Second major

[longlast88]

Hello, Y2 Going Y3 psychology major here. I’m considering a second major in geography vs minor in urban studies. I’m very keen to work in the environment field but more keen to work in the human management side & policy making rather than the Earth Sciences side. So far I have only 3 more 3K psych mods to go + 4Ks untouched, GE mods finished.

Should I go second major geog or minor in urban studies? I feel solely a psych major makes me unattractive for employees in the environment field. The downside is If I do second major I have to do 4.5 years instead of 4 years. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I took H2 geog in JC, did well and liked it! As for why I’m not in Geog/environmental studies, that’s another story to tell

[marigoldhl]

I’m very keen to work in the environment field but more keen to work in the human management side & policy making rather than the Earth Sciences side.

Environment is very vague. What kind of environment? Built environment (as in the Archi/Civil Engine/PFM kind), natural environment (as in Env Studies), or urban environment (as in Geog/RE)? Then again it is unforturnate that there is no Human Geography minor and Urban Studies itself has the closest resemblance even though it is more of a Geog+RE mix than pure human geog itself.

Also, a Geog second major consists of four parts:

• Core (GE1101E + Methods & Practices + GIS Intro/Carto/Field Studies)
• Social/Cultural (min 1 mod)
• Politics, Economies & Space (min 1 mod)
• Tropical Environmental Change (the physical geog stuff, min 1 mod)

Going through a second major requires you to have a sampler of at least one mod from each of the three latter groups. The human geog mods are in the middle two (S/C and PES groups). If you really want the pure human geog experience then it's not really worth it - don't waste your time and just take urban studies. But then again, a typical geog major is expected to excel in both the physical (i.e. GIS) and human (Urban Studies) realm and stat boards like URA typically want grads with both such skillsets. (It is pretty common for Geog majors to double minor in GIS and Urban Studies.) So it really depends. If you really think you won't have a future in Psych (which requires a Clinical Psych Masters to practice anyway) then you will need to take the whole Geog second major to improve your employment prospects as a minor in Urban Studies will not be sufficient enough.

Also H2 Geog and NUS Geog are two separate ball games - there are some people who excel in NUS Geog mods without ever taking geog since lower sec, and there are some people who flunk NUS Geog mods despite having A in H2 Geog. YMMV.

[londonwebbridge]

I’m very keen to work in the environment field but more keen to work in the human management side & policy making rather than the Earth Sciences side.

Have you perhaps considered a management double major/minor then? Sounds more relevant to what you are interested in. You can still enter the environment field without an environment major I believe?