I am currently enrolled at a community college for my second semester of my first year in college. I did not apply to any schools during my senior year of high school because I was undecided on my major and I heard community college can help you test out different things in order to help you decide your major. In my first year of community college, I have a narrowed down my list on what I want to do for a major but cannot decide which path I should take. In high school, I performed in my school’s concert band and because of that I fell in love with the performing arts. This led me to having an interest in making/composing music. Because of my interest in performing arts, it led me to my interest in musical theater. I did not do any of my school’s musicals when I was in high school, but I might have a possible interest in doing musical theater. Lastly, I also have an interest in engineering. I was good at math in high school and had a interest in being an engineer. Also my grandparents told me to take this path because they know I will be better off doing this, but my parents say choose whichever path I want because I could always go back to school. To summarize it up, I have an interest in music composition, musical theater, and engineering. Is there a way I can achieve all three at the same time? Also is it possible I can double major in composition and musical theater/engineering?
Theoretically, probably; in practice, probably not.
Music composition, musical theater, and engineering are all demanding, rigorous majors with a lot of sequenced course requirements that require enormous amounts of time. Music performance and composition majors usually require private lessons and recitals, as well as participation in the school’s bands, orchestras, ensembles, etc. Musical theater, similarly, often requires participating in the school’s performances and showcases, in addition to a heavy courseload. Engineering requires a lot of sequenced classes that have to be taken in specific orders, and also has so many credits that it often takes students majoring in engineering alone 5-6 years to finish.
At most schools, it would likely be functionally impossible to double major in any two of these fields.
The good news is that just because you are interested in something doesn’t mean you have to major in it! You can be an engineering major and participate heavily in your college’s musical theater or other performing arts programs. (In theory. Remember, engineering is demanding). It’s a little more difficult to pursue engineering as a ‘hobby,’ but it’s also theoretically possible for you to major in musical theater and dabble in your engineering interests without a major.