My son has always said he will major in Engineering but lately he has been somewhat torn because he has interests in music and theater. Can these be combined some how? What would be a good major and or minor?
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I imagine it’s a school by school thing…and perhaps he can apply to be in plays or musical groups.
I’m assuming engineering is his primary and theatre secondary but it could be reversed. My sons school has an engineering minor.
This article may be of interest…I just ran a Google search. I imagine the answer is yes.
My son is a MECHe with geography minor. Basically geography requires six classes. I’m sure he could minor in anything, perhaps including something performance related.
Good luck
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What about audio engineering? It involves recording, understating acoustics, plus having a good musical ear.
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That’s more a path…schools like Tufts for example. But I believe OP is mentions performance. But your thought is a great way to focus in both worlds.
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That is something we have looked in to. Definitely an option.
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I just sent you a PM.
D20 is majoring in MechE and Digital Production Arts. One feeds her mind; the other feeds her soul.
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My D is a chem e who is very involved in theater at her school. She has a close friend who graduated as a mech e but is doing lighting and set design as her career.
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Google these to interest together. I tell people to do this all the time… You will find something that will combine both. Somebody on the movie sets, theater has to figure out different things for sets, visual effects to work. I think NW actually had something along these lines. BTW - engineers being involved in music /theater is more common then you would think.
An old article but you will get the idea.
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I think the important thing to know is that a person can take this path without additional formal study on the theater side. They can get that experience through a job. Most campuses have student positions in AV and theater. By adding a second major, or minor, it will dilute technical coursework. It will also limit the schools one can attend, if a formal program is desired. It’s probably not worth the trade as long as a person’s resume displays some industry experience.
As you know, engineering is a demanding major so it might help if your son engaged in theater and music as extracurricular activities.
Northwestern University offers excellent schools in all three disciplines, but it would be very challenging to major in two of them even though possible.
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Your son should look closely look at Carnegie-Mellon. Excellent in both engineering and the arts, it is the rare university which encourages working across schools and colleges. Look particularly at their BXA program.
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It may be worth considering whether any given college with engineering has very specified humanities and social studies general education requirements, or if the student can choose any courses in that category (e.g. music and theater) to fulfill them.
An engineering major commonly needs to take about 12-25% of the course work in humanities and social studies general education, but having less restrictions on specific courses or subjects in that category can allow the student to choose more music and theater courses to fulfill those general education requirements.
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