The University of Georgia’s Double Dawgs program is a significant recruiting tool for the university’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, according to Breanna Coursey, CAES director of student and employer engagement.

The recently instituted program enables UGA students to save time and money by earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years or less. Double Dawgs allows a student who wishes to pursue a graduate degree to enter the job market one year earlier and with a significantly higher salary than a student who follows a traditional academic pathway.

“We’ve got students coming into college now sooner and with more credit. This Double Dawgs program allows them the opportunity to get a valuable second degree in the same amount of time that they would spend in a bachelor’s program, in most cases,” Coursey said. “Why not go ahead and pursue that master’s degree if you’re already ahead of the game when you enter college?”

More than 100 Double Dawgs degree pathways have been approved by the university and are now available to UGA students at the university’s main campus in Athens, Georgia. In CAES, there are 16 Double Dawgs pathways available, and each of the college’s departments is represented by at least one pathway.

Double Dawgs degree pathways offered on the UGA Athens campus include:

• A bachelor’s degree in agribusiness and a master's degree in agribusiness

• A bachelor's degree in agribusiness and a master's degree in agricultural and applied economics

• A bachelor's degree in agribusiness and a master's degree in environmental economics

• A bachelor's degree in agricultural and applied economics and a master's degree in agribusiness

• A bachelor's degree in agricultural and applied economics and a master's degree in agricultural and applied economics

• A bachelor's degree in agricultural and applied economics and a master's degree in environmental economics

• A bachelor's degree in agricultural education and a master's degree in agricultural and environmental education (non-thesis)

• A bachelor's degree in agriscience and environmental systems and a master's degree in plant breeding, genetics and genomics

• A bachelor's degree in agriscience and environmental systems and a master's degree in plant protection and pest management

• A bachelor's degree in avian biology and a master's degree in poultry science

• A bachelor's degree in biological science and a master's degree in poultry science

• A bachelor's degree in environmental economics and management and a master's degree in agribusiness (non-thesis)

• A bachelor's degree in environmental economics and management and a master's degree in agricultural and applied economics

• A bachelor's degree in environmental economics and management and a master's degree in environmental economics

• A bachelor's degree in horticulture and a master's degree in horticulture

• A bachelor's degree in entomology and a master's degree in entomology

Double Dawgs degree pathways offered on the UGA Tifton campus include:

• A bachelor’s degree in agriscience and environmental systems and a master’s degree in plant protection and pest management

• A bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and a master’s degree in agricultural and environmental education

UGA-Tifton Admissions Counselor Katie Murray said that, in addition to the time and cost of a year of college, the Double Dawgs program offers students significant financial advantages upon graduation.

“For example, a student graduating with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and a master’s degree in agricultural and environmental education who takes a job as an agricultural education teacher at a Georgia middle school or high school will have a starting salary that is approximately $8,000 higher than the student who takes the same job with only a bachelor’s degree,” Murray said. “This should only enhance the quantity and quality of the students who wish to attend UGA in Tifton.”

Each Double Dawgs degree pathway has a pathway-specific advisor for students. The advisor explains the admission requirements and process to students and guides them through their undergraduate coursework.

“They’re able to earn an additional degree, which is super beneficial as they enter the workforce in terms of starting salary and the type of jobs that they’re qualified for,” Coursey said.