Double Degree Schools

<p>I am looking for really strong voice and opera programs, that at the same time offer both a B.M. in Voice performance and a B.A. or B.S. in an outside field, specifically a Pre-Medical program. </p>

<p>I really want the school to be strong in both fields, for I am going to do the program to keep my options open (Opera M.M. or Medical M.D.) for the future after college. </p>

<p>So far on my list I have;
1. The New England Conservatory of Music
2. The Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester)
3. The Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Oberlin College)
4. The Peabody Institute of Music (John Hopkins University)</p>

<p>If there are any more out there at well known music schools please tell. </p>

<p>-Thanks</p>

<p>Bard College/Conservatory
Lawrence College
University of Michigan</p>

<p>Do be careful when looking at schools that are far apart. Sometimes, while they boast that the program exists, it is extremely difficult to actually complete both degrees due to the timing of classes and the amount of travel.</p>

<p>When my D was looking, she learned that it can take between half to a full hour in traffic/busy times to either drive/bus/Trolley between NEC/Harvard or Tufts and also Peabosy/JHU.</p>

<p>Bard Conservatory does not offer undergraduate voice. Only Dawn Upshaw’s graduate voice program. Undergraduates study voice in the college itself as a BA pursuit.</p>

<p>I agree that you really might want to look into places where you’ll do both degrees on the same campus. Northwestern, Michigan and Rice offer a similar level of music performance to Eastman, Peabody and NEC/Tufts/Harvard without having to spend a bunch of extra time getting yourself from one place to another. Why spend half your life schlepping yourself across beautiful downtown Rochester when you could be practicing or studying?</p>

<p>Be wary of Rice…they only offer double degrees to Shepherd students a) if the teacher agrees to it and b) if it does not conflict with any music priorities.</p>

<p>Another school worth mentioning is Carnegie Mellon. Like NW & UMich, double degree students need to apply to and be accepted at both music and science schools before being considered for double degree. Vanderbilt is a mecca for premeds, and they have Blair School of Music.</p>

<p>We know two students who have done the BA(music)/BS science route via UCLA. It took five years, one is now on his way to Med School at J.Hopkins and the other getting their MM at Juilliard.
They both had extraordinarily high stats and music skills.</p>

<p>^It is quite likely to take 5 years at Michigan too – at least, that’s what they tell you in the SOM handbook for dual degree. If one had many many APs that transferred, took courses in the summer either at cc (home) or at Umich, it might be possible to get that down to 4 years, but considering the BMus sequence, I suspect ANY school that offers a premed track and a strong BMus would require a 5yr investment.</p>

<p>My S went the double-degree route last year (currently enrolled at Tufts-NEC). It is a full 5-year program. Although there is schlepping involved, Tufts has a jitney service that makes it easier. The dual degree students also enjoy first “dibs” in getting into courses so they can more easily stack all of their Tufts courses on particular days and all of their NEC courses on the other days. He loves both programs and particularly enjoys the tight group of dual degree’rs.<br>
Other dual programs you might consider are: Northwestern, McGill, Columbia-Julliard (really, really difficult to get into). This website is an excellent source for other superb programs. Good luck! You’re off to a good start by investigating your options now.</p>

<p>…and don’t forget Oberlin.</p>