Double Degree: Physics + Sociology - Is It Difficult?

[misogynisticfeminist]

I may intend on doing a double degree when I enter the university in the future. But I wonder is it really very difficult. The few reasons as to why I want to do a double degree is because that my interest lie in both physics as well as the human sciences, and sometimes I feel "incomplete" if I just focus on one at anyone time. I am thinking of a degree in physics, as well as sociology. But is it going to be difficult as these are fields which are somewhat unrelated. Has any of you done it before?

 

[Vega]

If you have an interest in sociology, then why not minor in it, or just take some classes in it as electives? Doing a double major can end up extending the amount of time it will take you to graduate, especially since these degrees are going to have extremely different non-overlapping requirements.

 

[DeadWolfe]

I know just how you feel, and I advise you that you don't need to get a degree in something to learn about it.

You can minor in it, as Vega suggested, or for that matter, it is possible to learn things on your own.

There's always the chance to learn from reading and studying on your own, with nothing but a library card. Learning doesn't always need a classroom, although it does make it easier.

 

[DaVinci]

Also, minors are normally easy to achieve. At my university, a physics minor is only 4 classes above what I needed to take as an Engineer. Mathematics is only 2 classes above what I needed. The way I see it, I would be dumb not to take a few extra classes and get a few extra minors! The difference between 12 credit hours and 15 credit hours a semester is not all that bad.

It is a very good option if they offer a minor in one of your subjects.

Edit: This will also give you some extra course work to go off of if you decide to go back and get a second undergrad or a masters in the other field.

 

[ChanDdoi]

I am doing a double major right now for math and biology and I think that it is not too bad (you just have to work harder, that's all...and summer classes help if you decided to slack off during the main quarters). The only problem that I am having is some of the classes are offered at a certain quarter only (the U. i go to is on a quarter system), so sometimes planning your schedule can be difficult. You may end up one quarter with too many classes that you need to take and another with just two or so of them. And this can be a problem to as whether you can finish both of your majors in the 4 yrs period or not. Also at the U. that I am attending, once you started with 2 majors, you got to stick with it b/c if you drop one, they will not allow you to come back and redo it when you finish the other one.
But now that I think about it ...may be I should have just go with one minor and one major at the start ..it would be much less work . You only need 4 upper division math classes for a minor and about 13 for a major in math. I think math is fun and interesting though, so I can't complain there.

 

[DeadWolfe]

Is it possible to get more than one minor?