Anyone majoring in MT and able to fit in a second major? If so where are you or your child attending? Or is it more realistic to Major in MT and minor in something else? ( My D is a hs junior and looking at Ba’s in MT that she could double major o minor outside of theater or in Theater Arts Management.) Thanks!!
It is certainly possible to do a double-major in MT, especially in a BA program. Here are some past threads on this subject:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1587671-double-majoring.html
If you use the Search function you will find more.
I am getting my double major in Musical Theatre and Arts Administration at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. I will graduate in four years with both majors, although I did transfer into this institution after a year at another school in another major (similar to arts admin). I also had quite a few AP classes in high school. I therefore came in with 36 credits that transferred. I do take a pretty heavy courseload in order to graduate in four years (19 credits a semester, which results in an overload charge to the tune of $650/semester, but the way my parents and I see it, it’s cheaper to do this than sending me back to WI for even part of a fifth year). Most other MT majors who have double majored in Arts Admin at Viterbo do it in 4.5 years, but it is possible to do in 4 if you come in with AP credit/if you’re willing to get some of your gen eds out of the way over the summers. There is also an Arts Administration minor at Viterbo.
One of my sons is also doing double major with BA Arts Administration and BFA Musical Theatre at Rider. Made possible with lots of AP credits and testing out of a few GEs. He’ll also end up taking 2 J-term classes (one in person, one online) and 2 summer classes online to make this happen. Note @CanadianMTgirl and my son both doing arts administration – I suspect this is a field of study that is easily “compatible” with MT, since some courses in theatre may overlap. If you were trying to double major in a very unrelated field (I don’t know…computer science, or biology, perhaps…) it might be tough. Your mileage may vary. Contact the schools you’re interested in, individually, to ask about the possibilities. Best of luck 
It is quite common for Theatre/MT kids at Northwestern to complete a double major in 4 years. Most students enter with a significant number of transferrable AP or IB credits, which helps.
@EmsDad thank you for the links! I have started searching individual schools and thought getting some input from people doing it might be helpful. I would prefer she do a BA so good to hear. Btw congrats on all your child’s acceptances!
@CanadianMTgirl Congrats to you! Sounds very busy but good to hear it can be done!
@MTTwinsinCA Rider was on the original list but since i is a BFA I wasn’t sure, will re look at it. And yes I think you are right about Arts Admin being popular and doable. Thanks!!
@MomCares Northwestern is definitely on our list! I have read some of your past posts about the school and they are very helpful!
When looking for challenging academics, MT BA not BFA the list grows shorter!!
This will vary greatly by school and student. When my D auditioned at Ohio Northern they mentioned that often students double major with Communications. She had a HS teacher who got BFA-MT and English degree from ONU. So they are very open to it. Other schools may be tough. Baldwin Wallace for example had an Arts Admin minor I believe, but their BFA program is so packed it would be difficult to do both in 4 years, even if you do have something like AP credit. But you never know, for some folks it could be possible. It is a good question to ask the schools.
I recommend students in musical theater, as well as film and other related performance majors double major when possible. Not only does it enrich their academic breadth, but it will also provide more flexibility post-grad, when supporting themselves financially may be challenging. It is a way to continue pursuing their passion while making them pragmatically more durable long-term.
Plus, unfortunately, I’ve noticed a good deal of majors in several of the above disciplines become too myopic in their academics, which does not help their knowledge base or creative wisdom: e.g. the film major who only knows films, or the MT major who only knows musicals. That actually does happen sometimes.
@anhydrite I agree! My oldest D is a professional dancer which means when she is working its great but in between jobs, which can be long spells it is difficult. So with one child already doing the whole audition& training thing I really want this D to be able to work while auditioning. That is why I really would prefer a BA for her so she can double major. Thanks for your input! .
Really hoping to hear from those doing double majors or minoring and what school they are attending…
I have been strongly encouraging an academic minor for our BW S. He came in to freshman year with most of his non-BM credits completed so I thought it could be a good use of his time since MTs take 4 years to complete the curriculum regardless of the academic credits they bring with them. He informed us he is in fact picking up a minor in dance. I was hoping for English or creative writing :-). He says it is very difficult to add an academic minor because of scheduling issues inherent in the MT curriculum.
I got a degree in English Literature with my BFA in MT. I came in with a few credits, but a lot doubled (American Drama, Shakespeare stuff…), and I begged to double other stuff (all my Shakespeare acting courses, dramatic criticism…) I got out in the four years.
Some of the top schools won’t let you, and others who have huge scholarships won’t let you double if you get the scholarship. However, it isn’t impossible anywhere if you want to make it work and don’t shy away from the extra HW. You have to use your electives wisely (every one of my out-of-major elective for MT was in English and vice versa).
@Joyfulmama D graduated with a BM in VP (MT concentration) from NYU (Steinhardt). She also graduated with two minors. One in English literature. The other in the Business of Entertainment, Media and Technology–which combines classes in business, marketing and producing for B’dway, TV and film. Post graduation she has been working in casting (as an apprentice) and for a top talent agency. During school she had internships in entertainment marketing and public relations. She decided mid-way through NYU that she wanted the business end of entertainment rather than trying to support herself as a performer.
@artskids your son makes a great point I had not thought of about timing other minors with the MT curriculum.Thanks!
@raellis123 Thank you I guess it will be one of questions per school.
@TheaterHiringCo Thanks for the encouragement! I guess if it’s all that extra work that really willhave tobe my D’s decision.But hopefully sticking to BA programs will make it more doable or at least a minor. Eng Lit would be a great for her since she is an avid reader.
@uskoolfish Wow very interesting! I thought NYU was one that would be a no for having time for minors so happy to hear otherwise! And Huge congrats to your daughter!!
Please keep the double major and/or minor info and schools coming…it is so helpful to me!!
Caveat for NYU/Tisch - studio classes take up 3 full days, and (often) limit academics to the “other” days (this year it was M/W for my kid, next year will be T/TH) - which makes things more challenging for an academic minor.
Thanks for the info @toowonderful
I think you would have to take into consideration how much time they will spend in rehearsals as well. My D goes to a school where they do a great deal of main stage shows and once you add in the student directed one acts and directing scenes there is not much extra time. That takes up much of her evenings and with 18 credits each semester there is not much time to add anything else.
@broadway95 is she in a BFA or BA program? What school?
She is in a BFA at Nebraska Wesleyan University