn’s Wharton School of Business has programs that illustrate this approach:
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UPenn Wharton School of Business (UPenn) + Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS): a partnership offering dual master’s degrees — an MBA and an MA in International Studies — on a 3-year timeline.
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UPenn Wharton School of Business (UPenn) + Harvard Kennedy School of Public Policy: a partnership dual master’s degree program offering an an MBA/MPA track and an MBA/MPP track.
Any tips or advice for students headed for postgraduate studies?
Usually I want to find out if a student has clarity on whether they’re pursuing postgraduate studies for scholarly interests primarily, or for more practical goals related to professional advancement. Those with a scholarly interest will typically be most interested in a single degree track, even if in some cases that entails an interdisciplinary approach.
For those pursuing professional advancement, I like to stress that there really are a wide variety of master’s level programs out there offering dual degree options. For many professional opportunities, having strong academic credentials across two complementary disciplines could really give you a stronger resume.
For example, if you’re seeking more advanced roles in corporate governance, do you want to get a professional masters in business, or one in law? Or… wouldn’t a dual degree MBA/JD be a really good foundation and worth the extra effort?
Likewise, those in tech entrepreneurship may want to pursue a dual degree MBA/MS Computer Science program… There really are lots of offerings among master degree programs, and many for doctoral programs too.
Public Policy and STEM are other arenas, alongside business, where a multi-disciplinary program often makes sense, or is essential.
Any other advice for readers considering double majors or dual degree options?
Taking a double major or getting into a dual degree program can focus you on a more disciplined approach related to your core academic goals and focus, and for getting more for your education dollar.
So, yes, these approaches can really boost what you accomplish in school... But not all students are heading to college bent on an accelerated academic pace. There are a lot of ways to enjoy and grow from a college experience during your undergraduate years — and intensive coursework is just one way, but it’s not the whole picture of course.
Pursuing a double major or dual degree really does mean more planning, more discipline, a fuller academic schedule each term, and more logistical hoops to jump through.
Sometimes the application process itself is more burdensome — since you may need to satisfy requirements from two different departments or schools — and then there’s additional capstone projects you may have to tackle, meeting with academic advisors for each major or degree track, and more.
All of these are considerations that will help you keep a realistic perspective when weighing your options!
Dual Degree Programs at Top Schools
We would be remiss if we didn't also provide you a list of some intriguing dual degree programs, as seeing what's actually out there can really help you make a clearer decision.
Fortunately, strategist Tze Kwang Teo has helped us curate a list that will whet your appetite, help you see what actual dual degree programs look like at many top schools, and help you jump start your own research.
Dual Bachelor’s Degrees
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UPenn Program in Management & Technology: Earn a BS in Economics from Penn’s Wharton School of Business and a BS in Engineering from Penn Engineering.
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Brown University + Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): Earn a BA from Brown and a BFA from RISD.
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Columbia University Sciences PO Program: Touted as the first transatlantic dual degree program, students study social science and language in a French regional setting and then attend Columbia, completing Columbia’s Core and requirements of their selected major.
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Columbia University and Trinity College Dublin: This dual BA program welcomes students interested in science, the humanities, or social sciences and includes two years of study at Trinity College Dublin and two at Columbia.
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Dartmouth Partner School BA/BS + Bachelor of Engineering (BE) Dual-Degree Program: Study liberal arts courses at a designated Dartmouth partner school and spend your junior and senior years taking engineering courses at Dartmouth, followed by an additional year to complete Dartmouth’s BE degree, earning two degrees in five years.
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Stanford University Dual Bachelor’s Degrees: A flexible dual degree program allowing students to work concurrently toward one BA and one BS degree combination, with a minimum requirement of 225 units.
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UC Berkeley Partner-School Dual Degree Program: Take courses at UC Berkeley and at one of two partner universities — Sciences Po in France or The University of Hong Kong — earning two degrees, one from each university.
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NYU Science/Civil Engineering Dual Degree Programs: In this 5-year program qualified students earn a BS degree in chosen field of science from NYU’s College of Arts and Science, along with a BS in Civil Engineering from NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering.
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University of Michigan Dual Degree Programs: Discover dual degree programs between literature, science, and the arts across a range of schools/colleges: Architecture, Art & Design, Business, Education, Engineering, Information, Kinesiology, Music, Theater & Dance, Pharmacy, and Public Health.
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Boston University Dual Degree Program: You can enroll simultaneously in Questrom School of Business and another undergraduate school or college within Boston University to pursue a dual degree.
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University of Texas Austin Honors Dual Degrees: These programs combine science and business, including the Texas Honors Computer Science and Business program and the Texas Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business program.
Bachelor’s + Master’s
- University of Chicago Joint BA/MPP Program: A five-year program leading to a Bachelor’s degree anchored in a strong core curriculum and a Masters in Public Policy Studies.
- Harvard-NEC Dual Degree Program: A 5-year program that allows you to earn a BA or BS Degree at Harvard and a MM (Master of Music) Degree at New England Conservatory.
- Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Program: A 5-year program where you earn a BA/BS degree at Brown and a BFA from RISD.
- NYU BS/MUP Track: A five-year or five-year-plus degree program that offer eligible students an opportunity to earn a BS in Sustainable Urban Environments or Civil Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning (MUP) from NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering.
- NYU BS/MS Track: This track leads to a Master’s degree at Tandon after earning the Bachelor’s degree. One pathway included is for financial engineering from the Department of Finance and Risk Engineering.
- CMU BSBA (BS in Bus. Administration) + MBA: A 5-year, 3-1-1 concurrent degree program for business majors at Carnegie Melon.
Dual Master’s Degrees
- Yale Joint MArch and MBA Program: A 3-year program split between the Yale School of Architecture and Yale School of Management.
- Yale MArch and MEM Program: 3-year and 4-year programs combining graduate study culminating in dual master’s, one in Architecture and one in Environmental Management.
- Stanford Joint Degree Programs for Medicine: Program offers three options, a dual-degree MD/MBA, a joint-degree MD/JD, and a joint-degree MD/MPP.
- University of British Columbia (UBC)/Yale MBA/MAM: In just one year and nine months earn an MBA from UBC and a Master of Advanced Management from Yale.
- UCLA Law Joint Degree Programs: UCLA Law students are eligible to apply for formal joint degree programs in Law/African-American Studies; Law and Management; Law and Public Health or Public Policy; and Law and Urban Planning, and more.
- Wharton Dual MBA + MA in International Relations Program: A 3-year program with courses at both Wharton and at Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
- Wharton MBA/MPA or MBA/MPP Dual Degree Programs: A 3-year program with courses at both Wharton and the Harvard Kennedy School.
- Indiana University MBA + JD: A 4-year dual degree program through the Kelley School of Business.
- CMU MS in Engineering Technology and Innovation Management + MS in Material Sciences: A dual engineering degree program described as “a two-year program that ‘sandwiches’ the ETIM Master of Science between the fall and spring semesters of the MS in Materials Science and Engineering program.”
- UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy Dual Degree Offerings: A smorgasbord of dual master degree programs (called concurrent degree programs by the school officials) in the public policy arena: MPP/MPH, MPP/JD, MPP/MEng., MPP/Masters in Global Studies, MPP/MSW, MPP/Masters in Energy Resources.
Remember, these lists are far from exhaustive — and you’ll find additional dual degree options here. Hopefully, the lists will give you further clarity as you decide if a dual degree is right for you and what kinds of options are out there, compared with the more flexible double major alternative.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between a dual degree program vs. taking a double major can be a tricky, in part because of the similarities involved, and because what’s offered can vary significantly from school to school.
In addition, concurrent degrees add another layer of possibility...
The right choice may depend in part on your individual goals and interests, but also on what kinds of options are supported by the offerings and policies at the schools you most want to attend.
You may also need to consider if adding this layer of academic challenge makes sense to begin with. After all, even a regular degree program can be challenging, especially in a rigorous academic environment at a top-ranked university.
Still unsure about which path suits you best? Our admissions advisors have a proven approach to helping students navigate all these decisions — which are just as critical as the more practical steps involved in standing out as a top applicant and managing the larger admissions process. It’s easy to schedule a free consultation and learn more about our results, team approach, and personalized services, while also getting some helpful feedback on your most important next steps!
