Odd Situation

dandelion27 · 09-08-2006, 10:32 PM

I don't even know if this is possible, but for undergrad, I would like to do a double major in architecture and economics. is this even possible? does anyone have schools where I could do this? also, does anyone know anything about the requirements for these majors at these schools (as in, will double majoring in the two mentioned above even work with the curriculum of the school)?

Yale
Harvard
Princeton
Brown
Columbia
Amherst
Vassar
Wellesley
Dartmouth
U. Mich

Northstarmom · 09-08-2006, 11:02 PM

My suggestion is that you check the on-line sites of the colleges that interest you, and find out whether architecture is even offered as an undergrad major. That would be a more accurate way of getting the info that you need than asking random strangers on an anonymous board.

If architecture and economics are offered at the undergrad level, then e-mail the college and find out if you could double major.

dandelion27 · 09-08-2006, 11:25 PM

I think I will start e-mailing schools, but where should I send the e-mail to? To the specific department or to the admissions sector or something else?

Also...I was wondering if anyone had even seen this kind of combination before. Looking at the websites of many schools on that list, it seems that the architecture major require so many credits that it would be impossible to double major.

Alexandre · 09-09-2006, 02:35 AM

Schools like Rice, Cornell and Michigan offer those two majors, but Architecture is generally so structured and intense that double majoring is almost impossible.

huskem55 · 09-09-2006, 08:36 AM

connecticut college- i know someone who did the arch/econ double major.
similar school to vassar but a bit easier to get into.

Bigredmed · 09-09-2006, 11:17 AM

It's going to be hard b/c arch is pretty much professional school. And b/c there is a national accrediting body for arch schools, the requirements from place to place are going to be very similar.

And while the econ is interesting, remember that Arch is a pretty much a 6 year program now. It's hard to do much of anything without that masters (at least according to my two friends who are in their 6th years).

dandelion27 · 09-09-2006, 01:05 PM

Right, I know architecture is pretty much proffessional school. My only concern is that I really want to be a lawyer as well. Life after college is going to determine what I end up doing in grad school and I want to keep my options open. For example, they have an architecture concentration at Brown, it is less technical than programs at say, Cornell, but on their curriculum guide it says that this concentration is for students who plan to continue studies in architecture after undergrad. From the looks of it, I could easily double major with that kind of curriculum. I'm wondering, though, if that kind of major would be acceptable in grad schools for architecture.

gomestar · 09-09-2006, 01:14 PM

the arch. program at Cornell is a 5 year program. It is the equivalent of a master's degree so you won't need to go on if you don't want to. It's the only B.Arch program in the ivy league. Any other program, though you would be studying architecture stuff, you'd have to go on to get a Master's degree in order to practice. With a B.Arch you can go right into practice. There's another master's degree (M.Arch II ... the next step after B.Arch OR M.Arch) but it's generally more for teaching arch. than practicing.

Keep in mind you can be any major when you apply to law school. I don't think not being an econ major will hurt you. I often hear how law schools are looking for a diverse range of majors, so arch. may help you a bit.

dandelion27 · 09-09-2006, 01:26 PM

But in terms of taking the LSAT and being able to think and analyze effectively, will I be on par with other students with an architecture major alone? maybe I could do just a minor in econ or something...

huskem55 · 09-09-2006, 01:44 PM

you can major in whatever the hell you want to for the lsats.

gomestar · 09-09-2006, 02:02 PM

it doesn't matter what you major in for the lsat's. Engineers take and do well on the lsat's.

What makes you think knowledge of economics and supply/demand will help you do better for the lsat's?

dandelion27 · 09-09-2006, 02:27 PM

"What makes you think knowledge of economics and supply/demand will help you do better for the lsat's?"

statistics of LSAT scores by major show that certain majors score higher, and economics is pretty high scoring: http://www.uic.edu/cba/cba-depts/eco...grad/table.htm

gomestar · 09-09-2006, 03:04 PM

well, you must then learn that correlation does not equal causation.

do you think it was the fact that the students majored in eonomics that they did well, or the fact that many students who are in economics in college have plans to go to law school and prepare ahead of time accordingly?

how come you dont want to major in physics? They score higher than econ.

dont major in econ because you think it will prepare you for law school. I was an econ major considering law school, yet the class with the best prep for law school was not an econ class. If arch. is your interest, than major in arch. and prepare well for the LSAT. Preparing well will benefit you far greater than just a second major in econ. Capisci?

dandelion27 · 09-09-2006, 05:11 PM

however, an econ major would leave the field for job oppurtunities right after undergrad much bigger. what if i dont want to work in something architecture related straight out of undergrad? i want to leave my options open. plus, economics really interests me.

LisaG · 09-09-2006, 05:23 PM

Hey Dandelion,

Wellesley has an Architecture major. It's interdepartmental, which means it consists of a sampling of classes from several departments, including art, art history, math, and physics. I believe the department also recommends (though doesn't require) that you take some courses at MIT to experience the more technical side of Architecture. (Wellesley students are allowed to take courses there for full credit.)

Also, Economics is arguably one of Wellesley's strongest departments (and the most popular).

Tons of people at Wellesley double major, sometimes in completely unrelated fields. I've met people who are majoring in history or a foriegn language and doing pre-med or something equally unrelated along with that. I'm considering double majoring in two very different fields, but I have a couple of years before I have to decide that.

LACs have loose curriculums in comparison to a lot of universities, which makes it easier for students to explore varied interests.