Science or humanities? Should I do double degree?

[thomab]

I have really broad interests and I can't imagine my life without both the humanities and science. I have a passion and a capability for both. I at least want to do extensive study in both before I make a decision. The opportunity to do a double now over 4 consecutive years is more appealing than having to come back to uni if I change my mind.

Is doing a double degree in such unrelated industries worth it? I don't want to regret not exploring either of these fields, but I'm afraid of poor job prospects and the extra HECS may become burdensome. I'm also worried that I may be disadvantaged by spreading myself thinly across two degrees, whereas other students will focus on just one. The job market today is often dependent on experience and extra-curricular activities and I'm not sure I can find time to do that for two different industries. If the degrees complemented one another a bit better, I wouldn't hesitate, but humanities and science seem to be worlds a part (career-wise anyway).

Any advice? Anyone who has gone down the humanities+science path?

[slothpomba]

It depends of what you mean by worth it. If you study psychology (in arts) and physics (in science) it's unlikely you'll use both degrees in a professional capacity, i just cant foresee it with that mix. This is true of the majority of double degrees in my opinion. If you have a double degree in law and accounting, you'll either be a professional accountant or a professional lawyer.

The job prospects wont be worse than taking a single degree, i cant see how it would harm your job prospects. HECs is not a huge worry, it's the best loan you'll ever get, assuming that Tony Abbott, Joe Hockey and the Liberal party don't pass their extraordinarily harmful changes to students and universities.

Spreading yourself thin is not really a concern. You are pretty much doing a full science degree and a full arts degree. All you really sacrifice is your ability to do electives that you would probably have room to do in a single degree (electives from outside your degree field.

I've almost finished my science degree and im waiting on the final status of applying for a diploma of arts as well (bit easier and faster than a dual degree). I dont regret it at all, its been an amazing experience. You're only at uni for one period of your life (most people anyway), why not enjoy it and take this amazing opportunity that's been offered to you?

[Tomw2]

Is doing a double degree in such unrelated industries worth it?
...
Anyone who has gone down the humanities+science path?

I have a truly combined humanities and science education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  I advise nearly every student with even vague interests in either area to do double degrees wherever possible.

Many students pick degrees / courses based on overly simple ideas of how careers come to be. You don't need different majors to complement each other to get high value out of them.
Of course you should consider the vocational outcome (ie where am I heading, what job to I want to eventually do), but you should also give yourself the opportunity to develop a range of skills and the opportunity to realise interests you never knew you had.

Furthermore, you don't know what skills you may wish you had in future endeavours - e.g. the multitude of science students suddenly aiming for graduate medicine who end up being referred to me for tutoring because they bombed out on section I and II of the GAMSAT because they can't reason in the humanities, can't write and don't know what 'affirmative action' or 'embodied discourse' means.

A double degree in starkly different areas of study is a very effective and time-efficient way of doing this. At monash, it takes 4 years. For two degree. That's nothing, but the value is high.
Also, it is quite easy to drop one degree out of the double degree and continue with just the single qualification at virtually any point in the first two years.

[simpak]

Can I ask what humanities and science degrees you are referring to?  Do you mean a legitimate Arts/Science degree?  Or do you mean something more specific/specialised in either realm?

[thomab]

Simpak :

I was considering a Bachelor of Science alongside a Bachelor of Politics, Economics and Philosophy (offered at ANU).

And thanks to everyone else who's replied. I'm feeling going for a double is not a bad choice at all.

[simpak]

Sounds like a good idea for that combination
Good luck!