<p>So let us assume I am super… What is the fastest way to double mjor in astronomy and aerospace engineering? What about realistically? Am I screwed if I get into shc?
Thank you very much</p>
<p>You can do the basic math on your own - look at the required courseload for one major, then cross off any courses you see also in the second major, and whatever you have not crossed off is the list of additional courses you will need to complete to get the second major. The tricky part to this is that both majors have a certain number of electives, and you may be able to count required courses in one major as electives in another, or at least find electives that count for both. Unfortunately, this requires considerable work, often with one or more advisors - in many cases you can or must petition to resolve conflicts between the majors.</p>
<p>As a general rule, I usually figure that it takes 1 extra semester for two closely related BA degrees, 2 for distant BA degrees, 3 for close BS degrees, and 4 for distant BS degrees. So I would say 3 extra semesters, not counting whatever you can do over summers or with an extra-heavy courseload.</p>
<p>With SHC you are not screwed. You will need to take some honors courses and do a thesis, which is more work, but they also tend to be more lenient with petitions for SHC students so you may be able to take a couple less classes. Might be a wash, might be a bit more work, either way there are lots of benefits to the program.</p>
<p>^^^ very good idea I will do the math… but do you think I would do research… I need the “human factor” now… would I be suicidal by the time i finish?</p>
<p>That depends on you more than anything else. I had a friend who doubled in Econ and EE, while in SHC, and he was fine when he graduated. I would just keep plans loose right now - you may find that in a year or two you only want to do one or the other, or perhaps something else entirely!</p>
<p>^^^ true true, Thank you very much.</p>
<p>Oh.,… How long did it take your friend from shc? the longest I am willing to do is 5 years</p>
<p>Not sure how long it took him - didn’t really know him until our final year, and didn’t know he was double majoring until almost the last time I saw him (he got an award and they mentioned that when they gave it too him). To me he was just an engineer.</p>
<p>This is very much dependant on how prepared you are coming in to Penn State. How many AP credits and other college credits. It can be done in 4 years. D1 was in SHC and graduated in 4 years with BS and MS in Astrophysics, BS physics, BA German, BS International Studies and minor in math. She did nowever have close to 2 years worth of AP and Penn State credits while in high school. So in a sense I guess you could say it took her 6 years for 5 degrees. I believe being in the honors college made it easier to schedule the courses and petition for course substitutions. Total credits for 5 degrees about 200.</p>
<p>^^^ wow… how many courses would you expect an average AP student might take in a semester?</p>