6 Double Majors with Serious Career Growth Potential

Deciding to take on a double major is a big commitment, one that not only increases students’ workload, but, in many cases, has the potential to increase the amount of time it takes to complete their degrees. It can also be beneficial in the professional world, as many organizations may see candidates who complete two majors as especially hard working and equipped with a multifaceted array of skills.

Oftentimes students choose to enroll in two complementary majors to give themselves a one-two punch in preparing for a specific career. In other cases, students can prepare for a career by double majoring in disciplines that, on the surface, seem like polar opposites.

The following pairings might seem like they couldn’t be used to enter a specific profession, but the skills students gain from studying the two subjects actually give them more ammunition to pursue certain careers.

Accounting and Finance

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Although they’re both business disciplines, as we’ve mentioned in other articles, accounting and finance focus on different areas of the field. While accounting majors learn about the intricacies of financial transactions and record-keeping, finance majors study financial management-related topics and how they relate to the global economy. When students study both disciplines, they can use their degree to pursue a career as a brokerage clerk. This job–which requires skills like active listening, writing, speaking, mathematics and critical thinking–entails writing and verifying stock orders, tracking stock prices and estimating the amount of taxes that will be charged on these transactions.

Criminal Justice and Psychology

Trial lawyer in front of jury

Criminal justice majors study topics such as the law and legal procedure, best criminal investigation practices, the ethical standards used when conducting investigations and how to process crime scenes. Students who major in psychology gain an understanding about human behavior by studying psychological theory and practice, research methods and ethical issues in the field.

Statistics and Political Science

Political scientists taking notes

Students enrolled in statistics degree programs can expect to study topics such as calculus, algebra, computers, probability and research methods. On the other hand, political science majors learn about all aspects of political matters, such as the economy, social issues and human behavior.

Although this hard science and social science may seem like an unlikely pairing, students who double major in these disciplines can pursue a career as a sociologist, using the critical thinking, writing, listening and public speaking skills they gained from their degree programs. Sociologists are responsible for testing theories by creating research projects; using surveys, interviews and observations to collect data and then analyzing the results; and creating reports and presentations to communicate research findings.

Business and Journalism

Media members holding microphones and tape recorders

Business students learn about the fundamentals of how organizations are run and study subjects like accounting, finance, sales, marketing, economics and entrepreneurship. Those who enroll in journalism degree programs can expect to learn about how to ensure that reporting is accurate, the rights and ethical responsibilities of journalists, interviewing and research basics and how to lay out print and online stories.

Environmental Science and Public Policy

Environmental scientist

Students who enroll in environmental science degree programs typically study the biological, societal and legal factors that impact the environment by taking classes in environmental economics, environmental law, sustainability issues, energy and hydrology. On the other hand, those who get public policy degrees learn about the political, economic, historical, cultural and psychological issues that influence public policy. These students take courses in subjects such as public policy ethics, philanthropy, policy development and implementation and civic leadership.

Economics and Public Health

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Economics majors study topics like economic research, international finance and macro and microeconomics, while public health majors focus on health literacy, health policy and the history of public health challenges.


If you’d like to find out more about schools where you can pursue a double major in a specific area of interest, check out the school listings below, or use the search tool on the right to get matched to schools that fit your specific preferences.

Sources

“Double Majors Do Double Duty,” Fastweb, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/30-double-majors-do-double-duty

“Should You Consider Multiple Majors or Minors? Examine the Pros and Cons,” Quintessential Careers, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://www.quintcareers.com/multiple_majors_minors

O*NET Online, October 25, 2014: “Accounting,” http://www.onetonline.org/find/result?s=accounting&a=1, “Finance,” http://www.onetonline.org/find/result?s=finance&a=1, “43-3031.00 – Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks,” http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-3031.00, “43-4011.00 – Brokerage Clerks,” http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-4011.00, “Accounting,” http://www.onetonline.org/find/result?s=accounting&a=1, “Statistics,” http://www.onetonline.org/find/result?s=Statistics&a=1, “Political Science,” http://www.onetonline.org/find/result?s=Political%20Science&a=1, “19-3041.00 – Sociologists,” http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-3041.00, “19-3094.00 – Political Scientists,” http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-3094.00, “Environmental Science,” http://www.onetonline.org/find/result?s=Environmental%20Science&a=1, “Public Policy,” http://www.onetonline.org/find/result?s=Public%20Policy&a=1, “19-3011.00 – Economists,” http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-3011.00,  “27-3022.00 – Reporters and Correspondents,” http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-3022.00, “19-2041.00 – Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health,” http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-2041.00, “19-1041.00 – Epidemiologists,” http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-1041.00, “Economics,” http://www.onetonline.org/find/result?s=Economics&a=1, “Public Health,” http://www.onetonline.org/find/result?s=Public%20Health&a=1, “19-3091.01 – Anthropologists,” http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-3091.01, “19-3092.00 – Geographers,” http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-3092.00

Occupational Outlook Handbook (2016-17 Edition), Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 17, 2015bro:”Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks,”  http://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/bookkeeping-accounting-and-auditing-clerks; “Sociologists,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/sociologists; “Political Scientists,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/political-scientists; “Reporters, Correspondents and Broadcast News Analysts,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/reporters-correspondents-and-broadcast-news-analysts; “Economists,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/economists; “Environmental Scientists and Specialists,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/environmental-scientists-and-specialists; “Epidemiologists,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/epidemiologists; “Anthropologists and Archeologists,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/anthropologists-and-archeologists; “Geographers,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/geographers

“Brokerage Clerks,” Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2014, Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434011

  

“People Interested in Trial Consulting as a Career,” Trial Behavior Consulting, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://www.trialbehavior.com/contact/FAQ/faq_career

“Associate of Arts in Psychology,” Liberty University, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://www.liberty.edu/online/associate/psychology/

“Jury Consultant,” About.com, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://legalcareers.about.com/od/careerprofiles/p/juryconsultants

“Psychological Profiler,” CriminalJusticeProfiles.org, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://www.criminaljusticeprofiles.org/psychological-profiler

“Criminal Profiler Career Information,” About.com, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://criminologycareers.about.com/od/Career_Profiles/a/Criminal-Profiler

“Bachelor of Science in Political Science,” Northeastern University, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://www.cps.neu.edu/degree-programs/undergraduate/bachelors-degrees/bachelors-science-political-science.php

“Major: Statistics,” The College Board, Accessed October 25, 2014, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/math-statistics-statistics

“The Major in Statistics,” Amherst College, Accessed October 25, 2014, https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/mathematics/major-in-statistics

“Statistics Majors,” Hunter College, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/qubi/statistics-majors

“Guide to College Majors in Business,” WorldWideLearn, Accessed October 25, 2014, /guide-to/business/business-major

“Business Majors: The Basics,” The College Board, Accessed October 25, 2014, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers/college-majors/business-majors-the-basics

“Business Degrees,” About.com, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://businessmajors.about.com/od/degreeoptions/a/Business-Degrees

“Journalism and Mass Communication,” Ashford University, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://www.ashford.edu/degrees/online/ba-journalism

“BA in Public Policy and Leadership,” University of Virginia, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://www.batten.virginia.edu/content/academics/degree-information/ba-public-policy-and-leadership

“Bachelor of Science in Public Policy,” Penn State Harrisburg, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://harrisburg.psu.edu/public-affairs/political-science-and-public-policy/bachelor-science-public-policy

“Economics Degrees,” The University of Texas at Dallas, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://www.utdallas.edu/epps/economics/degrees

“Bachelor’s Degree,” University of Illinois, Accessed October 25, 2014, http://publichealth.uic.edu/academics/degrees/bachelorsdegree/

“College of Public Health,” Kent State University, Accessed October 25, 2014, https://www2.kent.edu/publichealth/programs/undergraduate/

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