FLEXIBLE colleges for a double major in composition + science?

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I have this dilemma where I'm not sure which schools are flexible in
1. letting a student in the "College of Arts & Sciences" (or any traditional liberal arts college) take classes in the music school (specifically composition)
or
2. double major in music with a concentration in composition (?) and biology (but in two separate colleges?!)</p>

<p>I've been looking at schools like Yale and Oberlin and UMich and USC and Northwestern etc. and I'm really confused. The websites are very vague as to how easy it is for a student in a different college to take classes/major in a different school!</p>

<p>And because I want a B.S. and not a B.A., there are no dual programs.</p>

<p>If anyone has any information, please let me know! Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>i know northwestern offers a 5-year dual degree program for music and any other major (arts&sciences, engineering, etc.) but i’m not sure if that’s what you’re looking for…</p>

3

<p>Search within this forum for posts by Hunt, compmom, and SpiritManager. There is plenty here. If you need help, ask and I’ll pull some thread links. A good starting point is here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/749881-best-liberal-arts-college-music-program-composition.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/749881-best-liberal-arts-college-music-program-composition.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>The University of Rochester has BS programs in Biology in the following areas: Biochemistry, Microbiology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Molecular Genetics, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Neuroscience.</p>

<p>See [Dual</a> Degrees - Eastman School of Music](<a href=“http://www.esm.rochester.edu/degrees/dd_ugrad.php]Dual”>http://www.esm.rochester.edu/degrees/dd_ugrad.php) for information about combining one of those BS degrees in biology with a BM degree at Eastman School of Music</p>

5

<p>Have you looked at MIT? They have a wonderful music department. Harvey Mudd has some interesting composition classes/professor, as well, and you could have a second major off campus at one of the other Claremont colleges…
As for your original question - there have been many many discussions on here about the differences between double degrees, double majors, minors, concentrations etc. Most definitely check out the link to Peabody’s admission page describing the different paths and the students for whom they are most appropriate.</p>

6

<p>I think that spending 5 years as an undergraduate would probably be needed to accomplish your goals, at least from what you have written.</p>

<p>Check out the double degree program at Oberlin, and also the program at Bard, where a double degree is actually required of conservatory students. Both these schools have excellent biology programs. (I know a student at Bard who is an amazing composer, but is not in the conservatory. She is a biology major or environmental studies major, but nevertheless gets to study composition with Joan Tower. Bard’s opportunities for composers who are in the college rather than the conservatory are excellent: spirit manager can tell you more)</p>

<p>Tufts has a double degree program with NEC, also 5 years. I think it is BA/BM not BS/BM, but am not sure. RMcMillan (don’t remember the spelling) has a son doing this program.</p>

<p>A BS program has less wiggle room than a BA program, as you well know, so combining majors might be tougher. Others can perhaps provide more information on this.</p>

<p>It might be worth your while to look at schools that do not have distribution requirements, so that you can just take the classes you need for the two majors, plus any extras you can fit. So Brown, Amherst…I don’t know what sciences are like at schools like Bennington ,Hampshire or Sarah Lawrence, which are freer and depend on more independent work.</p>

<p>What kind of music do you compose? Do you study privately now? A little more info might help. Some people go to college and get a degree in, say, biology, and compose on the side, working with a private outside teacher as needed. </p>

<p>Many musicians find that they need to choose between interests early on, but with composition, you really do have a lot of options in terms of the path you take, and you can even choose to blossom later in your composing, and focus on science now.</p>

7

<p>Hummingbird, I am positive you can do that at UMich in a five year(ish) program – and probably a little more easily than straight performance students. Their comp profs are awesome. Just send the department an email and I am certain they’d help you map it out. On the school of music site, if you look under “current student resources” I believe you can download the music handbook which maps out how to do a dual degree or major-minor and what else is available.
Actually, here’s the link: [Student</a> Resources](<a href=“http://www.music.umich.edu/current_students/student_resources/StudentResources.htm]Student”>http://www.music.umich.edu/current_students/student_resources/StudentResources.htm)</p>

<p>When you’re a SOM student at UMich, you get a special counselor from EACH college to make sure you have your course selections planned properly. When you apply, you need to be accepted by LSA and SOM, and each application is managed separately.
Good luck in your search.</p>

8

<p>As compmom mentioned, our son is doing a 5 year BS/BM double degree program at Tufts/NEC. He is VERY happy with both schools and has been able to fit in lots of extra music. He’s majoring in composition at NEC but is also studying violin and will be adding conducting as well. At Tufts his major is cognitive brain science. </p>

<p>He is very busy and often chooses to take more than 20 credits per semester but he is not finding the commute between schools or the demands overwhelming. We would like him to ease back a bit so that he is not always operating at full bore, but he seems unable to pass up any interesting academic or music classes/opportunities. </p>

<p>At Tufts/NEC it is considerably easier to combine composition with a BS because NEC orchestras meet in the a.m. which is also when many of the labs are scheduled at Tufts. The ensemble requirements for a composition major at NEC are lighter than they are for instrumentalists so you won’t run into as many scheduling conflicts. </p>

<p>Best of luck, thehummingbird, as you explore your options. There are quite a few good double degree programs out there. I hope you find several that will work for you.</p>

9

<p>It sounds to me as if the BSOF (Bachelor of Science and an Outside Field) at Jacobs might fit the bill.</p>