How to List a Double Major on Your Resume

If you’ve graduated with a double major, you may be wondering the best way to list your education on your resume. It’s important that a potential employer can easily understand your academic background. A clear, concise resume gives you a better chance at getting a job because there’s little room for misinterpretation.

In this post, we’ll help you understand the options for listing your double major. We’ll also go over the benefits of each style.

Why you should list your double major

Before including your double major on your resume, make sure you have a clear understanding of what a double major is and isn’t. A double major isn’t two separate degrees or a dual degree.

Instead, when you double major you earn just one bachelor’s degree but in two different (often related) disciplines. For example, you may have earned a bachelor’s degree with a double major in biochemistry and agricultural science.

You might be tempted to list just one major on your resume for simplicity, but it’s virtually always a good idea to list your double major.

Why?

A double major shows you weren’t just a dedicated student but that you are also skilled in multiple disciplines. Completing a double major requires a strong work ethic and the ability to juggle several courses at a time.

Where to list your double major

You should list your double major in the Education section of your resume. Depending on the resume format you choose, this section could be the first, middle, or even last section of the document. Typically, if you’ve recently graduated from college, you’ll want to put the Education section at the top of your resume. This way, you’ll lead with your strongest experience.

Focus on the major that relates to the job

Which major should you list first? You want a potential employer to first see the degree that relates most to the job you’re applying for. If you’re applying for a job as an IT manager and majored in both Economics and Computer Science, you should list “Computer Science” first.

Examples

You have a few options for formatting your double major on your resume. Certain factors come into play when choosing a certain format. For example, you’ll need to consider whether you went to a highly respected school, which of your two majors more closely relates to the job you’re applying for, and so on.

If You Attended a Prestigious School

Use your double major from an impressive school to your advantage. If your university is held in high regard, list the school’s name first to improve your chance of standing out from the crowd. For instance, if you attended a well-known, competitive school like Yale or Princeton, your resume is more likely to catch an employer’s eye.

List the school’s name first, followed by the month and year you graduated. Then, list your degree and both majors.

If You Attended a Lesser-Known School

Did you graduate from a school that not many others recognize? List your degree and double major before the school’s name to emphasize your education.

This way, you’ll draw attention to the degree itself rather than the name of your school.

If One Major Closely Relates to the Job

If you’re applying for a job as a cyber security analyst and majored in both Cyber Security and Web Design, you can list your double major this way:

Educational Background

Specifically stating that you double majored removes all doubt about whether your degree was a dual degree and the exact name of your majors.

If You Also Had a Minor

Sometimes, you can graduate with not only two majors but also a minor. Including your minor on your resume is easy and can be an extra advantage if it is related to the job you want. Consider this example of someone applying for a job as a building energy engineer:

Education

If You Haven’t Graduated Yet

Getting a head start on job applications before graduation? Good job! You can still list your double major even if you haven’t yet officially graduated. To do this, simply note your expected graduation month and year.

Educational Experience

Don’t Forget to Include Relevant Coursework or Awards

Did you complete any coursework for your majors that heavily relates to the job you’re applying for? Maybe you won an award or other recognition from the university you attended? Make sure to include this information when you list your double major.

For instance, you may have graduated with honors due to exceptionally high grades. You also may have completed courses related to your desired job.

Review the two examples below:

Education

BS Geomatics

Oregon Institute of Technology

Honors: Summa Cum Laude (GPA: 3.9)

BS Renewable Energy Engineering

Oregon Institute of Technology

Honors: Summa Cum Laude (GPA: 4.0)

Educational Background

New York University

Bachelor of Science, double major in Game Design and Interactive Media Arts

Coursework: Artificial Intelligence for Games, Team-Based Game Production

Conclusion

Always include your double major in your resume’s Education section. List the most relevant major first, followed by your second major. Include any minors you earned, along with any applicable awards, grants, fellowships, etc.