# What was your university major? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 17, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401 "2010-10-17T03:02:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/61 "2010-10-18T01:41:10Z")
Started out in history and very quickly changed to economics, although my honors thesis was pretty history-flavoured. ---
**Author:** ![Jammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@Jammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jammer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/62 "2010-10-18T01:54:59Z")
BS in Computer Science and a minor in math. It was what I wanted from the first time I got my hands on a computer in high school, so I never had thoughts of anything else. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/63 "2010-10-18T03:14:23Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Originally **Biochemisty** , but this was in England where, in those days anyway (I understand it is all different now) you didn’t have _majors_, you had _subjects_. In my case we had absolutely no choices about what other courses we took: first year it was biochem., organic chemistry and physiology, second year was 2/3 biochem. and 1/3 inorganic & physical chem., third (and final ) year, _all_ biochem. (I believe at some other universities you got the option of doing either physiology or microbiology. Softies!) Biochemistry in England also. I had slightly more choice. First year was (in order of amount of time) organic chemistry, biochem, physical chem and one option (from a short list) and I chose physiology. Second year was biochem, organic chem and one other (pharmacology for me). Third year was all biochem. Then I did a PhD in Biochemistry. Then I got a job as a computer programmer, never once having had a class in programming or anything to do with computers (not even using one). ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/64 "2010-10-18T03:38:24Z")
When I entered university in 1991 I was just starting out in standup comedy, and figured a degree relating to that would help - closest I could find was drama. Helped a little, but eventually gave up doing standup regular (and never was professional quality at it). Pretty much the only use it has today is my annual performing in the church’s dinner theatre every spring (this year I’m also performing in the Christmas play as well) m- there are some good quality actors in our church, and while I’m not as good as all of them, I’d like to say I’m in the top third. However, it really has done squat as a degree. If I had a time machine, I’d really like to go back then and have a talk with my 19 year old self to pick a much better degree. I was interested in computers then (and had been for 10 years at that point) and was just starting teaching myself web design - this would definitely have been the best time to break into that field and get some kind of degree in that. I also had just started studying national anthems at that point and, while I’m now regarded as one of the world’s leading experts in the field of anthematology, I’ve always regretted that I never tried to pursue a univeristy degree (ideally a doctorate) in that field. Yes, I’d pretty much have to create the curricula myself, as one doesn’t exist anywhere, but I wouldn’t be the first one. Hell, when I was a kid I wanted to be a cartographer when I grew up (hand to Og!) and persuing a related degree then would have helped my career prospects now 20 years later. _Anything_ other than the degree I went for would have been better … ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/65 "2010-10-18T03:38:32Z")
I majored in aero-space engineering with a minor in math. My second degree was a CMIS degree (computer and information science). I’ve often debated going back for a masters in computer science, but just never got around to it (it’s tough just maintaining certs at this point, especially as lazy as I am). -XT ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/66 "2010-10-18T04:09:16Z")
Electrical Engineering, with the Computer Science option, since there was no CS department. I was in only the second class where this was possible. MS and PhD both in CS. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/67 "2010-10-18T05:01:09Z")
BA in math, MSE in computer science, and eventually a PhD in statistics. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/68 "2010-10-18T05:05:18Z")
I’m trying to remember their order. Architecture Philosophy Math Fine Arts Psychology ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/69 "2010-10-18T08:35:19Z")
Chemical Engineering, specialty Organic Chemistry, Project’s title was something like “computer programs for the calculation of the most commonly-used continuous-probability functions” (so, programming for Stats). This was in Spain, where you have to choose your course of study but not the specialty before you get to college and where engineering and architecture always require a Project/Dissertation. I hadn’t considered which specialty to take before going in; the other two available were Analytical Chemistry and Engineering (about designing factories). I understand that under Bologna they consider it equivalent to Chemistry, spec Orgo ☹ but those people don’t do a Project, dagnabit! MSc in Physical (Theoretical) Chemistry from an American university: I got there wanting a PhD in Orgo, but the interesting Orgo teachers they’d had had all left (gee, do y’all think you could update your brochures?) so I had to look for something else and then I had a problem with my advisor dedicing to disregard my intellectual property rights. And a Graduate Diploma in Translation and Computer-aided Translation Tools from a Scottish uni. It was only one year, not much of a chance to change tracks (not that I would have if I could have, as the other option was Translation and Interpreting and I’m not interested in being an Interpreter). ---
**Author:** ![BigDadWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@BigDadWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDadWolf)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/70 "2010-10-18T13:36:25Z")
Double major - (1) Data Processing and Analysis and (2) Statistics/Operations Research. Was undeclared for freshman year and then got into Data Processing (now called Management Information Systems) then figured out how to take enough courses that counted towards both majors to get the double. Never really used the Stats/OR portion but I can intimidate people by honestly saying I majored in statistics. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/71 "2010-10-18T18:15:28Z")
Started in Physics, later added a second major in Philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/72 "2010-10-19T00:23:46Z")
I’m in my second year of an Electrical Engineering/Theater double major. This is not actually a good idea. Don’t do what I’m doing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/73 "2010-10-19T00:28:25Z")
Double major: Electrical Engineering & English Literature. Then a masters in Computer Science. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/74 "2010-10-19T00:43:50Z")
Chemical Engineering. I enjoyed it. I’m pretty adept with math and science. And now that I’ve been in the workforce for about 5 years, I can say - the work is interesting too. Frustrating as hell lately since the economy and manufacturing tanked, but I’m never bored. There’s always something new. That said, god I wish I could go back and get degrees in, I dunno, English, Philosophy, Computer Science, Statistics, Religious Studies. Just for fun. All interest me quite a bit, I enjoyed the smattering of courses I took when I was an undergrad, but I just didn’t like my prospects for employment with any of these. No regrets, but I suppose my “ideal” career would be “student for life”. There’s just so damn much interesting stuff in the world, I’d love to learn it all. These days I console myself with the Dope and a lot of late nights lost to Wikipedia. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/75 "2010-10-19T00:52:47Z")
I graduated with a major in economics, but can’t recall if I switched or not. My _focus_, however, was on video games, smoking weed, and scoring with girls. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/76 "2010-10-19T01:21:42Z")
I’m astonished at how many Engineering and Science degrees are here. Somehow I’d expected more representation from the liberal arts. Me? BS CompSci/Math. I won’t say what year, but many of my assignments were on punch cards. MS in Systems Engineering (If anyone figures out what that is, please let me know. I’m still trying to figure it out). ---
**Author:** ![Crackrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Crackrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crackrat)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/77 "2010-10-19T01:36:45Z")
Started off as a CompSci/Math double major. Dropped the CompSci after a couple of years, ended up with a B.S. in Math. Currently working on my first semester of law school. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/78 "2010-10-19T02:57:26Z")
Started out in 1977 in Civil Engineering. Finally got that BSCE in May of 1987, after a couple of starts and stops. Went on to get a Master’s of Engineering in December of 1988. It took me a long time but I never changed majors. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/79 "2010-10-19T03:25:25Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > I’m astonished at how many Engineering and Science degrees are here. Somehow I’d expected more representation from the liberal arts. > > Me? > > BS CompSci/Math. I won’t say what year, but many of my assignments were on punch cards. > > MS in Systems Engineering (If anyone figures out what that is, please let me know. I’m still trying to figure it out). you motivated me to jump in. B.A. History (U.S.) went on to law school. Still enjoy history, still enjoy the law. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401/80 "2010-10-19T03:49:03Z")
BS Electrical Engineering Working on MBA now. Never too late. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-university-major/557401.md?page=5)