<p>Obviously the topic is there to attract comments.</p>
<p>When gaining an engineering degree in the US, you receive a bachelor in Engineering. That is after 4 years of full time studying. In Sweden if you go to the University for 4 years and take an Engineering degree you receive a master. It sounds like American universities are extremely wasteful in its time; I have heard stories that the two first years of college is mostly to build up common/different knowledges instead of focusing on the field of study. Why all this fuzz about studying and workload when your only receiving a bachelor the first 4 years? Does this count to all schools or are more selective schools different?</p>
<p>Im asking because I have the choice of studying in the USA and receiving a bachelor or studying in Sweden and gaining a Master of Science in Engineering and Business Management. The latter is equivalent to a Jerome fisher degree but it is a master instead of a bachelor. </p>
<p>Unless you are constrained by finance or have taken gap years after school, there is no reason to “do it quick.” The first two years are there for a reason, extra knowledge, laidback teaching, and a wider perspective never hurt anyone. You study for that, not a mere degree (if you want that you can always come to certain 3rd world countries and ‘buy’ yourself a fake degree in a month).</p>
<p>“if you want that you can always come to certain 3rd world countries and ‘buy’ yourself a fake degree in a month”</p>
<p>Good point…</p>
<p>But what i can see it shouldnt be a problem with a double major, with the work load and extra time. Is this true for all schools, that the two first years are “extra knowledge, laidback teaching, and a wider perspective”?</p>
<p>US college experience is quite different to Europe (and probably elsewhere).</p>
<p>I’m at Oxford and they don’t give a damm about ECs, outside interests and being a well rounded person. They just want people with good grades who are very focussed on their subject. I think it is like this in most European countries? Students have to apply to study a particular subject so have to be quite decisive and sure of what they want to do (roughly) by the age of 16-17.</p>
<p>In the US there is greater flexibilty but less depth. If you study Engineering in the US you will have to do general ed courses in unrelated subjects such as English. (I personally would hate this because I am not good at arts.) However, you will get a more well-rounded education in different areas. It depends what you like. If you would hate having to do these addictional classes and are sure you want to be an engineer, stay in Sweden. (or at least apply to techincal school, like MIT, in the US)</p>
Yeah I guess this is the case with almost all schools, from the Ivies to the small LACs. I’m not implying that students study irrelevant things or indulge in more ECs during the first two years. From what I’ve caught, the first two years is not as detached from the last two years (in terms of courses taken, study load etc.); however, yes, they are more laidback (esp the freshman year). I don’t know about the state-run universities though (anyone?). Keep in mind that all of this is coming from the info I’ve acquired from sources other than direct experience!
That’s the case with most commonwealth countries and even with most of Asia.</p>
Don’t think you can easily do a double major in 4 years because 2 years for a bachelor’s degree is possible in Sweden. As someone else said, in addition to your chosen major, you also have to take some general requirement courses, as well as interdisciplinary courses from the arts/humanities etc. So, in order to do a double major, you will have to put in more time in the US than in Sweden!</p>
<p>Actually, mercurysquad, you will not. A major is usually 3 to 4 semesters of study, and the general requirements, at almost all colleges, double count, meaning you won’t have to take twice the requirements. So a double major could be generalized to be 150% of the amount of work of a single major degree. This is compared to Sweden where you would actually have to study two separate programs full time to receive a dual degree of that form.</p>
<p>And on another note, Low-life:
A degree in “industriell ekonomi” does not even compare by far to the Jerome K Fisher program. A dual degree from KTH and HHS in Stockholm is getting closer, but is still not there. So calling it an equivalent is, honestly, stretching it.</p>
<p>One of the main reasons for me to pursue studies in the United States was the ease with which I could pursue a double major or dual degree (as I am lucky enough to be at a place where dual degrees are abundant).</p>
<p>I haven’t decided yet. Most likely IR and finance, as there is a lot of overlap possible between the concentrations. Many of the courses for the finance degree can be counted towards IR, and vice versa. Econometrics and math is also something I have considered, or simply economics and anthropology.</p>
<p>Interesting combinations! Double majors are such a satisfaction, aren’t they? I’d like to get a dual degree as well if I don’t have to fight too hard for it. (what’s IR btw? :o)</p>
<p>IR is International Relations, a composite major of courses from history, political science, sociology adn economics, all with an international perspective.</p>
<p>Actually in many European countries u can’t even take a double major. U first need to end one and then if u want u can pursue the other one. I beleive a double major will give you some advantage especially if those two major are very different one from the other. For example biology and history.</p>
<p>How many of you wants to go on with graduate studies?</p>