<p>And do you think a musical theatre major is better off minoring in something else, or double majoring?</p>
<p>Temple University has a BA MT program (requires an audition though) and also has a major and minor program in social work. Because the MT program is structured around a BA curriculum, students are required to satisfy core liberal arts and distribution requirements which creates a lot of opportunity for double majors and minors.</p>
<p>There have been several threads with lots of info on MT and double majoring or minoring including discussions of schools and programs where this is possible and discussing the pros, cons, points and counterpoints on the subject. If you do a search on the MT forum for double major, dual major, MT and minors and similar such word descriptions, you will easily find the threads. Lots of info there.</p>
<p>I’m a junior BFA Music Theatre (124 credits) student pursuing a DOUBLE minor. The first is in Communications (Public Relations concentration) and it is an 18 credit minor. My second minor is in Marketing and it is 12 credits.</p>
<p>My schedule is packed, but I will still graduate on time. :)</p>
<p>NYU has either a BFA at Tisch in MT or a BM at Steinhardt in MT. Social work is available as a minor, but you would have to check about the details. Not sure how easily it will fit into one’s schedule, but it seems to be a possiblility. </p>
<p>Taken from their website: </p>
<p>Students enrolled in other schools in the University are invited to register for courses given in the Silver School of Social Work for which they have the appropriate educational background. Students with a social work minor may not enroll in Social Work Practice I and II, or in Field Instruction I and II. Students interested in the minor in social work or in undergraduate social work courses should consult with the Director of the undergraduate social work program, 1 Washington Square North, (212) 998-5944.</p>
<p>My daughter is a MT major at Temple and while it is a BA program I can tell you that the MT program is very much structured like a BFA with sequential courses that must be taken in a somewhat orderly manner. While there is the opportunity to minor or double major it is difficult…not impossible but difficult. My D wants to minor in Spanish but has found the problem to be scheduling those courses into her MT courses. I’m sure this is an issue for many double major/minors. Certain MT course have to be taken at certain times and your minor courses don’t always mesh time-wise. Now that Temple is offering the MT kids a dance minor my D is finding it hard to pursue her Spanish minor…throw in the fact that she’s in Honors college (which has it’s own requirements) and her schedule is a logistical nightmare! Fortunately, the heads of MT are very helpful in advising how to best schedule her courses and my D is in competent hands. So far, Temple has exceeded her expectations in the MT major…she just wishes it was easier to schedule her intended minors!</p>
<p>James Madison University is a BA MT program which, like Temple, is more structured like a BFA. Because both the Social Work major and the MT major are credit intensive and require quite a bit of practicum time outside of class, a double major with Social Work would be difficult to impossible, but the School of Social Work offers a minor in Family Studies. There are social work classes included as options in the minor.</p>
<p>Tisch Drama also offers a Minor in Applied theatre:
“We have a series of courses in Applied Theatre, which takes theatre out of its traditional context and applies it to areas like education, therapy, community-based initiatives, political activism, and theater in prisons.”</p>
<p>My D is at NYU/Tisch. She is a BFA drama (Strasberg) and working towards her Certificate in Drama Therapy ( child and adolescent mental health track). </p>
<p>This is akin to a 2nd major. Her psychology, child and adolescent mental health courses are all taught at Tisch and she raves about her professors and her courses. She will have opportunities for practicum and internships as a drama therapist.</p>
<p>Adding another major on top of a BFA musical theatre degree probably isn’t a good idea just because of how long it will take due to the large number of extra credits you’ll take on - unless that is a problem you work out or don’t mind staying longer than four years.</p>
<p>A minor is a more viable option I think. I am a BFA musical theatre major and business administration minor at UW-Stevens Point. My advisor majored in the same thing when he was in college, and he definitely encouraged me to pursue the business minor. I also have several friends who are BFA musical theatre/acting majors who are also minoring in dance - that one’s obviously useful. I also think a business administration minor is helpful since as a working artist, you are constently promoting yourself and managing your own business which is you. Personally, I feel minoring in any subject at all can’t hurt you. It will help make you a more well-rounded individual.</p>
<p>The trick of course is does your minor fit in with the four-year track at the program you attend. Taking AP or IB tests in high school helps relieve some general education requirements to free up room in your schedule. They definitely helped me!</p>
<p>Adding a minor does make your courseload heavier, but if you’ve got the work ethic, I say go for it!</p>