Is a double major possible?

[nursegirl333]

Hey everyone!

I just got accepted into the nursing program at USC upstate here in South Carolina. I'm finishing up some prerequisites right now, but I'll begin my nursing classes in January 2012. I was wondering if any current nurses or nursing students have gotten a double major or a minor while pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing. I've been speaking to my adviser about this, and she told me that she has never heard of anyone in the nursing school pick up a double major or minor because everyone is pretty overwhelmed with the nursing classes by themselves. Does anyone have any experience with this?

I was also wondering if you need to be an official graduate in order to get your RN license. I was thinking that if I decide to go ahead with a double major, then maybe I could finish all of my nursing classes while simultaneously taking a few other major classes. THEN, after finishing the nursing program and completing all the degree requirements, I could get my nursing license and then finish up the remaining classes for my other major while working. Would this work?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[LouisVRN, RN]

I am one class short of having a double major in psych and nursing. Only reason I didn't complete them concurrently was the first month of nursing school I found out I was pregnant. Its doable if you're committed enough and don't have a lot of commitments outside of school. Before entering the nursing program, while I was doing prereqs, id take about 24 credits a semester but I didn't work or anything and thered be days id be at school over 12 hours a day

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Moved to General Nursing Student Discussions Forum, for better audience and visibility.

[llg, PhD, RN]

As you can probably tell from the previous posts, a lot depends on the particular school you attend. Some nursing programs are so intense in some semesters that it is hard to focus on anything else. Other programs "leave room" for enough electives to get a minor or a 2nd major. You'll have to familiarize yourself with the demands of your particular program to figure out it you can do it at your school.

It might be helpful for you to talk with some senior-level students at your school to get a sense of their workloads and schedules.

In most states, you must actually graduate from your program to be endorsed by the school so that you can sit for the NCLEX (the exam you must pass to get your RN license). I believe that California does not require the actual degree ... but I am not 100% of that and don't know if there are any other states that will license you without a degree.

One option you might consider is to take as many courses towards the 2nd major as you reasonably can while you pursue your nursing degree. Graduate ... get your RN license (and a job) ... and then take whatever courses that remain for your 2nd degree one at a time. It will be more expensive that way, but if you can get to the point where you one or two courses, it might be worth it to you.

I often wish I had gotten a 2nd major. I had the opportunity, but didn't plan for it and ended up graduating without one. If the 2nd subject is one that you might use later in your career (either in nursing or in a 2nd career), it's worth it to get the official credential.

[gamecock_24]

First of all let me say Congratulations on your acceptance!!! I am a fellow USC student, graduating from USC-Columbia in December and will be attending USC-Aiken for Nursing School starting in the spring!

I would suggest speaking with the nursing department at USC - Upstate about doing a double major or minor. Is your adviser in the nursing department or is your current adviser affiliated with the other major? If your current adviser is in the nursing department I would speak to somebody else in the nursing department that may have a better idea if it is possible. If you current adviser is affiliated with another major then I would speak to somebody in the nursing department. How many credits do you have left to finish in the other major? If you don't have a bunch of classes left to finish the other major, maybe you could take the other major classes in the summer?

Looking at how the curricula is set up I think it would be difficult to add additional classes to each semester. It looks like most semesters you are looking at 16-18 credit hours of nursing coursework. It would be very difficult to fit in additional classes in those semesters. I just noticed that their nursing program offers a part-time option, have you considered going that route so that you could complete the nursing coursework as well as the other major coursework at the same time? It would take a little bit longer to get your nursing degree, but if you are really determined to earn a double major that may be the best option!

Here is the link to their BSN handbook, it provides the information about how the full-time and part-time program is set up (pages 28-30):

http://www.uscupstate.edu/uploadedFiles/academics/Nursing/Nursing%20Student%20Handbook.pdf

Good Luck in starting the nursing program and I hope you are able to figure something out!

~gamecock_24

[nursegirl333]

Thanks everyone for all of the responses. This is my first post, and I didn't expect such a great response.

The major/minor I'm thinking about is political science. I haven't started taking any classes in this; however, I've done a great deal of independent reading/study in this field, and I'm sort of a news junkie so this is definitely my passion. That being said, I think I should probably explain why I want to major in a field completely unrelated to nursing...

Well, this is actually my second go at school. I attended Emory for 4 years, worked toward a degree in biology with plans to go to medical school, but obviously, that didn't pan out. I ended up dropping out--about 8 classes shy of a degree.

Then, while out of school, I decided to change course and go to law school. I studied hard, took the LSAT, and scored in the 98th percentile. I had plans to finish school at Emory and pick up a minor in political science before going to law school, but I found out I was pregnant which caused me to pause and change my plans yet again. That's when I decided to do nursing. I figured it was the best option because it would allow me to transfer over some of my biology courses for credit, and I didn't think it would take very long to complete the degree requirements for nursing. My parents wanted me to give up my baby for adoption, but I wanted to keep him so I decided that nursing would give me job security and ease my parents' anxieties. Also, working as a nurse for some time would allow me to pay off my mountain of debt from Emory. It seemed like a practical solution. I should mention too that both of my parents are nurses so they know what it's all about.

Now that I'm about to enter the nursing school, I figure that I might as well pick up another major or minor while I'm still eligible for financial aid since I'm still an undergraduate. Also, I'd really like to go to law school at some point in the future.

I do have other obligations besides nursing school, like my baby (who is about to be 7 months and just got his first 2 teeth :) ) and, well I have a part-time job right now which I might have to quit.

The minor requirements I need to fulfill include only 5 polisci classes, which I think should be completely manageable, especially if I can take a class or two during the summer sessions. That's probably what I'm going to try to do.

Anyway, thank you all for your comments and advice! I really do appreciate it!

[nursegirl333]

gamecock_24, Congrats on your acceptance to your program as well! And the best of luck to you in nursing school! I was thinking about the part time program, but I think it would really take too long. I think a minor might be most practical for me.

[gamecock_24]

I'm glad you figured something out! Good Luck!

[Belle86]

Hi Tanna898! I am seriously looking into the Twin Rivers part time program. Before I start my prereqs I want to make sure it complies with my schedule.

I saw the schedule online but I need to know more ;-)

Overall you attend 3 days out of the week?

How did the clinicals work? Were they during the weekends or are they at night also?

How often to do they admit a class? I know the program starts in August this year but I wont be done with my pre-reqs till December. Would I have to wait till August of next year?

I wanted to take the CNA-LVN but seems the classes are during the day (like the CNA)

How does payment work? If I don't qualify for aid, do I have to pay monthly or after the program?

Also I am taking Anatomy (the one needed for LVN program-BIO100) and Medical Language at SCC I am assuming these qualify for their prereq requirement?

I work full time 8-5pm M-F and I really want to pursue my career dream of being a nurse but I have no choice but to support myself and pay for my house. A part time night program is what I need so I can still make my income. Twin Rivers seems the cheapest with the best passing rate. I already have a steady job but this isnt what I want to do forever. My mom is sick which geared me to pursue my dream of being a nurse and I know I would be great at being a nurse :-)

Thanks in advance!

[Stephalump]

My advice? Focus on nursing and take politic science courses toward a minor during the summer, if you feel up to it. You obviously have big dreams, and that's awesome, but if you decide to further your nursing education or go to law school or medical school or get your doctorate in poetry...grades matter. Period. Taking 24 hours in a semester with the majority of the courses being something as time consuming as nursing, and having a baby on top of THAT is signing a gpa death sentence or a absentee mommy sentence...neither would be a good thing!Congrats on your acceptance, by the way. Good luck with everything! :-)

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

The OP has likely made a decision already, since this topic was posted over 6 months ago.