A STEM Degree Pairs Well with These Other Majors

Take a look at any list of the hardest college majors, and you’ll see plenty of STEM degrees. From computer science and environmental science to chemistry and nuclear engineering, STEM degrees are some of the most challenging to earn. Tackling one of these demanding majors is a big commitment on its own, but some ambitious students decide to pursue not one but two majors.

While earning two degrees sounds like a cool idea, double majoring isn’t for everyone. It requires a whole lot of dedication and a commitment to time management and perseverance. About 20% of all college students choose to double major. Some are passionate about two different fields. Others want to maximize their return on investment.

According to U.S. News, double majoring nearly always predicts higher earning potential — especially when one of your degrees is STEM-related. In addition to your STEM expertise, you’ll develop a wide skill set, increasing your versatility and marketability. Plus, taking advanced courses in topics outside your primary major helps you expand your perspective on complex issues.

Curious to learn more? Check out these 10 college majors that pair well with a STEM degree.

STEM + humanities

You may have heard that STEM and the humanities are opposites, but that’s exactly why they work so well together. Studying the humanities helps improve your logical and creative thinking abilities while boosting reading comprehension and writing skills.

Communications: Pairing STEM with communications can help you translate complex technical information and concepts into clear, digestible content. Building communication skills is especially useful for sharing your ideas with non-STEM individuals, such as project managers, C-suite executives, and the general public.

Political Science: Dreaming of working for the EPA, DoD, NSA, or another government agency? Consider adding a political science major or concentration. Understanding government processes, laws, and ethics can prepare you for a career working in public service or with companies that contract with the U.S. government.

Anthropology: This field often straddles the line between humanities and STEM, making it a perfect complement to a STEM degree. Understanding what makes us human can spark innovations for a better world.

STEM + business

If you want a second major to boost your employability, you can’t go wrong with a business degree. Many businesses want (or need) to hire STEM professionals; understanding how businesses operate can open doors at top companies — and set you up for future leadership roles.

Business: A business program helps you build confidence in non-STEM areas like budgeting, strategic planning, marketing, and operations. If you’re trying to build the next big tech company, studying entrepreneurship and management will teach you how to take your ideas and turn them into a growing, thriving business.

Economics: If you like math, statistics, or data science, economics allows you to apply your technical skills to real-world challenges, such as tackling income inequality or analyzing the effects of government policy on consumers. STEM majors who study economics are well prepared for careers in finance, investment, and economic policy-making.

Finance: Adding finance can lead to more lucrative roles in quantitative analysis or risk management. A finance degree sharpens your math and stats skills as you learn about corporate finance, banking, accounting, trading, and risk management — which is often taught with a STEM-designated curriculum.

STEM + health

Many of healthcare’s incredible advancements were made possible because of the integration of STEM-related fields, especially technology. If you want to improve healthcare systems and patient outcomes, consider pairing your STEM degree with a health-related major.

Public Health: This major explores the factors behind health-related problems facing communities worldwide. Combining it with a STEM degree can prepare you for careers in epidemiology, public health engineering, and biostatistics, for example.

Health Sciences: This interdisciplinary degree provides a broad foundation, introducing you to healthcare systems, medical ethics, and health policy. It’s an excellent stepping stone to a future in healthcare, from medical school to research. For instance, this degree might help a future biomedical engineer develop a deeper understanding of how the work they do integrates in the patient experience. 

Pharmaceutical Sciences: If you like chemistry, biology, or engineering, pharmaceutical sciences could be a natural fit. You learn about the science of compounds, studying how they’re designed and how they affect the human body, setting you up for a career in drug discovery and development.

STEM + STEM

Finally, you may also decide to combine two STEM fields. But is double majoring in STEM really worth the inevitable frustration? The answer depends on your career goals and your primary field of study. Pairing computer and data science might feel redundant, yet pairing computer science with chemical engineering might be the perfect combo. If you want to stay focused on STEM, consider these three options.

Computer Science: As one of the most widely employable STEM majors, computer science complements many other majors for those interested in computer-related careers. If you're leaning towards electrical engineering, for example, a CS degree could open doors in chip design, firmware, and other hybrid disciplines.

Statistics: Since most fields use statistics, it’s a very practical STEM double major. Statistical models improve outcomes in nearly all STEM disciplines, making statistics a practical double major option. Engineering relies on stats to optimize production processes and physics relies on stats for analyzing experimental data.

Data Science: This major integrates principles of mathematics, statistics, and computer science, teaching you how to collect, understand, and analyze data. Many programs also cover AI and machine learning — perfect if you're eyeing careers in these rapidly growing industries.

Declaring Two Majors

A caveat: Not all schools make it easy to pursue a double major, and some may have strict restrictions for STEM majors. For example, neither the University of Michigan nor UC Riverside allows students to double major in computer science and data science. If you want to earn two STEM degrees, explore dual degree programs, review the college’s policies, and meet with your academic advisor once on campus to discuss your options.

Want more tips and insights? Check out our full Guide to Your Future In STEM here.