Proposal of Double Major In IPTA

[chenchow]

There has been proposals and in fact concrete implementations have been done on allowing and perhaps strongly encourage students of IPTA to do double major.

What do you guys think of this suggestion? Do you guys think that it will be able to help generate better graduates?

[chenchow]

A university student doing double majors can take up to five years to complete a degree, Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh said. This would allow students more time to cover both disciplines under the double major degree programme which he said would be introduced in public universities in June.

What do you guys think? Would students be over burdened? or would they get bored with their studies? Do you guys think that many students will take it up, since it requires students to study 2 extra years for most courses. Currently non-technical courses in IPTA takes 3 years. Hence with this move, those STPM leavers will have spent 2+5 years, meaning they will get their bachelor's degrees 7 years after SPM.

[The_Observer]

In the newspapers, studies by some scholar show that ppl who do double degrees will be...how to put it...at risk of underperforming in both majors.

I guess it depends...on the person and the combination you are doing. I think that doing a double major is a very subjective issue and it depends a lot on the calibre of the student him/herself. Of course, the calibre of the teaching staff matters as well. Its either this factor or the other, I think. I wonder which one is that guy referring to...<muses>...

Any decision to double major should be given much thought, if what that study say is true....
Shouldn't be a rash decision just because the market favours it...
Parents should also take note of this!

[ElansarGelmir]

I think it boils down to the student's capablity of coping up with 2 majors. While it will be a boon to a student as he/she will have a broader education, if he/she is not able to cope up with juggling both majors, then he/she may flunk the whole course. Not all students are avid learners.

[chenchow]

And I think interest is an important aspect. Will the courses that the students take be of their interest? Will they be paired off with some course that they have little interest in? Will they be able to sustain their interests in both courses?

[USSDefiantNX74205]

What do you guys think? Would students be over burdened? or would they get bored with their studies? Do you guys think that many students will take it up, since it requires students to study 2 extra years for most courses. Currently non-technical courses in IPTA takes 3 years. Hence with this move, those STPM leavers will have spent 2+5 years, meaning they will get their bachelor's degrees 7 years after SPM.

Students can double major in the States right? How long does it take to do it there? Within a standard four year frame, or longer?

And I think interest is an important aspect. Will the courses that the students take be of their interest? Will they be paired off with some course that they have little interest in? Will they be able to sustain their interests in both courses?

I'm not that clear about double majors in the States, but from what I understand, students are the ones who choose what they want to double major in right? If this is the case, the I reckon most students would want to choose two majors that have something to do with each other, for example astronomy and physics.

[windy_city]

Students can double major in the States right? How long does it take to do it there? Within a standard four year frame, or longer?

I'm not that clear about double majors in the States, but from what I understand, students are the ones who choose what they want to double major in right? If this is the case, the I reckon most students would want to choose two majors that have something to do with each other, for example astronomy and physics.

I think I can answer your question since I am doing double major now. I am doing industrial engineering and economics.
Ya you can finish in the normal 4 years time frame if you take some summer class and some extra classes throughout your academic years.

About choosing major that have something to do with each other, I think it is based on personal preference. Some people have different interest so they choose to pursue their academic studies in 2 totally different fields. I have friend doing CS and English, Engineering with Music ...two totally unrelated subjects. The great thing about the system here (in US) is that you can pursue your different interest without the need of sacrificing one for another.

[__earth]

In the newspapers, studies by some scholar show that ppl who do double degrees will be...how to put it...at risk of underperforming in both majors.

I guess it depends...on the person and the combination you are doing. I think that doing a double major is a very subjective issue and it depends a lot on the calibre of the student him/herself. Of course, the calibre of the teaching staff matters as well. Its either this factor or the other, I think. I wonder which one is that guy referring to...<muses>...

Any decision to double major should be given much thought, if what that study say is true....
Shouldn't be a rash decision just because the market favours it...
Parents should also take note of this!

After being in the US for quite some time, I don't think the studies are totally valid. There are a lot of ppl that do double majors and they have good standing.

IMO, the students should be allowed to choose for themselves. Others may give opinion but in the end, the students themselves must make the decision, not the government, not the parents, not the colleges. Afterall, making decision is part of learning.

[ElansarGelmir]

I reckon most students would want to choose two majors that have something to do with each other, for example astronomy and physics.

I'd prefered to strike a balance between science and arts. I'm interested in arts subjects, but i'm exceptionally weak in them. That's why i have to choose science.

[The_Observer]

Yeah, I guess it is afterall up to the student...

BTW, the study was conducted by a Malaysian scholar and published in the New Straits Times. I read it online...

I am also doing a double degree! :P
And I think it does me more benefits than it does harm.

[Randomphantom]

I agree wholeheartedly. Students should be given the freedom to pursue their course of choice, and double majors if possible. But given the restrictive nature of degree progs in local U, I wonder whether it is possible to choose the double major of their choice - it is already a problem with students not getting their 1st choice (even their 2nd/3rd choices) Someone might end up with, say, Environmental Studies and Marine biology. They might land up with majors that are totally unrelated and worse- being totally useless.
Btw Im not quite clear about the difference between double degree and double major. I guess that double degrees are given when two fields do not overlap too much. But i think this would vary between Unis.

[chenchow]

basically double degree will be that one major grants for instance B.Sc and another major grants B.A. , that will be double degree. However, if both are within B.Sc or B.A., that will be just double major.

Anyway, the problem highlighted on majors selection in the university will be pretty difficult to solve. How is it going to be implemented? I think the idea is noble, however, the implementations need to be sorted out. There is one year before its implementation, so if anyone has any good idea, we should share it up. And I agree that students should get to select what major they would like to do.

In US, I guess students just choose whatever major they want in year 2. May I know how is the situation in other parts of the world? Is double degree allowed? How is it implemented? Perhaps, we can share the idea and perhaps generate some idea for the public.