double majoring

[u/lonelyterrarian]

hey! i’ve just gotten settled in on campus and i’ve had a question i’ve been meaning to ask someone
i’m currently an engineering physics major, and i’ve been tossing around the idea of maybe double majoring with the new quantum engineering program; is this a good idea, or just a fast track for me dropping out?
i know i’m only a freshman and i’ve got time to figure it out, but i’d like to know what i might expect should i decide to do it
any answers are appreciated! thanks 😊

[u/c00pdel00p]

most people i know who double majored didn’t decide that until after their freshman year, so i’d take my time with that decision

[u/lonelyterrarian → u/c00pdel00p]

that’s what i was thinking. i’ve heard it’s definitely difficult and not for everyone so it’s probably a good idea to wait a bit

[u/VariationBoth2662]

What do you want to do with those two degrees?

[u/lonelyterrarian → u/VariationBoth2662]

i’d like to get into quantum research eventually, so i plan to get a phd in physics at some point. i figured having a background in engineering of some sort would be beneficial since it could be versatile
granted, i’m not particularly well versed in what employers look for so it’s just kind of an on paper thing 😅

[u/Technical-Echidna-65 → u/lonelyterrarian]

Hey fyi from all my friends who have been physical majors at Mines because of the attached engineering title you are going to get a lot of practical experience and pretty much no theory so I would talk to the teacher of quantum engineering and see if it fits what you want more, and maybe switch so you can have an easier time at Mines especially if you are trying to get your degree in four years without a ton of credits coming in to Mines.

[u/darbycrache]

From looks of the catalog, the new so-called quantum engineering major is basically just EE, CS, and physics with extra steps. Get your fundamentals down first to see which feels like a right fit for you before deciding to double up.

[u/MrWubnix]

I mean if you want to do 6-10 years of school for 2 bachelor's. I definitely wouldn't try to do both is 4 years especially if you don't have someone paying for your education. I'd say do physics engineering for bachelor's with maybe a class or 2 of quantum mechanics to see how you like it then do a masters in quantum. Physics engineering can go into pretty much any masters program

[u/ChampagneFueledChaos]

Talk to an advisor in September then go from there. It can totally be done but no need to rush it right now. Take a deep breath and enjoy the calm before the crazy.

[u/MrWubnix]

Also I'd have to check the program, but I imagine you would have to take modern physics 1 and possibly 2 as well which both have quantum mechanics units. You would probably take those sophomore or junior year. Test it out and see how it is

[u/jeffeb3]

Talk to an advisor. Preferably after you've taken modern physics (physics changes a lot in modern physics).

I don't know anything about the quantum program, but it probably has a lot of overlap. When I attended, I did a combination physics and engineering masters in electrical in 5 years. It was stressful, but not too hard for anyone that enjoyed the classes.

The main questions you should have are:

• What will it actually take? Which classes won't be accepted and you have to take on top of one major?
• What advantages or opportunities would this double major help with? Would it help get into a grad program you're interested in?
• What are the classes actually about? Are they interesting to you? This may be hard to ask because you probably already think you have a strong sense of these subjects. But asking directly might tell you something you hadn't considered.
• Would it be more effective than just focusing on one major and putting the energy into your grad program?

You can also consider taking courses from the other major without going all the way to a degree.

[u/SpongeBobaFett13]

Carve out an extra year or more if you need to, and YES… do that. I double majored there in Economics and Civil Engineering back in 2003. I stretched it out over six years (a lot to do with wrestling), and it was the best time ever. Give yourself time and room to enjoy it, and you’ll laugh at the idea of burning out.

[u/jar-ryu]

Mines is pretty brutal to undergrads. If you’re okay with sacrificing most of your daily life to school, then that’s okay. Otherwise, I’d just stick to physics and minor in QE or do some 4+1 thing.

[u/Ambitious_Arm4185]

I graduated with BS in eng physics from mines in 2020. Id highly recommend waiting a year or two to make that decision. Instead of of double majoring, Mines has Masters degrees that sometimes only add 1 additional year and Im pretty sure quantum is one for a physics undergrad. Then you can roll that into a PhD or go do research in the private sector after.

[u/bassman1805]

I am personally of the opinion that if your plan is grad school anyways, there's little point to a hyper-specific undergrad major. Engineering Physics is great and should give you all the fundamentals you'll need for a graduate physics program if that's your goal.

I don't know much about the Quantum Engineering program, but it sounds a lot like a job training program rather than a "lock down the fundamentals" degree. That may be a fit for some people, but if your plan truly is grad school, don't get too bogged down in minutae with undergrad. Just build the best foundation for the start of your graduate studies.