<p>Has anyone here personally or knew someone who double majored in music and a science? I know this thread has been done a few times on here but I thought I'd get some opinions anyways. Currently, I'm leaving for college in a week and a half as a music education student. I'm not at all against the idea of teaching (my dream job is actually to teach at college or university), but I'm thinking of switching after a semester or two to a double major in performance and physics. Right now, I'm taking all my core music classes and a Calc I class so everything currently counts towards my degree. I realize it might be crazy to accomplish but I enjoy both topics thoroughly. If anyone has any experience in doing this, please let me know. Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>What school will you be attending?</p>
<p>At some schools, the way to do this will be to take a dual degree, which typically adds about a year to your program. The only other thing to note is that switching from music ed to performance will normally require a more rigorous audition.</p>
<p>At any rate, if you’re most interested in teaching at the college/university level, then you may well be better off switching out of music education, which is normally geared to teaching k12.</p>
<p>Best wishes in your quest. If you love both disciplines and can afford the extra time, there’s nothing on earth crazy about it ;)</p>
<p>Yes, Music Education is for K-12 and involves at least a semester of student teaching. Teaching music on a college level is entirely different. For that you need to be in a music performance program, participate in as many ensembles as you can and you will be required to do so anyway. By and large tenure track positions at a university require a Masters and to be enrolled in a DMA program (PhD equivalent) unless you are a prominent performer… such as Dawn Upshaw vocal performance at Bard, or jazz faculty at USC or Manhattan School of Music.
The main area of difficulty with science and music programs is the conflicts between rehersal/performance schedule and labs.</p>
<p>One can certainly double major in science / music. I personally know a student who double majored (and actually double degreed - BM and BS) in Piano Performance and Computer Science. Brilliant young man, currently at Google. He came in with lots of AP credit and was able to place / test out of classes.
Although I don’t think he took extra time to graduate (I’d have to check to be sure) in general one would probably need to expect an extra semester or year for a double degree program like what you are considering.</p>
<p>As the mom of a music ed major and a recent physics major graduate from our family’s experience, the double major is doable but will require plotting your future schedules very carefully. Look at the requirements for both majors and try to pick gen ed courses such as the calc I class that will fulfill requirements for both. </p>
<p>The physics major will require at least 2 semesters of chemistry,and calc I, II and III. Fortunately, if your college allows(always check with the transfer coordinator), you can take some of these over the summer at a community college or at your own school. </p>
<p>Scheduling the lab classes around ensemble rehearsals and required music courses will be a challenge. Also, the upper level courses for both majors will only be offered certain semesters and only in one or two sections which will compound the scheduling difficulties. Be prepared to take an extra semester or 2 to complete the double major.</p>
<p>For the physics major, you should also be looking for summer research opportunities which are usually paid but will interfere with summer music festivals that performance majors often attend.</p>
<p>Good luck sounds like you have an exciting time in front of you.</p>
<p>Thanks, everybody, for the replies! I’ll be attending SUNY Fredonia this Fall. I think this is what I want to do, and if that means putting the extra effort to make both work, than I think it’s worth it. As far as gen eds are concerned, the physics major would cover all of my math and science credits that I would need and the music degree would cover a couple others as well, I think.</p>