Specialist vs Major

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Dec 28th, 2010 1:44 pm

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Dec 22nd, 2010 12:54 pm

Ckacke7 [OP]: Member; Jan 7, 2005; 285 posts; 74 upvotes

Dec 22nd, 2010 12:54 pm

Specialist vs Major

I have been doing some research for programs in U of T and noticed that they are offered as a specialist program or a major. I am just wondering, what is the difference between the two?

I've also heard about students finishing with a specialist and major, or just 2 majors and was also wondering how difficult it is to accomplish?

8 replies

Dec 22nd, 2010 1:40 pm

PhilRelgStudent: Banned; Dec 3, 2009; 1291 posts; 23 upvotes

Dec 22nd, 2010 1:40 pm

The general difference is a specialist requires more credits than a major, and a major requires more credits than a minor. Doing more credits in the same field might mean one has to take more upper year classes.

Dec 22nd, 2010 1:54 pm

xlc_88: Deal Addict; Mar 21, 2010; 1939 posts; 1626 upvotes

Dec 22nd, 2010 1:54 pm

Also, if you plan to do 2 majors, only a certain amount of credits can overlap between the two majors.

Dec 22nd, 2010 2:47 pm

Xeerochild: Deal Fanatic; May 26, 2009; 5420 posts; 1219 upvotes

Dec 22nd, 2010 2:47 pm

I'm doing a specialist and major together, but it's only because five of the credits required for my major are already in my specialist, so I may as well take the last two-and-a-half to finish it off.

To me, it doesn't seem very difficult. Most likely because my specialist and major are essentially within the same field (Commerce) and are interchangable amongst one another.

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Dec 22nd, 2010 3:07 pm

KevC: Deal Fanatic; Mar 24, 2004; 8657 posts; 553 upvotes; Toronto

Dec 22nd, 2010 3:07 pm

I'd say do a specialist. I did two majors and a minor. Looks good on paper, but I can't hold a candle in terms of knowledge/background to my friends that completed a specialist instead.

Two prime examples are math and physics, the majors are soooo watered down (vs the specialist) that it's extremely difficult to do anything within academia (more like for general knowledge and interest)

Dec 22nd, 2010 3:09 pm

nuberific: Deal Addict; Aug 30, 2007; 2432 posts; 40 upvotes

Dec 22nd, 2010 3:09 pm

At U of T, a specialist typically requires roughly 12.0 credits (out of 20.0). A major requires roughly 8.0 credits.

It's not a big deal which way you go. I know it sounds fancier to say you did a specialist, but nobody really cares.

Dec 22nd, 2010 4:23 pm

xlc_88: Deal Addict; Mar 21, 2010; 1939 posts; 1626 upvotes

Dec 22nd, 2010 4:23 pm

KevC wrote: ↑
Dec 22nd, 2010 8:07 pm
I'd say do a specialist. I did two majors and a minor. Looks good on paper, but I can't hold a candle in terms of knowledge/background to my friends that completed a specialist instead.

Two prime examples are math and physics, the majors are soooo watered down (vs the specialist) that it's extremely difficult to do anything within academia (more like for general knowledge and interest)

+1. As mentioned by PhilRelgStudent, sometimes upper year courses are restricted to specialist degrees. It ultimately comes down to what you want to do after undergrad. If you are planning grad school, selecting a specialist related to the field is really useful later on.

Dec 28th, 2010 7:16 am

ironbawlz: Banned; Dec 14, 2010; 62 posts; 9 upvotes; scarborough

Dec 28th, 2010 7:16 am

i'm interested in this too. i'd like to get to grad school at u of t either for cell systems, biotech or psychology (or any other life science based masters program). would it be better to do a double major in bio and neuroscience, or a specialist in human biology or neuroscience.

Dec 28th, 2010 1:44 pm

Mykester: Deal Addict; Nov 25, 2009; 1490 posts; 19 upvotes

Dec 28th, 2010 1:44 pm

^Grad schools prefer either a specialist or a double major (which gives you a HBsc at UofT). Human bio is kinda generic since that's what most people take because they want to get into med school. Neuroscience is a really tough major, it's better to do something a bit easier, and then take the harder program in grad school.

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