My daughter really wants to major in both MT and get her teaching certificate. I know those colleges are out there:) I realize those top tier schools may not allow this, but I know there has to be some really good MT programs that may not be as well known that do! I am just having trouble finding them!
@momma2a — would your daughter like to get a teaching certificate in K- 8, High School (in which case which subject), or would she like a theatre education degree with a certification to teach theatre in the public schools? Is she willing to go for more than 4 years to complete the degrees?
There are programs out there, but the specifics will help make suggestions.
One of my sons is a double major at Rider but it works because he had a lot of AP credits coming in, he placed out of a few beginning classes, and the BFA in MT and the BA in Arts Administration overlapped on a couple core theatre classes. (He still had to do some summer classes online to make it work) She might be able to do something similar at Rider if the teaching program were related to theatre. Ask the admissions team to give feedback on how that might work. Meanwhile, I’m not sure where you’re from, but I’d encourage you to look at CSUN – Cal State Northridge – in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. World-class Michael D. Eisner School of Education and wonderful Mike Curb college that houses the theatre department. She could major in theatre, minor in MT and get teaching credential. If you’re CA resident, all the better, because in-state tuition. CSUN has well connected theatre alumni and students work with the film school as well. I’m always advocating for this MT minor “unsung gem” right in my backyard – they don’t get enough attention. 
@momma2a
NYU Steinhardt has a 5 year program that awards you a BM in vocal performance (MT or Classical) and then an MA in Music Education.
Western Michigan allows MTP double-majors, but it usually takes five years to complete both programs unless you have a lot of AP credits and/or attend summer school. At least two of this year’s MTP class are double majors. WMU has a robust MTP BFA program that requires 84+ hours to complete the major, and completing an additional major results in a lot of hours to finish. It helps if you can place out of introductory music theory.
WMU does offer online courses that can be completed entirely remotely that can aid in double-majoring. For example, my d is completing her Math requirement online this summer from home in Texas. They also offer a few electives that can be completed in a “May term” format which allows squeezing in some extra hours between May 1 and June 1.
I would guess that it might really hard to complete student teaching requirements to obtain a teaching certificate while pursuing an MT BFA, since theatre and dance courses tend to take larger blocks of time than regular lecture courses, are usually held in the middle of the day, and upper division theatre students usually have lots of rehearsals and workshops to attend.
You can double major at Michigan. D is considering this but she is coming into the program with a fair number of AP credits.
Thank you for the info everyone! My daughter will be coming in with quite a few credits as well… however, we are realizing we may need to stay in state for them to transfer at face value. Staying in state is not that simple when you want major in MT!
@momma2a You can also double major at University of Tampa. My D is entering college with 19 college credits and bc Tampa accepts them as core that frees up so much room in her schedule. Also the MT director says although it is now a BFA they still encourage their kids to take a double major or at least minor. I would call the school, our Admission rep was wonderful, or call Michael Staczar the MT Director directly and ask about teaching certs while studying MT. Best of luck in your search.
@Joyfulmama Are ya’ll in state? That is my biggest issue… I know that my d credits would be accepted in state, but not sure about out of state. Guess it depends on the school.
It’s all very much a school-by-school, private vs. public, case-by-case basis, so apply to schools where it “might” be possible and have lots of conversations with the admissions teams about how it might work. CC is a great resource for knowing where to start your research.
I would also see if scheduling works. While the idea of a double major might seem possible, the reality of scheduling it out might be quite different. For example if as a MT major you MUST take a specific class at a specific time (no alternatives) see how your second major requirements fit in with that. Ask to see a schedule of classes and see if it is at all do-able. You might find that important requirements from both majors conflict, so then you may have to take extra semesters to finish both degrees. I would not let someone just say it’s possible. Work it out with a real schedule of classes to see.
As uskoolfish says, the scheduling is important and is likely why so many are able to do it at Tisch. Studio hours are pretty much 9-6 three days a week which leaves two days available for the theatre academic classes but also leaves ample time to take academic classes in CAS. When my D was at Tisch, she did a double major as did many of her friends. It certainly was not uncommon then, although she graduated some time ago so I’m not sure if it’s still as common now.
@momma2a – are you looking for programs where that is guaranteed in four years (assuming the student pulls their weight), or are you willing to go summers, or an extra semester or 5th year?
@momma2a no she will be attending out of state. You can speak to admission rep or registrar to get a better idea from each school.
@KatMT She is willing to take summer courses. She has 12 college hours from dual credit right now, and is considering taking 2 classes per summer session this summer which would bring her total to 24. She then could take 9 hours each semester for her senior year which brings her total to 42… She could very well complete her “basics” while in high school. However, I really don’t want the extra load on her if she can’t transfer those hours. This major makes things so difficult because you just don’t know where you will get accepted! UGH! We do have a MT program that is literally 2 hours from us, but it is not a well known program at all, and there would not be any contacts made so to speak, but the degree plan looks very balanced which she likes. We know a few people in the program and they love it, and they are very talented, and chose this school because it is cheap. After standard merit scholarships I think we would owe roughly $7000 for the year AND they would take her dual credits and she could double major pretty easily. So, she could get a double major without student loans which is a huge plus. I think the biggest thing that is stopping us is her wanting a program in a big city with possible contacts. I am not sure how I feel about it all. I know the contacts are important but I also think that if you are talented and go out there and continue to fight for your dreams then you will get where you want to go. It appears that she is going to be way too busy with a MT major to even do much outside of school anyway. I am not sure how competitive it is to get into the program, but I am thinking it isn’t too difficult simply due to the location which makes it not very popular. Such tough decisions…
@momma2a
I think you speak for almost every parent on this site…
@momma2a - I get where you are coming from.
One thing I would caution all CCers about. You said your D is “wanting a program in a big city with possible contacts”. I just want all students to realize that many of the best college programs in the country with wonderful contacts are located nowhere near NYC. Being in the city does not necessarily = the best contacts and/or the best training. Think University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, CCM in Cincinnati, Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, Penn State in State College, Ithaca in Ithaca, NY, Baldwin Wallace in Berea, OH, Texas State in San Marcos, OCU in Oklahoma City …I could go on and on. While being in NYC offers wonderful opportunities and is exciting and there are some great schools there, there are also lots of programs in cheaper locations that offer top notch training which provide excellent connections for their students.
It is hard to ignore the lure of the bright lights when your goal is Broadway, but financially, students may be better able to afford to work and live in NYC post graduation if they choose to go to college somewhere else. And they can do so without sacrificing the quality of their training or their ability to make industry connections. So just make sure to explore all the possibilities and find the best fit for you personally, financially, academically, and MT wise. Some students feel being in NYC for college is essential to their future career success - and I just want them to realize they can have a successful career getting their training in many locations, not just NYC.
@vvnstar - I cannot speak for what @momma2a was thinking- but I don’t think “big city” has to mean NYC. In fact, I would consider several of the schools you mention above (CCM, CMU, BW, OCU) to be IN cities, and most importantly, in cities with vibrant theater communities - which would offer students there the opportunities to gain connections at regional theaters. That is the sort of thing that might not be found in a very small college town. (fully recognize that Ann Arbor is a LARGE college town- but don’t know anything about local/regional theater up there, nor do I know anything about San Marcos and any connections in TX) I know that one thing that parents with kids in the Chicago schools (CCPA, Northwestern, etc) talk about- the fantastic connections to Chicago theater. So while I don’t think you have to be in any particular city- I think that having theater connections in a city can be an advantage after you graduate- it’s somewhere to start
@toowonderful - I understand what you are saying. But SO many MT prospectives think they have to be in NY or Chicago to be successful. And it just isn’t true. We know many kids who refused to look at programs outside of NY and Chicago. They missed out on some great opportunities. That is who I am talking to.
@vvnstar Thank you for the advice! I agree with you. If we saved on tuition and did not have to take out any loans, then it would be so much easier to save and help my daughter move to NYC to giver her dreams a go AFTER college!! So much to think about for sure. I am sure I will have those “what if” thoughts no matter what route we choose to take. The most important thing to my daughter is that she can do “theatre” in some capacity regardless of where she is. She just wants to do theatre somewhere, somehow!!