turtleface said:
RE: previous post (and the post quoted as well)
No i think you are incorrect, it depends on the employer
You've just been brainwashed by your peers into thinking 2 ugrad degrees is better than 1.
I'm in a hurry but here are some points to consider why 2 degrees is not always better:
1. Double ugrad degrees is a relatively new occurance, if you look at all the top people in society, business, education etc. hardly any have double degrees. Which makes you think...if they were able to achieve so much on the back of 1 single degree, what makes you think a double degree is better in the eyes of employers?
2. A single degree also shows you have focus, or know what you want to achieve. This is important because employers don't want staff coming in not knowing if they want to make a career out of their job or not. They want staff who are committed to a career in that field. Having 2 degrees suggests you're more of a generalist, typical Gen Y who's probablyjust hanging around because they don't have a better job to go to.
3. By its nature, a double degree means you learn LESS information in each of the two degrees. For instance, at the moment if you are doing a Com/Law at Melb you'd only be doing 200 points of commerce subjects compared to a single com student who would be doing 300 points (50% more than you).
Therefore, it is arguable (and probable) that a Single degree student knows more about commerce than a double degree commerce student.
Well, all secondary school teachers have a DipEd or a Bachelor of Education on top of another course. Many double degree students do Arts/Education or Science/Education. While it actually does take the same length of time as doing a degree and then getting your DipEd, it guarantees that you will be able to do both courses (I've been told that the DipEd can be difficult to get into) and at the end of it you have the option of either being a teacher or working in other industries of interest.
I read in the Age on Monday that many people do Arts/Law with no intention of being a lawyer just because it improves job prospects compared to the regular Arts student. It shows employees that you do have a certain level of intelligence and you are aware of the law (which is very important in some industries).
It's also true that many people do a double degree out of interest. For example, if you wanted to be a Social Worker but also loved history and philosophy (for argument's sake), then I don't see any wrong in pursuing your interests at a university level. Education may be a means to an end, but I believe that it is an end as well - it is a reward in itself. Doing something like Arts/Social Work means that you are enriched with knowledge and you also have career prospects.
Also, your argument that doing a single degree shows that you have focus is true, but are 18 year olds really expected to have focus? If anything, university is the time of your life when you should be questioning what you want to do. If you aren't sure, maybe a double degree is the best thing because it means that either one of your degrees could launch your career.
I'm not saying that double degrees are brilliant ideas handed down from the gods, but combining some courses can be really beneficial.
Because, if you one degree; it allows you to think, or to specialise in that area thoroughly. Second of all, it's wayyy to much work! haha. But really, if you a double degree you have to think about law and commerce simultaneously. However, if just do commerce and then law if you want to, you can solely think about Commerce and nothing else which may give you better marks and a better understanding. This why I like UoM 
