Dual Degree Programs for Music and Computer Science/Engineering?

Hi,
We are starting to research college options with our younger son (junior), who might want to pursue a dual degree in double bass and computer science/engineering. He plays german bow, and according to his private teacher is talented enough to get into a conservatory program but he is unsure whether he wants to limit his options. He is a straight-A student who also loves math and science, and can juggle difficult classes easily. Any recommendations for highly regarded bass teachers/programs in colleges that also have excellent engineering/computer science programs, and allow a dual degree? I should also add that we are in California, and potential for merit aid will be important, since we will not qualify for financial aid. Thank you for any suggestions!

Unfortunately I don’t know the bass teachers - but I would check out the usual suspects for double degrees: Oberlin, Bard (no engineering ,) Tufts/NEC, Michigan, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Lawrence (no engineering, I imagine,) Johns Hopkins/Peabody. Northwestern doesn’t offer any merit worth mentioning, however, and not sure about merit at Tufts. You might also look at Carnegie Mellon which I believe offers a science degree with the ability to add music (but it’s not a double degree, per se.) You might also look at liberal arts schools which offer engineering like Swarthmore, or a strong math school like Williams - where he could continue with bass lessons. Although I suspect neither of them offer merit either.
I know an accomplished composer who went to Stanford and continued with his double bass studies - and performed in ensembles in San Francisco while studying. There’s really no reason your son couldn’t continue to study bass and perform in college at a high level - while just getting a degree in Computer Science or Engineering. Btw. MIT has a wonderful music department.

I know a similar student who continued to take private lessons here in Pasadena and pursue a degree in Physics at Cal Tech. There are plenty of similar students at Cal Tech as there are ensembles that he can participate in. Take a look at the Claremont consortium as well.

Here is a great essay on the Peabody site that may help your son figure out his path (which may change in the next year or two, judging from the experience of many of us! )

http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/new/tips/doubledegree.html

I don’t know bass faculty either, but the list above is generally a great start. Based on our experience (engineering/horn), I’d add Case Western/CIM. Case can be generous with merit aid on the academic side if your son has good test scores to go with his GPA. As mentioned, merit aid at Northwestern is practically nonexistent. JHU also offers little (very few, large merit academic scholarships and little else); Peabody offers some aid, but dual-degree students get their aid through JHU. UMich offers a fair number of $20k engineering merit scholarships to OOS kids with stellar stats - OOS tuition is still steep, but it helps. They also have some larger but even more competitive scholarships. CMU will let you do a true dual degree, but they do not make it easy as their processes in the colleges of music and engineering are completely independent. There is limited academic merit aid.

University of Rochester has a great engineering department and the Bass teachers at Eastman are excellent. My son has a friend who got an amazing scholarship that is for some student pursuing engineering but who is also interested in music.

U Mass Amherst has an excellent Engineering school and also it’s music department is a bit of a hidden gem. There are many talented faculty there.

Yale is another school that would have strong sciences (maybe not a specific engineering department) and also excellent music.

NYU is another strong engineering program with access to great music teachers.

Columbia does have a joint program with Juilliard but even if you did not do the joint program there are plenty of excellent bass teachers available and plenty of ensembles. Columbia’s engineering is also considered to be quite good.

Keep in mind that at some point your son will have to make a choice between focusing on his music or pursuing music as a hobby. Your job at this point is not to try your hardest to not steer him toward what YOU are more comfortable with or what YOU feel is the right choice. He should be entirely in charge and happy with what ever path he chooses.

Good suggestions and advice from @StacJip but know that except for the most talented musicians (which your son may be) Yale College undergrads are generally taught by grad students. Also, if your son is interested in jazz, Yale is not the best place.

Grad students maybe - but very talented grad students!

Thank you all for the great ideas; I just wish these schools were closer to home (CA)!

On the west coast look at USC, with a minor in music - which I imagine you’ve already thought of? And University of Puget Sound, where it might be possible to do a double degree (unknown.) Both offer merit aid. And Harvey Mudd - although I don’t know about merit there. Again, if he’s willing just to perform in ensembles, take an occasional music class, and take lessons - he needn’t get a degree in music at all.

With the nature of engineering programs, I would look at the alternative possibility of studying privately while pursuing the engineering degree. Engineering programs are intense and time consuming, and so is a BM degree, and it could be very difficult to do that as a dual degree (not impossible, just difficult), and likely would be a 5 year degree if you do that.

As someone posted, USC has very strong strings department, and UCLA has a well respected music program, both might be options (I don’t know if either of them has an engineering school, they both have comp sci departments). If they allow dual degree with BM, they might be worth looking into. One thing about being in California, if your S decides to study privately there are more than likely a number of options with top rate teachers and things like youth orchestras to have for performing opportunities, so he does have choices.

For some reason I missed that you are a Ca resident.

Go visit UCLA.

I doubt it’s possible to get a dual degree at UCLA in engineering and performance - but I could be wrong. However, one could always take private lessons while attending UCLA.

Maybe I’m thinking of a double major. http://collegecounseling.ucla.edu/double-major.html

We know of one woodwind / physics double major — it took 5 years.

@musicamusica It does look like it’s possible to double major in music at UCLA - but you can only apply to UCLA in one area - and, if it’s music, and you’re not admitted, then you’re denied admission to UCLA entirely. Once in, then you can apply for the second major in engineering/CS. Or, you could enter as an engineer, and then apply/audition once you’re there for the second major. Does that sound about right to you? Unlike some programs where you apply to both degrees/departments at the outset.

I think that’s correct. ^^ The young man we knew auditioned and applied to the music dept first. He was EXCEPTIONALLY brilliant. After graduating he went on to med school and has now has started his residency.

I’m a UCLA grad myself, so definitely partial to UCLA over USC! I’ll also speak with him regarding majoring in CS/engineering and taking lessons privately while playing in a local orchestra. This way, all of his extra time is spent on building his performance skills, rather than taking a number of other classes outside of his major. The American Youth Symphony practices right on campus and might be a good option.

Me too. Go Bruins! I usually don’t recommend UCLA to OOS students since it can be way too expensive. But it’s a real bargain for us instaters and there are so many fantastic opportunities for young musicians here in LA.

Not to mention that UCLA has the coolest named school of Music, was a big fan of Herb Alpert as a kid, and I saw him not long ago perform with his wife…:slight_smile:

Herb Alpert is one of the best people on the planet. . As a grad student at UCLA I used to work at a restaurant on the west side. He and Lani used to come in on a weekly basis and always ask for my table. Nice nice nice and a big tipper to boot. A talented guy and a genuine mensch. A rare thing in the music industry indeed.(hey he went to USC but gave his money to UCLA!–what more can I say)