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Double Major: Yah or no?

D

duragezic

Lifer
In 5 days I'll be starting my junior year in Computer Engineering (CpE). I'm on track to graduate in 2 or 2.5 years. Through my school (Michigan Tech), CpE and EE are closesly related and basically I take a lot of EE courses with some CS dept courses mixed in. But since I'm so close to having the required EE courses by being a CpE, there is the option to double major (different from dual degree) as a EE. They even layed out what we need to take.

Since I have yet to take any CpE electives, I could double major as EE and CpE by taking just 3 additional 3 credit classes. By choosing my electives right they would count towards both degrees, and I planned to do more EE tech electives as opposed to CS tech electives anyway.

So, say I was going to interview for a pretty decent company, would having a double major CpE and EE be beneficial? Or since they are so closely related would it be a waste of time? I kind of feel that being EE too would just totally broaden things up. As a CpE I wouldn't neccessarily be qualified to go work in the power industry (just for example), but having both it seems I could apply to just about anything (tho I know at some point I need to concentrate on a specific area of EE).

Opinions?


edit: NOW WITH MORE POLL!!!!111!!1!!!111
 
yes i know someone doing double in EE and CE, he takes a buttload of classes... but thats about it. if u can stand the workload, then do it.
 
Originally posted by: duragezic
Since I have yet to take any CpE electives, I could double major as EE and CpE by taking just 3 additional 3 credit classes. By choosing my electives right they would count towards both degrees, and I planned to do more EE tech electives as opposed to CS tech electives anyway.
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Seems like a no-brainer to me. A double major in both of these will clearly be more qualified/attractive than a major in just ne of them to potential employers. And it wont even take all that much extra effort on your part.
 
When is having a double major worse off than just one? Never.

Do it if you can. My friend doubled in MIS and something else and now he is making $60k+ starting....
 
That actually doesn't seem too bad at all. If you can keep up with the workload, I'd say do it. Out of college, you always want to have something that distinguishes yourself. Doubling in two of some of the hardest majors out there is one way of going about it.
 
It is usually better to get a Master's Degree than a double major. You can usually get the Master's in the same amount of time as the two Bachelors if you can take some grad courses while an undergrad.
 
Originally posted by: duragezic
Since I have yet to take any CpE electives, I could double major as EE and CpE by taking just 3 additional 3 credit classes.
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The key is how much longer this will take you. Three extra classes will likely add at least one semester to your graduation, possibly two in some cases if the classes are hard or if they overlap with the courses you must take for your first major. In the latter case, you could get a BS and an MS degree in the same amount of time. That combination would be far better than a dual major.

 
The valedictorian of my high school class did double majors of CS and EE at the same school i went to. He never finished college and now lives with his parents.
 
my school EE and CpE are the same major, called: Electrical and Computer Engineering. Of course, a lot of people do dual majors in ECE and CS, which is worth it in my opinion... more so than EE and CpE.
 
wow...so many diff. opinions.
People, it REALLY depends on the school. I did ECE and CS and very common in my school. Its the same number of total credits to graduate, and just about 5 CS classes and they cut down some on the EE requirements.

I think most people are talking about getting TWO different B.S. degrees, which is a lot different than two different Majors with 1 graduating degree.
talk to your counsleor.
 
Originally posted by: sonoma1993
with a double major or even double master, you can go work for nasa and easily make $130,000+ a year.
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Was it really worth the time to make this up and post it. My friend triple majored, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Math, for whatever reason and its not getting him any better job than just chemical engineering would.

If you want to be able to apply to more types of jobs and different fields a double major may be worth it, but expecting better pay and a better job is a stretch, you need the Masters for that.
 
EE and CE dual, nah, not really worth it. I used to be a dual, but then i saw how many electives i had to sacrifice and said fvck that.

As for being beneficial in the work place, the answer is a grey one. It's not so much you will get a job easier, but more of teh lines of having more jobs to pick from. That said, that is not entirely true either since an EE could do a CE job with out any problem and a CE could do an EE job with out any problem.

As a CpE I wouldn't neccessarily be qualified to go work in the power industry (just for example), but having both it seems I could apply to just about anything (tho I know at some point I need to concentrate on a specific area of EE).
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this is where people get it wrong. Your major does not control where you work, it's the classes you take (your electives). To take classes pertaining to the power industry, one must take electronics and circuits as a prerequsite. As far as I know, all engineering colleges require that both EE's and CE's take electronics. You can get teh dgree, but you can concentrate in whatever feild you want.
 
My friend is doing a ECE major with Business Minor and CS minor...he's my hero haha...i'd do it if i could...i dont have the will power
 
If yout hink about it, it's not THAT bad.

First of all, you graduate with 2 degrees. That's like pwn.

As for coursework, uhhh I'm considering a double major between MSE and EECS (Materials Science Engineering). But since I'm already focused on the electronic materials part, I'm taking a bunch of EE courses to begin with. For a double major, I have a huge overlap in courses to begin with, and so I just add on a few more courses and I'm set.

This is far better than my friend who is EECS and wants to do Premed. You have to take a bunch of Bio/Chem courses and then your EECS courses. Much harder. Same with my friends doing EECS and pre-business. Killer.

If you're double majoring in 2 fields that are similar, you're far luckier than those who are double majoring in 2 very different majors. Overlapping courses rock, so it's not exactly DOUBLE the work.

I think that Bio E + EE is a far better choice. CE and EE are so similar. CE is just a specialized EE, and when it's getting outsourced this fast, iono it's not that great. Bio is the new hot field, so I suggest Bio E because in a way you have completed a lot of premed requirements if you decide to go to medical shcool one day. Otherwise, Bio E is not really that bio related. Its still a lot of engineering and electronics. This is very different from say MCB or Bio-Chem
 
You could do that, or go straight for a masters.
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Yep. Unless the company has very few engineers, they're going to want people that are very strong in one area more than someone that's strong in a couple areas.


with a double major or even double master, you can go work for nasa and easily make $130,000+ a year.
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I don't think they'll pay you more to work as a computer engineer just because you have a degree that's not related to your work. 130k? Nasa?

If you want to make that, get a phD and get into management. Dual BS degrees will get you 130k after there's been 35 years of experience/inflation, but not now.
 
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