COLUMN: Better minor will alleviate `double major syndrome'
TO BE or not to be a double major, that is the question running through the minds of many Rice students.
Yet should this be so?
Should this question be such a pressing issue when the truth is your diploma gives you a BS or BA and doesn't specify in what?
If this is so, why are 40 percent of Rice students double majors?
All of these questions are worth attention.
Now don't get me wrong, in no way is a double or even a triple major evil.
By all means, if one is truly interested in two different fields, a double major is a logical choice to pursue both in depth.
The problem arises, however, when a student feels pressure to double major, either because everyone else is doing it and they don't want the stigma attributed with a single major, or they wrongly assume that a double major will greatly benefit them.
While the latter argument may be true in some cases, an example may arise in which a fluent Spanish speaker may be a few courses away from finishing Spanish as a second major, yet still wants to take a few other interesting non-major-related courses.
Most of the time, the student will choose to complete the double major.
Yet, in reality, the working world cares not about the degree but in the ability to speak Spanish, and thus, the student has cheated himself out of greater intellectual expansion.
Combine this with the hierarchy of majors, a result that has students double majoring to create a more "respected" major and thus even more pressure surmounts.
Clearly, the academic environment is becoming far too intense due to student and administrative mentality.
A solution for these problems is difficult to find since it is very hard to change one's mentality and perception of double majors.
Yet there is a step we can take to alleviate this pressure and stress, one that almost every other school in the nation has taken -- development of an established minor system.
We have presented a resolution to the Student Association Senate and we have their support to continue pursuing our goals of a minor system.
We are in the process of gathering information and researching in order to present a solid argument in favor of a minor system to the Committee of Undergraduate Curriculum.
Let's face it -- the coherent minor is not effective.
First, you are not able to create your own.
Second, it only consists of three or four courses, and most importantly, you cannot attain a coherent minor in the same area as your major.
This is because the coherent minor system is based on the "strength" of the foundation courses which has proven to be ineffective as well.
An established minor system will improve the academic environ- ment while allowing students to learn as much as they want in any subject.
A minor system of six to eight classes will provide an alter-native to the reluctant double major.
If a student is somewhat interested in a field, one can get credit for the interest while allowing one to focus on one's major and leaving room for other courses.
Why is it important to receive credit? Well, it is in the nature of a Rice student.
The typical student wants accolades and recognition for his accomplishments, otherwise we would not have gotten accepted into Rice University.
A better minor system will eliminate the "double or nothing" syndrome in which students feel as if they must either double major or not pursue the second interest altogether.
A minor will allow students to explore their interests in other fields without feeling the pressure of double majoring.
What it boils down to is academic freedom.
Perhaps with the establishment of a minor system, there will be a gradual change in the perception that a double major is better and students will feel free to pursue whatever academic interests may strike them without conforming to the Rice status quo.
We urge you to consider the benefits of such a system and to give us input on this matter.
Allow us to represent the student body accurately and let us know if you would participate in a minor program and if you think this is a good way to improve the aca- demic environment at Rice University.
Mike Tuckman is a SA Senate member and a Lovett College sophomore. Al Suarez is a SA committee member and a Brown College sophomore.
This item appeared in the Opinion section of the February 23, 1996 issue.
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