Charles Stam

Charles M. Stam, a public policy analyst working in New York City, attended Columbia University and graduated from the school with a double major in history and political science. Charles Maurice Stam focused his studies on the Cold War political history and counterinsurgency. In the future, Charles Stam hopes to attend law school, preferably at an institution that offers a dual degree that allows him to further his public policy education through an MPA or MPP.

Despite a recent push from some sectors in the educational field, dual degree programs and double majors are not likely to disappear. In some cases, interest in this approach to education is increasing. The disadvantages of a dual program are obvious, twice the workload and half the time, as well as more debt and sacrificed income. However, many undergraduate students have class schedules filled with courses that represent required credits that could easily go toward an additional major. Many also pursue JD/MBA.

With a single bachelor’s degree now viewed as insufficient in certain industries, students must either pursue a master’s degree or pair their chosen major with a supplemental degree. This perspective is taking hold at the graduate level, as well, as more and more medical students consider dual degree options. In fact, the number of medical students enlisted in such programs increased by nearly 30 percent between 2002 and 2011.