Double Major with ChemE, worth it?

nshah9617
Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:43:28 +0000

Salve!,

First, if you love Math or are generally interested in the subject then by all means do a double major.

However, from a practical and employment standpoint I don’t really see a Math major giving you an edge. Most employers will hire as an engineer and not a mathematician and even the few industries that might hire math majors, mainly banking or consulting types, your ChemE will suffice just fine.

Next, there is actually very little overlap between a Math major and engineering degree. Sure you’ll take the Calculus and ODE but these classes constitute a slime piece of a Math degree. Depending on your specialization (Pure or Applied) you’ll have to take probability, real analysis, topology, number theory, algebraic structures and other proof intensive classes. You’ll most likely need a significant portion of advanced classes to complete your degree and a ChemE and Math course load can be overwhelming.

As I said before, there is a stark difference between AP Calculus and a Math major. As no imagination hinted, you must be ready to tackle proofs and non-calculus topics if you want to major in Math.

I feel that majoring in Chemistry would be the same–a very interesting intellectual experience if you enjoy the subject but won’t really give you an edge.

However, you mentioned graduate school. I think the best course of action is to instead supplement your ChemE degree with bits and pieces of Chemistry and Math that might be pertinent to your research.