Double MajoringDouble MajoringInfluences, Identities, & ImpactsInfluences, Identities, & Impacts

Richard N. Pitt & Steven TepperVanderbilt UniversityRichard N. Pitt & Steven TepperVanderbilt University

who.who.

First generation students double major First generation students double major less than their peers do and are more less than their peers do and are more likely to choose two similar majors.likely to choose two similar majors.

Black students double major less Black students double major less often than their peers do. often than their peers do.

At the 9 Teagle institutions, At the 9 Teagle institutions, Asian students double major Asian students double major

more often than others.more often than others.

who.who.Men and women double major at similar ratesMen and women double major at similar rates

. . . but combinations differ. . . but combinations differMen’s top fiveMen’s top five? Two business, economics & engineering, economics & ? Two business, economics & engineering, economics &

political science, economics & foreign language, economics & mathpolitical science, economics & foreign language, economics & math

Women’s top fiveWomen’s top five? Foreign language & international studies, ? Foreign language & international studies, foreign language & political science, foreign language & foreign language & political science, foreign language &

psychology, foreign language & human development, foreign psychology, foreign language & human development, foreign language & biologylanguage & biology

. . . as do their reasons for picking majors. . . as do their reasons for picking majorsMenMen want high prestige money-makers want high prestige money-makers

WomenWomen want majors that represent them want majors that represent them

. . . and reasons for double majoring at all. . . and reasons for double majoring at allMenMen want to be more competitive want to be more competitive

WomenWomen want breadth and to have two want breadth and to have two majors that reflect who they aremajors that reflect who they are

what.what.Ten Most Popular Major ConcentrationsTen Most Popular Major Concentrations

Foreign Languages • Economics • Business • Foreign Languages • Economics • Business • Engineering • Political Science • Biology • Psychology Engineering • Political Science • Biology • Psychology

• English • History • Mathematics• English • History • Mathematics

Ten Most Popular Major CombinationsTen Most Popular Major CombinationsTwo Business MajorsTwo Business Majors

Foreign Language & International StudiesForeign Language & International StudiesForeign Language & Political ScienceForeign Language & Political Science

Economics & MathematicsEconomics & MathematicsEconomics & Political ScienceEconomics & Political ScienceForeign Language & BiologyForeign Language & Biology

Foreign Language & EconomicsForeign Language & EconomicsForeign Language & BusinessForeign Language & Business

Economics & EngineeringEconomics & EngineeringForeign Language & PsychologyForeign Language & Psychology

what.what.Ten Most Popular Major ConcentrationsTen Most Popular Major Concentrations

Foreign Languages Foreign Languages • • EconomicsEconomics • Business • • Business • Engineering • Political Science • Biology • Psychology Engineering • Political Science • Biology • Psychology

• English • History • Mathematics• English • History • Mathematics

Ten Most Popular Major CombinationsTen Most Popular Major CombinationsTwo Business MajorsTwo Business Majors

Foreign Language Foreign Language & International Studies& International StudiesForeign Language Foreign Language & Political Science& Political Science

Economics Economics & Mathematics& MathematicsEconomics Economics & Political Science& Political ScienceForeign LanguageForeign Language & Biology & Biology

Foreign Language Foreign Language & & EconomicsEconomicsForeign Language Foreign Language & Business& Business

Economics Economics & Engineering& EngineeringForeign Language Foreign Language & Psychology& Psychology

when.when.

Double majors declare their first major Double majors declare their first major about a semester earlier than single about a semester earlier than single

majors declare their only majormajors declare their only major

Double majors Double majors take about a take about a semester’s semester’s

worth of worth of additional additional “courses”“courses”

Dartmouth Dartmouth CollegeCollege

19%19%

Duke Duke UniversityUniversity

22%22%

Emory Emory UniversityUniversity

16%16%

Knox CollegeKnox College28%

Ohio State Ohio State UniversityUniversity

6%6%

College of College of WoosterWooster

UnavailableUnavailable

Trinity Trinity UniversityUniversity

40%40%

University of University of Texas- AustinTexas- AustinUnavailableUnavailable

Vanderbilt Vanderbilt UniversityUniversity

32%32%

Dartmouth Dartmouth CollegeCollege

19%19%

Duke Duke UniversityUniversity

22%22%

Emory Emory UniversityUniversity

16%16%

Knox CollegeKnox College28%

Ohio State Ohio State UniversityUniversity

6%6%

College of College of WoosterWooster

UnavailableUnavailable

Trinity Trinity UniversityUniversity

40%40%

University of University of Texas- AustinTexas- AustinUnavailableUnavailable

Vanderbilt Vanderbilt UniversityUniversity

32%32%

where.where.

Institutional TypeInstitutional TypeBaccalaureate Only Institutions

Public InstitutionsSmaller Institutions

Demographic CompositionDemographic CompositionTraditional-Aged (18-24) PopulationsPredominantly White Student Bodies

Low Numbers Of Students Receiving Loan Aid

Inter-Institutional Prestige & StatusInter-Institutional Prestige & StatusHighly Selective (i.e., High SAT) Institutions

High Tuition Institutions

Institutional TypeInstitutional TypeBaccalaureate Only Institutions

Public InstitutionsSmaller Institutions

Demographic CompositionDemographic CompositionTraditional-Aged (18-24) PopulationsPredominantly White Student Bodies

Low Numbers Of Students Receiving Loan Aid

Inter-Institutional Prestige & StatusInter-Institutional Prestige & StatusHighly Selective (i.e., High SAT) Institutions

High Tuition Institutions

why.why.

Half of all double majors say they’re motivated Half of all double majors say they’re motivated bybyutilitarian and expressive valuesutilitarian and expressive values

breadth and depth in their trainingbreadth and depth in their training

THEY PICK SECOND MAJORS THEY PICK SECOND MAJORS BECAUSEBECAUSE

1. They can get the grades they want1. They can get the grades they want

2. They have amassed a lot of credits2. They have amassed a lot of credits

3. They think coursework is flexible.3. They think coursework is flexible.

impact on student time.impact on student time.Most say double majoring Most say double majoring

has no or even positive has no or even positive effects on joining student effects on joining student clubs and participating in clubs and participating in

campus activitiescampus activitiesexcept students who add a except students who add a

physical science!physical science!

““I scramble to take intensive science courses. I took three lab I scramble to take intensive science courses. I took three lab classes in a term and it destroyed me. I pulled like 30 all-classes in a term and it destroyed me. I pulled like 30 all-

nighters. I found it extremely limiting”nighters. I found it extremely limiting”

““I was bombarded with at least two labs a week. You don’t I was bombarded with at least two labs a week. You don’t have time to go to practice and you can’t travel because you have time to go to practice and you can’t travel because you

can’t make up these labs because they are 4 hours long and no can’t make up these labs because they are 4 hours long and no one wants to proctor themone wants to proctor them

impact on student thinking.impact on student thinking.

Enhancements are shaped by the mix of majors. Enhancements are shaped by the mix of majors. Preliminary evidence finds gains (creativity) Preliminary evidence finds gains (creativity) and losses (integration) with STEM and non-and losses (integration) with STEM and non-STEM majors combinations.STEM majors combinations.

impact on student exposure.impact on student exposure.Hyper-specializationHyper-specialization (“deepening”) (“deepening”) reducesreduces and and hypo-specializationhypo-specialization

(“spanning”) (“spanning”) increasesincreases breadth of students’ knowledge for STEM and SOCS breadth of students’ knowledge for STEM and SOCSScience majorsScience majors are the most concentrated of the disciplines (even when spanning) are the most concentrated of the disciplines (even when spanning)

and and humanities majorshumanities majors are the least concentrated (even when deepening) are the least concentrated (even when deepening)

impact on integrative learning.impact on integrative learning.““To enhance the impact of double majors . . . students must To enhance the impact of double majors . . . students must

develop the capacity for deep, integrative learning—something develop the capacity for deep, integrative learning—something that is difficult for many students to do on their own.” that is difficult for many students to do on their own.” George D. George D.

KuhKuh

““My teachers encourage me to My teachers encourage me to apply and use knowledge across apply and use knowledge across

two majorstwo majors””

““I can think of an assignment I can think of an assignment drawing on skills or knowledge drawing on skills or knowledge

in both majors.in both majors.””

““I have completed assignments I have completed assignments for one major that could be for one major that could be

relevant in the other.relevant in the other.””

Students report being able to integrate knowledge Students report being able to integrate knowledge across their two disciplines, especially if being able to across their two disciplines, especially if being able to

do so motivated the decision to double major.do so motivated the decision to double major.

impact on student outcomes.

impact on student outcomes.

Double majors’ (especially spanners) majors Double majors’ (especially spanners) majors are less relevant to their eventual jobsare less relevant to their eventual jobs

Double majors are more likely to earn Double majors are more likely to earn post-baccalaureate degreespost-baccalaureate degrees

Double majors actually earn less (about $866) Double majors actually earn less (about $866) than single majorsthan single majors

As Usual, Combinations MatterAs Usual, Combinations MatterArts dramatically increase science incomesArts dramatically increase science incomes

Business deepeners/spanners earn moreBusiness deepeners/spanners earn moreSTEM deepeners/spanners earn moreSTEM deepeners/spanners earn more

Social Science spanners earn moreSocial Science spanners earn moreHumanities deepeners earn moreHumanities deepeners earn more

RECOMMENDATIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS

FOSTER INTENTREQUIRE STUDENTS TO EXPLAIN THE DECISION TO DOUBLE MAJOR AND ANY PLANS TO

INTEGRATE THEMPROMOTE THE RELATIVE ADVANTAGES OF “MINORS” AND “CERTIFICATES” OVER A

SECOND MAJOR

PROMOTE “SPANNING”ENCOURAGE STEM STUDENTS TO CONSIDER SECOND MAJORS IN ARTS OR HUMANITIES

MAKE DOUBLE-COUNTING COURSES MORE DIFFICULT IN SIMILAR FIELDS

FACILITATE INTEGRATIONENCOURAGE OR REQUIRE INTEGRATIVE SENIOR CAPSTONES, THESES, OR INDEPENDENT

STUDIESHAVE FACULTY MINE THE RICH RESOURCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARITY PRESENT IN

STUDENTS

FOSTER INTENTREQUIRE STUDENTS TO EXPLAIN THE DECISION TO DOUBLE MAJOR AND ANY PLANS TO

INTEGRATE THEMPROMOTE THE RELATIVE ADVANTAGES OF “MINORS” AND “CERTIFICATES” OVER A

SECOND MAJOR

PROMOTE “SPANNING”ENCOURAGE STEM STUDENTS TO CONSIDER SECOND MAJORS IN ARTS OR HUMANITIES

MAKE DOUBLE-COUNTING COURSES MORE DIFFICULT IN SIMILAR FIELDS

FACILITATE INTEGRATIONENCOURAGE OR REQUIRE INTEGRATIVE SENIOR CAPSTONES, THESES, OR INDEPENDENT

STUDIESHAVE FACULTY MINE THE RICH RESOURCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARITY PRESENT IN

STUDENTS

DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION