Two Fields, One Future: Making the Most of a Dual Major

Being a double major has between extremely challenging and rewarding at the same time. I'm double-majoring in business administration with a management concentration and communication studies with an organizational concentration. I hope this ambitious goal sets me apart from my peers and makes me a more marketable candidate when it comes to applying for jobs. 

I've been taking classes every single semester, including every winter and summer break, just to be able to graduate in four years. If I remained with only one major, I would've graduated early but knew that I wanted to make the very most of my time at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg. I figured the sacrifices I'm making now by giving up my winter and summer breaks to work and take classes to get ahead will be worth it and only benefit me as I enter the business world.

The biggest strengths I've developed so far are a strong interdisciplinary skill set, enhanced leadership and teambuilding skills, career versatility, better problem-solving, and conflict management approaches. 

I'll carry these strengths and newly developed skills with me into my professional career after I graduate. It's not been a super easy time, being a double major and taking all required classes for both majors, including general education courses, Honors courses and capstone project, communication internship, and more. I've had one heavy academic journey, but despite the scheduling conflicts, I've always found a way to make it all work.

My parents are both teachers, but I wanted to follow a new and different path for myself. I honestly was not entirely sure what I wanted to do or study, but I knew I wanted to pick a major and start taking classes for my major in my first semester. 

I came to Bloomsburg as a communication studies major after declaring my major on Husky Decision Day back in April of my senior year of high school. An alum spoke at one of the sessions that day and said that she was a communication studies major and worked with Eli Manning once. I remember her sharing her story and that was all I needed to hear to know that I wanted to study the same thing. 

Eli Manning is my favorite athlete, and I think it would be the coolest thing in the world to be able to work with him someday too. I chose the organizational concentration because I wanted to learn how to communicate with diverse groups of people within different organizations.

After getting through my first semester, I wanted to challenge myself to make the most of my college experience. During the holiday break, I spoke with my aunt and uncle who are both in the business field. 

My aunt is in the pharmaceutical sales industry and told me she thought I would like sales. She suggested I pursue a major in professional sales and marketing. She's very smart, and I knew she would help lead me in the right direction. After taking my first classes within the Zeigler College of Business, I knew I made the right decision.

During the beginning of my junior year, I had a moment of realization. I did not want to limit myself in any way with being a specific major, so I made the move to something more diverse and applicable to all areas of business.

And that was business administration. 

I chose the management concentration because one day I want to be a leader and hold a higher position within a company and wanted my education experience to best prepare me for that. I really enjoy my management classes and like how they cover different industries such as finance and supply chain. 

My favorite management class is one I'm currently taking. It's a Zoom class — organizational behavior — with Dr. (Darrin) Kass. Even though it's online, he makes it super fun and engaging. My favorite chapter we've covered so far is Positive Organizational Behavior, which is the study and application of positively oriented human resource strengths and psychological capacities in today’s workplace.

In May, I'll be graduating with my undergrad in two different degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA). I'm also considering pursuing a Master of Business Administration upon graduation.

It's important to continue learning and expanding your knowledge even when you have a full-time job. There's always something new to learn. I'm very excited to see where my professional career takes me and to be a lifelong learner!

— Lillie Corino, a senior business administration and communication studies major at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg with an emphasis in management and organizational communication, is interning with the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications this fall. She's a native of Bucks County who enjoys spending time with her family, pets, ESA, watching Friends, seeing Morgan Wallen in concert, playing lacrosse, and going shopping with her mom.

#BloomOnward #HuskyLife