About one out of every three Tufts students will graduate with a double major, a figure that continues to rise despite critics' claims that the practice detracts from the quality of a single area of specialization.
Dean of Undergraduate Education James Glaser says that though he is not a "fan" of double majoring, "it's right for some people; but I do think it's overdone here at Tufts."
In 2000, 25.5 percent of the graduating class received degrees in two majors. Just two years later in 2002, that figure rose to 31.7 percent.
The Chronicle of Higher Education reported last year that Tufts has a high percentage of double majors compared to other leading universities.
Glaser said some students feel obligated to double major because so many others do and not because "they have two passions and want to pursue both".
Such concerns are not limited to Tufts administrators - universities such as MIT and Johns Hopkins University are concerned that the opportunity to double major may prevent students from becoming specialists in either area they choose to study.
MIT ended the practice of triple majoring in 2002 when the faculty decided that "multiple majors do not justify the heroic efforts students put in to obtain them," MIT Dean of Undergraduate Education Robert Redwine told the Daily last year.
But Dean of Arts and Sciences Susan Ernst says that double majoring, while in some cases can "dilute the quality and value of both majors," can often be rewarding.
"The most successful examples of students who have double majored that I have seen are often when the majors are very different," Ernst said. "This may seem counterintuitive, but these students are doing it because they do not want to give up either area and they are willing to work very hard in both."
Some courses of study at Tufts actually require students to double major - students pursuing degrees in environmental studies or community health must pursue a concentration in another area as well.
But Melissa Henry, a sophomore majoring in environmental studies and political science, said she is dissatisfied with such requirements.
"I would still double major in political science if it weren't a requirement, but I don't like the idea of having to double major. That should be left to the student's discretion," she said.
Many students choose to double major because their concentrations are interrelated.
The interdisciplinary nature of the Department of International Relations (IR), for example, makes double majoring a popular choice for IR students.
According to the IR department's Web site, 37 percent of IR majors were pursuing a double major at the end of the 2003-04 academic year.
Eight percent of IR students double majored in a foreign language while 15 percent chose a second concentration in economics.
"With the many [economics] requirements for the International Relations major, as well as my academic interest in both areas, it seems to make sense to double major," sophomore Sheena Keller said.
Both Henry and Keller said they hope their two majors will work together to strengthen their r?©sum?©s.
But Gerald Gill, a full-time professor and academic advisor in the history and the American studies departments, warns against double majoring as a "r?©sum?© enhancer".
"It is my hope that students who pick two majors are doing it for intellectual reasons," he said.
According to the University of California-Berkeley's Web site, a double major or multiple degree may not in itself improve students' prospects of getting into graduate schools or being hired by top employers.
Instead, Berkeley advises its undergraduates to work on an honors thesis in a single department.
Glaser said employers are more concerned with the grades received and the reputability of the university, and not with the multiplicity of majors.
"The cost [of double majoring] is the ability to explore the curriculum more broadly," Glaser said.
Princeton University has countered this outcome by only permitting students a single concentration. Princeton has no plans to change this policy in the future, according to Dean of the College Hank Dobin.
Instead, Princeton students are required to complete an independent research project in their concentration resulting in a thesis in their senior year, he said.
According to Dobin, this "very significant" research project would make it nearly impossible for students to double major.
For now, Tufts' double and triple majors need not worry - neither Glaser nor Ernst are in favor of rescinding the double major option.
Doing so would prevent students with a sincere interest to "go as deep in each [major] as possible," Ernst said.
