Double concentrating is not for everyone, and only 20% of Brown students pursue this option. You might consider double concentrating if you have intellectual passions that span two distinct areas of study, and if fulfilling the requirements for both concentrations still leaves room for a wide range of courses in other fields. 

Most students find that studying in-depth in one area allows them to maximize their opportunities for both academic rigor and choice. Completing two concentrations limits one's ability to take full advantage of Brown's curricular options. Many concentrations require culminating projects, for instance, and a student completing two concentrations may expect to complete two distinct capstone experiences in their final year. Students also mistakenly believe that double concentrating increases their chances of obtaining meaningful work or admission to graduate or professional programs. This is simply not so; the best candidates for graduate study and professional opportunities excel in a concentration and select additional courses that complement and extend their course of study in ways that reflect their own evolving academic interests.

If you are interested in double concentrating you should discuss this option carefully with your academic advisor or with any academic advising dean in the College. You should review the requirements of the concentrations you are considering and map out what your time at Brown would look like — how many non-concentration courses you would be able to take, for instance — if you pursue both concentrations.

The process of declaring a second concentration is essentially the same as the process of declaring a first, with the caveat that ASK allows you to have one "in-process" (or not yet approved) declaration at a time.

See the ASK Help Guide in the IT Knowledgebase for detailed instructions.

Many concentrations limit the number of courses that can be counted toward multiple concentrations; you should inquire about such policies with both concentrations. The College and the College Curriculum Council suggest that a maximum of two courses be counted toward multiple concentrations. ASK, the student declaration system, will notify a student and both advisors if more than two courses in the course plan (with a few specific exceptions) are being counted toward multiple concentrations.

If you are interested in pursuing honors you may do so for each concentration if you meet the honors requirements for each concentration, including writing a distinct thesis (if a thesis is required) for each concentration.