Double Major or 1 Specialist + 1 Major, or One Major + 2 Minors

[bahasad]

Which one is best for a life science student to diversify his options?

[skyblue12]

first of all, do you mean 1 specialist + 1 minor?

second, i think if you want to diversify your options, don't take the specialist.. unless you really want to focus on what you're going to specialize in.

if you want to focus on 2 subjects, do the double major and if you want to do 3 then do 1 major and 2 minors (while focusing more on that major).

however you can also do a double major in something and biochem; biochem has both biology and chemistry "integrated" in it.

[LordofthePing]

Depends on what your interested in.

My advice for marketability
1. Sciences/math: are always in demand and lead many places
(doctor, teacher, engineer, business school, law school, law enforcement etc)
2. Economics/commerce: business, law, teaching
3. English (or politics, history)
- You'll do lots of writing which is the foundation of all the social sciences, extremely useful in other careers
(graduate school, law school, business school, teaching, journalism, television)
* Foreign language
- I would have taken French or Spanish if I had time. Any foreign language capability is a major asset.

If you can hack it, I think a Science/economics major and minor in english or english lit would be great.

I'm a poli sci/crim student. Specialization in poli and major in crim, I took summer courses to pack it all in. I'd dump the crim if I could take it over.

[bahasad]

thanks for all your advice.

probably going to end up doing double major + minor...or 1 major + 2 minors.

[infinite.chaoz]

first of all, do you mean 1 specialist + 1 minor?


Its not impossible to do 1 spec + 1 maj.

[skyblue12]

Its not impossible to do 1 spec + 1 maj.

i know but normally it's 1 spec + 1 min no? that's all i was wondering.. oh well.

[Time_Keeper]

What are you marks? Are you in university now? If not, what were your highschool marks?

Also what do you plan to do? There's almost no point in doing a double major in the sciences. Why know a little bit of everything when you can know a whole lot about one subject? (example Ph.D)

Doing a double major will take you 6 years. Most majors require 20-22 credits.

I suggest a Major, and then a minor that compliments it.
For example, I am a biochemistry major (Honours and Co-op) and decided to take chemistry because I found my program was lacking enough of it for lab work in grad school.

What else were you thinking of doing in a double major? It's going to be either arts or chemistry/physics. And both chemistry and physics are a hell of a lot of work.

[xOnic_]

man, i thought i figured i wasn't gonna do that human bio + math major, but its all starting to look more appealing. Only thing that put me off is that I needed a harder first year math for math + econ major.

[flexwong]

What are you marks? Are you in university now? If not, what were your highschool marks?

Also what do you plan to do? There's almost no point in doing a double major in the sciences. Why know a little bit of everything when you can know a whole lot about one subject? (example Ph.D)

Doing a double major will take you 6 years. Most majors require 20-22 credits.

I suggest a Major, and then a minor that compliments it.
For example, I am a biochemistry major (Honours and Co-op) and decided to take chemistry because I found my program was lacking enough of it for lab work in grad school.

What else were you thinking of doing in a double major? It's going to be either arts or chemistry/physics. And both chemistry and physics are a hell of a lot of work.

where do you go to university?

u of t requires 20 credits to graduate.

[xOnic_]

Alright, I got question for everyone who did either a math or econ major, which major (math or econ) would be the better choice. I am currently going to second year life science at UofT and would like a route into the business world if I can't get into a professional program. Thanks in advance.

[infinite.chaoz]

where do you go to university?

u of t requires 20 credits to graduate.

Ya, mine took only 4 yrs. And my second is a bch maj too. W/o the co-op of course.

[lisaz]

What are you marks? Are you in university now? If not, what were your highschool marks?

Also what do you plan to do? There's almost no point in doing a double major in the sciences. Why know a little bit of everything when you can know a whole lot about one subject? (example Ph.D)

Doing a double major will take you 6 years. Most majors require 20-22 credits.

I suggest a Major, and then a minor that compliments it.
For example, I am a biochemistry major (Honours and Co-op) and decided to take chemistry because I found my program was lacking enough of it for lab work in grad school.

What else were you thinking of doing in a double major? It's going to be either arts or chemistry/physics. And both chemistry and physics are a hell of a lot of work.


I THINK ALL MAJORS JUST REQUIRE 6 OR 7 CREDITS!!!!!

[Time_Keeper]

I THINK ALL MAJORS JUST REQUIRE 6 OR 7 CREDITS!!!!!


Wow, why am I being yelled at with all caps and excemation marks?

I guess it depends on your school. I know for my school, most half year courses are 0.5 credits. And a really hard course that is a lot of work is 0.75 credits (analytical chemistry - 2nd year).

In short, it'll take 4 years of taking 5 classes a semester to get most honours majors.

However, I'm not sure if Life Science is an honours. Isn't it just a general program? If so then you'll have much more le-way. Probably only 3/4 the courses as an honours (maybe an honours is a UofT a specialisation???).

[awestruck]

Honours at UofT is completing 20 credits and having a cgpa of 1.85 or higher (and there's also other requirements. Just check the book - page 4). It's basically a status (or whatever you call it) you get when you graduate.

Alright, I got question for everyone who did either a math or econ major, which major (math or econ) would be the better choice. I am currently going to second year life science at UofT and would like a route into the business world if I can't get into a professional program. Thanks in advance.

Do econ major.

[Time_Keeper]

where do you go to university?

u of t requires 20 credits to graduate.

I go to Guelph. And I'm sure it depends on your program.
For example at Guelph:

Biochem - 20.25
Biophysics - 21.25
Chemical Physics - 21.75
Many others are above 20 credits

[wqzmbshz]

I go to Guelph. And I'm sure it depends on your program.
For example at Guelph:

Biochem - 20.25
Biophysics - 21.25
Chemical Physics - 21.75
Many others are above 20 credits

errr at u of t its 20 credits for all programs..only 1.0 credit or 0.5 credit courses avalible...so yeaaa

[Time_Keeper]

Ya, mine took only 4 yrs. And my second is a bch maj too. W/o the co-op of course.

It took you 4 years to do 2 majors?
Would that only work if you had a lot of elective space for your initial major?

I know with my minor and major, I have to take 3 summer school/online courses during my co-op semesters in order to graduate in adequate time (and this is with about 4 courses of my biochem degree going towards my chemistry minor)

[infinite.chaoz]

Honours at UofT is completing 20 credits and having a cgpa of 1.85 or higher (and there's also other requirements. Just check the book - page 4). It's basically a status (or whatever you call it) you get when you graduate.


You also need to be graduating either 1 spec or 2 maj.

[HBP]

It took you 4 years to do 2 majors?
Would that only work if you had a lot of elective space for your initial major?

I know with my minor and major, I have to take 3 summer school/online courses during my co-op semesters in order to graduate in adequate time (and this is with about 4 courses of my biochem degree going towards my chemistry minor)

It's a lot different at UofT. For a major you typically have 8 required full year courses. But there is a lot of overlap for a double science major, hence you would not need 16 (think of the similarities between Human Bio + Animal Physio). To circumvent people abusing this to graduate, UofT made it necessary to have 12 distinct full year courses in a double major.

That leaves about 8 full year elective spaces.

Or you can do a specialist, or a major and two minors (also with the 12 distinct rule). A specialist + major/minor is possible, but it's unlikely to give you much gain. Frankly, if you're going into first year don't completely set yourself up for one hard specialist (LMP!!), your plans may have to change so make sure you research other options.

[Time_Keeper]

It's a lot different at UofT. For a major you typically have 8 required full year courses. But there is a lot of overlap for a double science major, hence you would not need 16 (think of the similarities between Human Bio + Animal Physio). To circumvent people abusing this to graduate, UofT made it necessary to have 12 distinct full year courses in a double major.

That leaves about 8 full year elective spaces.

Or you can do a specialist, or a major and two minors (also with the 12 distinct rule). A specialist + major/minor is possible, but it's unlikely to give you much gain. Frankly, if you're going into first year don't completely set yourself up for one hard specialist (LMP!!), your plans may have to change so make sure you research other options.

O, I see.
At Guelph it's a pain even to do a major and a minor.
Only 2 credits of my whole major degree can go towards my chemistry minor. And that's only 4 of my 10 or so chemistry courses.

And I completely agree with your second statement.

[infinite.chaoz]

It took you 4 years to do 2 majors?
Would that only work if you had a lot of elective space for your initial major?


Oh contraire, my initial was a specialist. It just so happens that most of my courses overlapped with BCH, so all I had to do is spend my 4th yr electives on 2 4th yr BCH courses to get that major.

[HBP]

Oh contraire, my initial was a specialist. It just so happens that most of my courses overlapped with BCH, so all I had to do is spend my 4th yr electives on 2 4th yr BCH courses to get that major.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[thechampion116]

I go to UofT and can help with that.

A specialist generally requires 12 - 16 credits to complete the program but of course you need 20 to graduate.

A major is generally only 8 credits and minor about 3-4.

For a double major you cannot have over 6 courses ( i believe, it maybe less) that overlap to complete both majors. Hard to explain, easier to look in the book for understanding.

I am doing a specialist program with major program underneath it. The major doesn't affect my specialist program because it basically has the same requirements but allows priority for more courses that I am interested in. I am also doing a minor in bioethics to help fill out the remaining credits needed to graduate.

I believe its best to be doing two different programs whether it be Specialist+minor or double major. It just makes it a lot easier to learn new skills and develop different skills.

For example, the science stuff helps me greatly with 'lab type' writings, and hands-on lab work. The bioethics stuff helps improve my writing in general.

I've taken a variety of courses as well, from eco to classics to science.

Find out what you like and you can't go awry.