Dual Degree in Physics and Theatre?

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

I am a junior in HS right now, and I’m currently searching for schools that offer a wide range of Dual Degree programs.

I’m very interested in the sciences, both Physics and Chemistry, and I’d love to go to college for either of them. My science department is headed by two acclaimed teachers. However, the past year I was a part of my 4th show and now coming up on my 5th show in my city-elite theatre program headed by 2 professional actors. I now want to go into college for theatre too.

I’m in a pickle because I’ve been researching and I haven’t found many colleges that offers a dual degree program where I can major in both physics/chemistry and theatre. HELP!

My stats are as follows:
GPA - 3.55/4.41
ACT - 31
SAT - taking in March
Unweighted Rank - 101/449 Weighted Rank - 81/449
AP Courses ( () scores, * taking currently, ** will take) - AP US History (5), AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Human Geography, AP Chemistry, AP English Language and Composition, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C: Mechanics/Electricity and Magnetism
Honors Courses - English 9H, History 9H, Biology 9H, Algebra 2AA, English 10AA, Chemistry AA, Pre-Calculus AA
Extra Curricular (so far) - Teachers Assistant, 4 Musicals (1 lead role, 2 supporting), 1 Play (1 lead role), Unified for Uganda WHHS (Publicist), Modern Abolitionists Movement (Publicist), minimum-wage weekend job
Walnut Hills is the top public high school in Ohio, top 75 in the nation

I’m looking for colleges in the Midwest (5 or 6 hour radius from Cincinnati) around a decent-size metropolitan area and small. The most important out of those three is in the Midwest.

Thank you in advance for your help!!

2

Have you looked at Lawrence in Wisconsin? Strong Physics, and they have a theater arts major.

3

Kenyon College might be a fit–great theater opportunities and excellent sciences.

4

Northwestern–You certainly can earn a dual degree there. Many kids do.

5

I second Kenyon and my D also really liked Denison- which is significantly nearer a Metropolitan area (Columbus) than Kenyon (which is in the exact geographic middle of nowhere :slight_smile: not that it’s a bad thing, in fact, it’s part of what makes it idyllic, but the OP did ask for a “near” a metropolitan area)

Important question @knottsofly - I am kind of assuming you are looking for a BA rather than BFA program (which makes dual majoring much easier) but just wanted to confirm

6

For the record (and with my sense of humor intact), Kenyon and Denison are about half an hour apart and it takes about 45 minutes to get to Columbus from Kenyon–maybe half an hour to get there from Denison. :slight_smile:

7

University of Southern California encourages students to major / minor in 2 diverse areas. They even have program that recognizes students that are able to do so - the Renaissance Scholars Program.

8

@Times3 - certainly neither Kenyon or Denison is “far” from Columbus- but one thing I noticed visiting with D two years ago was that Denison made a point of discussing transportation/accessibility to “town”, and Kenyon pretty much said “we stay here”. YMMV

9

I’m not too sure about the differences, but whatever makes it easier!

Thank you all for the responses! I haven’t looked at Kenyon or Dennison yet but I do know people who go there currently.

10

If you want to consider leaving the midwest, you should really look at Bard (upstate NY). Great science and fabulous theatre program. They encourage double majors. (My son was a physics/jazz composition double major, but ultimately dropped the music.) But they really do encourage kids to do a science/math and arts double major…

11

Not sure you recognize the rigor and time commitment of a performing arts degree.
Some can be said for physics.

Not much overlap in those two.

Are you willing to invest 5.5 years for the undergraduate degrees?

12

Not midwest, but James Madison University in VA is 6 hours and 45 minutes from Cincinnati so close to your radius.

I teach in Theatre at James Madison, and am currently advising an honors student who is a double degree student with Chemistry and Theatre. He will graduate next December. It will take him 4.5 years, mainly because of sequencing of classes, and conflicting times for required classes in the two majors.

13

I second the recommendation to look at Kenyon or similar liberal arts colleges. Also, while it is not in a metropolitan area, my undergrad University of the South (Sewanee) allows double majors and has strong academics and a vibrant theatre community and BA degree (note 20 of the 44 hours can be in performance even though it is a BA). And it is less than six hours from Cincinnati. In 1983, Tennessee Williams left his estate to the University of the South as a memorial to his grandfather. He directed in his will that a fund be established to encourage creative writing which resulted in the founding of the Sewanee Writers Conference and the establishment of the Tennessee Williams Fellowships which each year bring leading playwrights, poets, novelists, and performance artists to the campus to share their talents.

I think other commentators are right that a bfa in theatre with a science major is next to impossible to complete in four years. But a double major of a theatre BA with science is doable and you could continue to performance opportunities or training during your summers. Anson Mount graduated from Sewanee before receiving a MFA from Columbia. He has spoken in articles about his belief that actors need a liberal arts education and having a liberal arts degree myself I can relate to what he is saying. However, our d has applied to mostly BFA programs based on what she wants out of college but has included several that have a higher component of liberal arts classes such as Michigan, NYU and Calarts. Best of luck to you!

14

@katmt - I didn’t realize the MT major was so many less credits than BM Performance?

15

@ClarinetDad16 – He is not a dual degree with Musical Theatre and Chemistry, he is with Theatre and Chemistry, and came in with AP and Dual Enrollment credits from HS.

At James Madison there is not a significant difference between the number of required credits between the BM, BA, BS, etc… just distributed slightly differently depending on the degree requirements. All students take the same 41 credit General Education core, have degree requirements (based on degree – BA, BM, BBA, BS, BFA, etc…), major requirements, and electives (this # varies depending on #of major credits).

16

Just FYI, at Northwestern, you can graduate in 4 years with a dual degree, BS/BA in Theatre and BA in whatever else. Many kids do. You do not need extra years.

On a practical note, certain need based money may be impacted by going over four years. If you go over that amount, you may no longer qualify for some need based grants or loans, so it can get extremely expensive. For instance, my D’s substantial need based grant is specifically only for four years of full time undergrad. This is just information to be aware of; not judging anyone.