Doublin' it Up!

One of the best gifts that Tulane will give you is the gift of flexibility. While there are some majors here that you might want to get going on right as you arrive, for the most part, Tulane is set up in a way that allows you to change seamlessly between schools and majors. I changed my major three times when I was a student here and still had no problem double majoring in four years. We let you do that here; in fact, we encourage it. Once you know what you want to study, whether that be when you apply to Tulane or not until the end of your sophomore year, you simply let your adviser know, and you're automatically enrolled in that school and major. The best part about this is it leads to over 70% of our students taking both a major and a minor and nearly a third of our students double majoring.

Double majoring is quite popular here at Tulane. I've seen everything from music and biomedical engineering double majors to finance and glass blowing double majors. It's truly up to you. Today, I am going to introduce you to three perfect examples of my students who've not only double majored, but selected two very different (but not totally unrelated) fields. Take it away, guys!

Mae and one of her dancers. Mae did all the choreography for this piece for her Dance Composition III class. 

Mae Lobrano, senior:  Double majoring in Neuroscience and Dance.
I jumped at the opportunity to be able to pursue dance in a university setting. I still can't believe that I am able to study two things that I truly love. I really enjoy my science classes. They challenge me on a different level. When I get to my dance classes, I get to release and use my creative side more. I feel like I am working a completely different part of my brain. I love being challenged on these two different levels. As a senior, I have made a home in both departments. I feel like I have two families of professors who truly care about me and my future.

Daniel in our performance of Sweeney Todd. He's probably also thinking about Poli Econ in this photo.  

Daniel Shevlin, freshman, Double Majoring in Political Economy and Musical Theater.
I have always aimed to remain very balanced in my life, and I think my double major is a big help. Pursuing degrees in two opposite fields is very time consuming because there is actually zero overlap as far as courses go, but Tulane's flexible core curriculum makes it entirely possible. Every time people ask me what I am studying, I always get an encouraging response. They applaud me for pursuing my passions in college and it is a very gratifying feeling. By far, the most fulfilling aspect of double majoring in opposite fields is the mental balance I gain from taking courses in the social sciences as well as the arts. I am almost always happy in class, and if I become stressed while studying for one of my courses, I can easily switch gears to study something unrelated to ease my mind. I have found that the major advisors at Tulane support students pursuing opposite fields and work very hard to present as many options for internships. Sometimes I have even found the options are able to overlap two seemingly different majors. It is hectic at times, but I know all the work will pay off in the end.

Phoebe presenting her independent study while abroad in South Africa. 

Phoebe Coughlin, junior: Double major in Studio Art and Public Health
I absolutely love having two majors, in two very different subject areas, studio art and public health! It is super interesting to go from a public health class and learn about zoonotic infections to a silk screen printing class after! I know that I would get bored if all of my classes were just in one subject area. I am hoping to pursue my masters of public health in health education and communication through the combined degree program. While studying abroad through a field-based public health program last semester in Durban, South Africa, I learned a great deal about health communication, specifically about poster and billboard design to get health messages out to large groups of people. Through doing a health communication poster design project I was able to combine my love of art with my public health education. I have loved art my whole life but didn't know public health even existed until I came to Tulane. I would encourage everyone to take classes in all different subject areas, because who knows—you might discover a second major!