<p>Yes, Elon does offer engineering!</p>
<p>[Elon</a> University - Dual-Degree Engineering](<a href=āhttp://www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/elon_college/engineering/default.xhtml]Elonā>http://www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/elon_college/engineering/default.xhtml)</p>
<p>Sorry about Elon. They do not have an engineering degree that leads to licensure. They offer a 3+2 degree where you finish at another university to get the engineering degree. Elon doesnāt have an engineering school. They have a program in engineering but that alone will not allow one to become an engineer. The degree must be finished at an engineering school.</p>
<p>By the way, none of the schools you visited, including Elon, would be referred to as LACs (Liberal arts colleges). You visited universities. When you mentioned āLACā I was confused because very few LACs even have a BFA in MT program.</p>
<p>Every university or college that we visited claimed to be a Liberal Arts Institution including Penn State and U of Mich. and they all have a BFA in MT with the exception of Stanford.</p>
<p>soozievt..did you see my example in post #140? You asked for examples so I am trying to give them.</p>
<p>Also, the plan you mention at Elonā¦doing the BFA in MT in four years and stretching the āpre-engineeringā over those four years, will entail two more years of college to get a Bachelors in engineeringā¦those SIX years of college. Say he does that with Columbia U. I happen to disagree with the notion of āstart auditioningā while at Columbia. A person in an engineering program is not going to have daytimes to attend auditions and callbacks. My daughter goes to college in NYC and doesnāt have the time to do that while in school.</p>
<p>Another example. A recent student just graduated from Elon with a BFA in Dance and Engineering. We spoke to the professor that helped to put together her program</p>
<p>Whether one would actually start auditioning while attending Columbia is not the key point. </p>
<p>The point is that you asked for examples so that you can add it to the knowledge base and you are once again āpicking it apartā! </p>
<p>If one is inclined to plug into their academic blocks for their BFA; classes that will apply to something later on, it should not be discouraged. </p>
<p>I hesitate to once again use my s as an example, so I will use another student. With 28 AP credits going in a large portion of the gen ed part of the BFA is completed, therefore, the student is now taking upper level calculus and physics while pursueing her BFA. The director of the program does not care WHAT classes she is taking as long as the curriculum guide of the BFA is followed. She had not been required to declare a second major, she is just taking the upper level classes because her AP credit satisfied the lower level requirements suggested. Does any of that make sense?</p>
<p>britbratā¦Those universities are NOT referred to as Liberal Arts Colleges. They are universities that offer a liberal arts education. My kids went to NYU and Brown Universities and both offer a liberal arts education. Neither are a liberal arts college (LAC). A Liberal Arts College (LAC) tends to offer an undergraduate education only leading to a BA or a BS degree and is usually small in size and smaller than most universities. </p>
<p>If you go to CCās main discussion forum homepage, you will see that CC has a section of colleges that are āTop Liberal Arts Collegesā and an other section of āTop Universitiesā. For instance, schools that are LACs are Amherst, Barnard, Bates, Bowdoin, Carleton, Claremont McKenna, Swarthmore, Williams, Middlebury, etc. Schools that are universities that offer a liberal arts education are schools like Stanford, Brown, NYU, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Rice, Berkeley, UVA, UMich, PSU, etc.</p>
<p>I donāt doubt one bit that a student did a double major in engineering and a BFA in Dance at Elon. Elonās engineering degree is not the same as the kind of engineering degree I was talking about beforeā¦the kind that leads to licensure. Elonās is more a pre-engineering component, more akin to a liberal arts major, than what an Engineering School degree would be. Thatās the degree that I feel some doubt that could be combined with a BFA in MT. I was asking if you have met any students or department heads about the specific combo of a BFA in MT (not dance or music) and a Bachelors in Engineering (the full degree).</p>
<p>I cross postedā¦but with regard to post #147ā¦</p>
<p>I definitely think that at many schools, a student in a BFA in MT can do the requirements for another liberal arts major, particularly if coming in with AP credits. I know students who have done this even at my own daughterās school!</p>
<p>However, many engineering degree programs (NOT THE KIND THAT ELON HAS)ā¦have a very specified curriculum per year much like a BFA does, where it takes up about 65% of the coursework per semester and is sequential and not flexible. In fact, this is also true of BArch programs. My question is how a student in the very specified Engineering degree program (not the kind Elon has) can fit the required engineering courses that are sequential per year (not the gen. ed. stuff) with the inflexible BFA in MT courses required per year that are also often 65% of oneās coursework.</p>
<p>Again, Elonās program in engineering is NOT what I am referring to. They have one engineering course per semesterā¦nothing like a full fledged engineering school degree where a huge chunk of oneās coursework is outlined, prescribed, sequential per year, and represents about 2/3ās of oneās total curriculum.</p>
<p>britbrat, has your son considered that instead of doing a BFA and engineering degree concurrently, simply enrolling in a good engineering program at a LAC or university with ample opportunities for MT training, including acting, dance and music/singing, and getting training that way? </p>
<p>Though the dual BFA-engineering degree sounds do-able if very difficult, it seems to me the course of lesser resistance (and less cost, for sure) would be to make engineering the main degree and do the MT degree (even if he would have to piece it together from, say, a vocal performance or acting major) as the second thing.</p>
<p>By the way, I, too, was confused by your use of LAC rather than university, but thatās probably because I work in higher education at a university that offers engineering as well as āarts and sciences/liberal arts.ā We never refer to my institution as a LAC because the word āuniversityā is in its name, but we do refer to places such as (for example) Boston College or Sarah Lawrence College are Liberal Arts Colleges (LACs). </p>
<p>It sounds as if your son is an amazing student, both very talented and very astute academically, for which he is to be admired and commended. I am curious, though:</p>
<p>Does he plan (and I know plans change and mutate, especially when made when one is young!) to try to make a career in musical theater when coming out of college or university, or does he plan to pursue a job in engineering and to do performing on the side? Is engineering a āback upā plan or is musical theater?</p>
<p>I donāt claim to be an expert, but I donāt see how he can do both simultaneously on a professional level. I say that because I watch the young engineers in training at my university and most go on to either time consuming internships and professional engineering jobs (where they work very hard and long hours) or to graduate level work. It doesnāt seem to be a part time thing.</p>
<p>Again, why does it matter how a student eventually realizes their licensed Engineering degree? I just gave you examples of how it can be done. </p>
<p>After you and other encouraged us to go to the colleges and universities and ask the questions, we found these āunconventionalā paths. There was never a doubt from day 1 that the double major would take 5+ years. I just gave that exampleā¦4 years at one college and 2 at a fully accredited Engineering Institution. Possibly less if one has enough AP credits in the correct subjects to apply to the pre-engineering part of the 3 or 4-2 degree program.</p>
<p>Now, do you want any more examples or are we just going to agree to disagree and see how his all plays out as the application and auditions process continues?</p>
<p>U of Mich has put us in touch with an academic counselor that does nothing but plot out the academic plan for the dual degree programs and does have the specific plan for an MT BFA/Engineering degree. I will be happy to report back when we have gone through that process if you are interested.</p>
<p>I am guessing that this is not going to be usefull information being that it is so far out of the normal discussion, but I am happy to relay information if you are open to hearing it and accepting it.</p>
<p>It doesnāt matter how one gets the engineering degree and in fact, the plan you mention at Elon sounds like it might meet your sonās needs and interests! </p>
<p>My point was that when I was interested in how a BFA in MT can be combined with a regular engineering degree program, I wasnāt talking of a liberal arts engineering or pre-engineering program as I am SURE that can be done, same as I was sure that a combo of a BFA in MT with a liberal arts major can be done at several schools (but clearly NOT ALL). So, my point was asking about the combo of engineering school with a BFA in MT and not that the Elon plan isnāt good or something. It just isnāt what I was asking about or referring to. </p>
<p>I was curious if the head of the BFA in MT program at UMich or PSU knew of any kids who combined that degree with THEIR engineering school degree and what THEIR thoughts were on that actual combo. The examples you have given are good and no problem but just are not examples of what I am wondering about. I have no doubts about the examples you gave as those are combos of a BFA in MT with a liberal arts major (even a liberal arts engineering major).</p>
<p>Perhaps this is a bit of a digression, but through the posts Iāve seen mention of people successfully combining BFAs with another liberal arts program. Can anyone give me a bit more information on these success stories?</p>
<p>This is what I would like to do and it would be a major, MAJOR help!</p>
<p>Wow, quite a debate is going on. </p>
<p>Thanks all for posting replies to my questions. I now know that it is imperative to speak to actual faculty members and students at schools to truly know my possiblities for double majoring with a bfa. Hopefully, for me, attaining a dual degree should be a little easier than britbratās son since Iām looking at LA majors.</p>
<p>and thank you KatMT for posting the info about Tulaneās MT program. I was not aware that they even offered a bfa for MT since I visted their site briefly and only visited the pages for their Theatre department.</p>
<p>And while everyone is speaking of the impracticalities of pursuing a dual degree for a BFA in MT and something else, would pursuing an Acting BFA make it easier to attain a dual degree? I believe acting majors generally have less required credits to complete before graduation?</p>
<p>notmamaroseā¦I will try and say this without being completely redundant as this was the beginning of my discussion before we made the trips back East.</p>
<p>My s want to use the AP credits and education that he has received on the āacademic side of the houseā to the best of his ability, ie reducing the gen ed requirements as much as possible.</p>
<p>He is extremely passionate about his performing and equally to his concern for the environment. We have not yet completely figured out whether that is truly an engineering degree or an environmental sciences degree. The developement of environmental degrees are being created daily. He does not, however want to end up installing solar panels or taking water samples, he wants to be in the design and āthink tankā side of the sciences.</p>
<p>He truly feels that if he becomes successful in the performing arts that he can be a strong voice for āhealing the environmentā as often times the general public will ālistenā to an actor or a celebrity more than they will a politician. Remember these are the thoughts of a 17 year old.</p>
<p>He also feels that the education in the sciences and engineering helps to ābalanceā him. When asked by an honors admissions director last month why he chose to mix the two, his answer was this. āI associate music with math as it is counted and methodical, and I associate physics with dance because of the kinesiologyā. How does one deal with that? The honors counselor just smiled and said, āyou come to my office and we will lay out your dual degree programā!</p>
<p>He also says that if he should develop a vocal health problem and can no longer sing or have an injury that would end his dancing or both, he does not see himself with a career of working back stage. He is already composing his own music, so he sees himself doing that, but doesnāt play well enough to be an accompanist, or have the patience to become a director or producer.</p>
<p>This is not a kid that has not thought this out. I actually have one that knows what he wants and many many parents on the CC forum are grieving over the fact that their s or d does not have a clue. </p>
<p>I donāt want to make it sound like he is some kind of genius or any better or any more talented than the hundreds that are out there pursueing their dreams. I am just reaching out for advice with what I think is an unconventional path.</p>
<p>Only he can answer the question for which one he leans towards or is more passionate about, but I do not see any wavering on both. Only he will find out if it indeed can be done and I will support him if he tries, finds it too hard and has to regroup. I cannot talk him out of it, so only the experience will tell if and how it will really work.</p>
<p>Hope that answers your question :)</p>
<p>vivianngo123 ā It would not necessarily be easier or harder to pursue a dual degree with a BFA in acting. That too will depend on the school.</p>
<p>Each school is so different in terms of policies, so I would say that you are right it is important to contact each school that interests you directly and talk to people in the respective departments about what is possible.</p>
<p>Good Luck! :)</p>
<p>Soozie & Michael & others are giving very detailed accounts of how inflexible a BFA MT schedule actually is. Add in crew, rehearsals, etc. & the day (and night) fills up quickly. Likewise, a BS in engineering has equally inflexible schedule requirements. These courses arenāt offered five times a day plus evenings & summers, like Psychology 101. They have specific prerequisites, are frequently offered only one semester a year, and cannot be taken out of sequence. Regardless of how bright & talented any kid may be, there are only 24 hours in a day.</p>
<p>A six year bachelors will cost an extra $100K. Iām overwhelmed thinking about the FIRST $200K! That bill would put me over the edgeā¦</p>
<p>Britbat, if you are exploring whether or not performing arts & environmental sciences can be worked into a double major, the answer would clearly be yes. But BFA MT & BSEngineering? Thatās a very different scenario.</p>
<p>BritBrat: I am late to this discussion, but I remember it was raised earlier this summer. I want to pick up on something NMR noted earlier. They are called ākidsā for a reason! They may totally change their minds! Accordingly, Iām all for hedging oneās bets. As smart as your son is, I would want him to attend the best school academically that also has a good MT program. Frankly, that rules out a lot of fine MT programs. He may get into his first year and discover that he absolutely loves/hates one discipline or the other and decide to abandon a double major. You canāt possibly know at this point, so, as a good parent, you are trying to do the best by your child to ensure that his options are open as long as possible. Example, my D had been absolutely certain for years that she wanted to go into medicine, taking AP science classes, gaining a scholarship to assist with cancer research, doing a neuroscience internship, etc. She placed into organic chemistry as a freshman, but after one semester in which she did really well, she decided she didnāt want to spend hours of each week alone in a lab. Sheās also won writing awards and with lawyers for parents, sheās decided on pre-law. It was a sudden and dramatic change for her, but it was her decision. Again, preserving options for a kid as talented as yours is paramount. I applaud you.</p>
<p>I just spent some time getting caught up reading this thread, pffffew. Most of these posts should probably be moved to the āBFA MT & Double Major?ā thread. I bet those who are looking for general information about āpreparing to applyā may feel a bit overwhelmed after all that.</p>
<p>I just wanted to steer things back a little bit, please, please, please remember that, no matter what, acceptance into a lot, if not most, of BFA MT programs is by audition only. Those auditions can be very, very competitive. </p>
<p>We have seen a lot of incredibly smart kids be denied acceptance over the past few years. Donāt bank on acceptance into āany program of your choiceā having a high GPA. Be prepared to let āthe school choose youā. Make a diverse list of schools that you apply to, one that includes a balance between reaches, matches & safeties. This list is NOTthe same for everyone.</p>
<p>And, keep things in perspective, having a BFA does NOT equal a successfull career in MT, there are many ways to Romeā¦</p>
<p>Just saying :D.</p>