Does obtaining a double major compromise your ability to graduate at the default period of time?

Question

What if the second major is outside of the first majors college/department, will that be a factor?

Well thought out answers are appreciated you guys rock.

Answer 1

Your primary major will have a set of required course and then your secondary major will have another set.

To get a double, you need to fulfill all requirements. Depending on the two majors you choose, some requirements might overlap making the whole thing.

Eg: I am planning a double major in computer engineering and math finance. Normally, this would take 10 semesters (or 5 years). But I have some AP credit (so thats one less semester). And 4-5 required courses overlap (mainly math since both engineering and math finance require math) so thats another semester less meaning I can do it in 4 years.

But say I had chosen engineering and art. I would have had less overlapping courses and thus it would taken longer to do.

It also depends on how many credits your university allows you to do in one semester. Mine allows 22, which is what I am doing now, so that in my senior year there is less pressure on me.

(Note: This is NOT a dual degree, which generally takes forever)

Answer 2

Most people that I know who've had double majors took 5 years to graduate, which I believe is still a good amount of time. If the 2nd major is in a different college it could make a difference because of the different requirements. However it could still take 5 years if you did summer school, which I found to be easier than the spring and fall terms.

Answer 3

It depends on which two majors you're looking at, which courses overlap, how heavy a course load you can handle, and how many transfer credits from high school you're bringing in.  

For example, I'm double majoring in psychology and biology, but I still plan to graduate in 4 years --however, because I want to graduate in 4 years and don't want to overload myself with too many classes a semester, I'll have to settle for a BA in biology instead of a BS.

If you're trying to do something like chemical engineering and music, that will probably take you more than 4 years, since none of the courses overlap and they each require extensive time commitments (it wouldn't do you any good to take 10 classes a semester and fail 5 of them, for example).

A double major in something like biology and chemistry (or liberal arts courses which tend to require fewer overall credits) would have lots of overlapping courses and might be completable in 4 years.

Additionally, if you're bringing in a ton of AP credit or college credit, those can count towards elective credit and free up more time for you to take courses required for your majors (instead of general eds and electives).

Good luck!