Is duel majoring worth it?
I am wondering because I want to major in art, because I love art, but I also want to major in business, because I want to open a restaurant or a small business. Thank you. #art #student #business #duelmajor
3 answers
Andy’s Answer
Hi Jacob,
Majoring in business can certainly aid in being an artist. Many artists end up being contract workers and have to treat themselves as small businesses. So not only could your business major benefit you in opening a restaurant, it could help your art career as well.
Having said that, taking on a double major is a lot of work, especially if they're in completely different fields. Your class load will be heavy and difficult but if you stick with it you can be well positioned for your future career.
One thing to consider is that such disparate majors might not be good in the same school. A school known for its art program might not have a particularly strong business school and vice versa.
Alternatively, you can pursue an undergraduate major in one field of study at one school and then get a master's degree in something else somewhere else. Many people go back to school to earn their MBA (master of business administration) after working in one field for a while. Of course that means more years of schooling but it would allow you to focus on one discipline at a time.
From personal experience, I majored in biology for my undergraduate degree as UC Berkeley before getting my MFA (master of fine arts) later from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. It took longer than if I had double majored but I feel like I received a better education in each since I could focus on them individually.
As you can see in these lists, there isn't a lot of overlap for business and art. Columbia and Yale seem to be the only ones in the top 10 that are strong in both. While these are lists for graduate degree programs they can be indicative of the caliber of their undergraduate programs as well.
Top Graduate Business Schools:
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/mba-rankings
Top Graduate Art Schools:
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-fine-arts-schools/fine-arts-rankings
Andy recommends the following next steps:
Thank you very much.
Jacob
Brittany’s Answer
Duel majoring can definitely be worth it if it is an opportunity within reasonable means for you! I did something similar where I majored in business as well as Latin/Classical Studies. I was lucky to have some AP credits coming into college to help me complete the dual major within the standard four years, and was able to use some of the elective credits to satisfy requirements for both majors. I went to school on scholarship and was able to achieve the dual major and support my passion without overextending my means.
I would suggesting brainstorming some specifics of your dream and what credentials will be best suited to get you there. It sounds like opening a restaurant and/or small business is a strong part of your vision, so business school is likely a critical piece to help you get there. Art is amazing and I fully support pursuing it in parallel, but unless you are opening an art gallery it may have to take a backseat to the business degree if it comes down to having to choose. An Art minor could also be a good option in lieu of another major if you have to adjust to make it all work.
Art is also a broad field - perhaps take some time to evaluate the best aspect of art education to help you achieve your dream. Sometimes that can take time to develop the perspective and you don't have to take it all on at once. You can start with one major and get some internship, mentorship, and job experience to help you determine what and where (maybe a different school) is best to equip you for success! If Art is an extreme passion of yours but not necessarily a career choice, then there are also options to take art classes at a local studio where you can express your creative side without having the academic parameters around it.
Hope that helps!
