Double Majors: Fascinating Selection for Academic Achievement

In January 2021, Job Korea reported that 3 out of 10 university students are enrolled in a double major. For students who encounter new interests after entering university, applying for double majors can be a compelling option. The Sungkyun Times (SKT) will therefore explore the double major system in universities, specifically in Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU).

Why Do Students Want to Double Major?

-Double Major: Two in One

The double major is a system where students earn degrees from two or more majors by completing the courses as required. Students typically apply for a double major between their third and seventh semesters, and they acquire additional credits under their second major to fulfill the graduation requirements. The process for application for a double major varies by university and major. In SKKU, students applying for a double major are selected based on their Grade Point Average (GPA) or through additional processes such as an interview or a simple personal statement. Specifically, after completing the required procedure, students who are assigned to a double major register their second major to get confirmed. Although most majors accept every applicant who satisfies the basic conditions, some majors provide specific criteria. For instance, six majors including the Department of Statistics have limited the quota for a double major, while evaluating students only based on their GPA. Moreover, eleven majors such as the School of Art require advanced examination before the application.

-Doubling the Window of Opportunity

The reason universities encourage students to apply for double majors is because there are multiple benefits. First, a double major enables students to pursue their desire to learn by providing the infrastructure to explore interests in another field. A freshman majoring in Political Science and Diplomacy said in an interview with SKT, “I got the opportunity to study History at a higher level thanks to the double major system.” As such, double majors can help students get a chance to build a wide range of knowledge and enhance their interdisciplinary capabilities. In other words, a double major allows students to develop their interests related to other majors, providing new opportunities. The double major can be seen as a revolutionary system that allows university students to learn various knowledge depending on their interests and careers.

The Great Obstacle of Double Major

-Degenerated to a Means of Getting Employed

Although the double major system first began as a quest for learning, this initial purpose is currently deteriorated. The main reason is that many students recognize them as a tool for getting a job. A sophomore majoring in English Language and Literature noted in an interview with the SKT that she only started a double major in Business Administration for future employment. It is now prevalent that students prefer majors with more promising job prospects than interests. The major influx in Business Administration and Department of Computer Science and Engineering can be one significant example. According to Chosun Ilbo in February 2024, 36% of the students of the College of Liberal Studies at Seoul National University pursued Business Administration and Economics. The Korea Higher Education Research Institute also reported that more than 50% of students with undeclared majors in 11 universities selected three of the most popular majors. Similarly, in the double major system where students are allowed to choose a second major, they tend to enter departments preferred by companies. This also leads to a highly competitive university entrance system. Since it is more accessible for students to study the desired major through a double major rather than re-taking college entrance exams or transferring to another university, students tend to focus on the university’s prestige. This can be underlined by a survey held by Catch led by Jinhak last November, where one out of five students who selected university prestige over the major stated their reason to be easily changeable majors. This may in fact lead to a lack of passionate learning, as many would limit themselves by choosing majors of genuine interest. The double major, a window to seek new knowledge, is now being hindered.

-SKKU’s Double Major Crisis

There are also some problems caused by the double major program at SKKU. From the perspective of single-major students, the excessive quota for double majors given the limited lecture capacities lowers the overall class quality. It is in fact not difficult to apply for a double major at SKKU. A maximum of 50% of the total number of students per semester can be allotted to double majors. This loosened standard affects students who were originally studying the major. For instance, as students managing a double major are classified in the same group as first-major students for class registration, it leads to a higher competition rate. This primarily affects students who must take major courses to fill graduation credits, making it harder for them to graduate. Moreover, the flaw also lies in the application process itself. Since the school selects students solely depending on their GPA, many argue that the criteria do not successfully represent the candidates. A junior majoring in Engineering said, “Because every professor’s standard for tests and scoring criteria vary, it is unfair to compare students just by numbers.” Although standards of ratings and school regulations exist, the GPA remains a significant factor affecting the application process.

Overcoming the Obstacles of Double Major

-Double Major Is Not the Perfect Answer

There are various solutions to improve the double major system. To fundamentally improve the system, it should first retain its purpose as a means to explore different fields rather than as a simple employment tool. Providing more programs where students can enhance integrative competencies will provide a compelling option for those seeking employment. For instance, the university can provide students with a wide range of education by expanding majors under the interdisciplinary department and conducting multidisciplinary lectures. Moreover, offering numerous options for students to learn across the border of majors could weaken the current employment-focused state. Activating the Micro degree system could supposedly lower the border between majors. The Micro degree is an ongoing program at SKKU that allows students to get credit recognition for learning other majors’ lectures. This could be utilized as an alternative to double majors, lessening the burden and intensity of double majors. In addition, evaluation factors in the application process should be improved when selecting students for double majors. Additional processes such as interviews and application letters will help to sort students according to their appropriate capacities and interests. Adopting numerous methods of evaluation and introducing a sophisticated assessment system will be reasonable.

While the double major system initially opened up opportunities for students to delve into a wider range of knowledge, it has now only resulted in academic diversity reduction. To overcome the irony, a decisive transformation of the double major system is imperative. The SKT is optimistic that such a change will help the double major system overcome its current challenges and pave the way for a brighter future for SKKU.