If two halves make a whole, then it makes sense that Liesel Smurawa chooses to spend her days toggling between trumpet practice and solving complex math problems. The University of Oklahoma sophomore from McKinney, Texas, could not imagine giving up one passion for the other. So, she didn’t—and is pursuing a double major in music performance and biomedical engineering.

Of the 31,000-plus students attending OU, nearly 1,500 undergraduates are pursuing multiple majors. While it’s not uncommon to complete requirements for two separate majors within a single degree program, a notable distinction in this cohort is the tiny fraction balancing an academic load that appears to be in extreme contrast. But this opposite attraction is natural for eight students who double-majored in fine arts and engineering this academic year. 

Along with Smurawa they include Carson McHugh, modern dance and mechanical engineering; Aubrey McNiel, voice and engineering with an emphasis on physics;  Leo Carter, modern dance and biomedical engineering; Thomas Brown, ballet performance and computer science; Emma Lozano, modern dance and aerospace engineering; Gabe Osburn, music and electrical and computer engineering; and Ruby Toval, drama and computer science.

“Music and engineering are very creative endeavors while, at the same time, also quite technical,” says Smurawa, a member of the OU Wind Symphony, who practices up to two hours a day. Her engineering studies center on biological and medical research. With plans to attend medical school while continuing to perform musically, she believes the two disciplines can co-exist.

“I have been set on doing both my entire life. It takes an intricate calendar system and using all my time efficiently. Still, I never plan to stop performing or striving to understand how the workings of the human body impact overall health outcomes by studying biomedical engineering.”

Growing up in Houston, Carson McHugh loved math and science, as well as dance, which she began at the age of 3. McHugh got her first taste of what a double major might look like while attending a high school for the performing arts, spending half the day dancing and the other on rigorous academics.

“The entire four years I was in high school, I knew I wanted to study dance and engineering,” McHugh says. “Although I was unsure about becoming a professional dancer, I knew I was not ready to give up dancing. I looked for universities that allowed this double major and, not surprisingly, discovered there weren’t many. OU was one of the few schools that not only allowed me to double-major, but encouraged it.” 

McHugh says the time commitment for each major is about the same, and managing her time is critical to balancing the physical demands of dance and performance with coursework for engineering.

The December 2024 OU graduate maintained a perfect grade point average in both majors. In April, she will begin working at ExxonMobil in Houston. She says creativity is a fundamental asset. 

“The creative mind helps us see patterns and solve complicated problems in engineering, which helps in dance, too,” McHugh says. “My two areas of study helped me stand out in a crowded job applicant field.”

Mary Margaret Holt, dean of the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, believes clear communication and cooperation between OU’s fine arts and engineering programs are the key to success. Students have always had the option to combine the two disciplines during her three decades at OU.

“We do not say ‘no’ to those students who are determined to major in both,” she says. “While it is not as common to choose fine arts and engineering, if a student has great time management skills and excellent self-discipline, we are more than happy to help them do it.”

Pairing fine arts and engineering might appear to be an odd combination, but Holt says studies have shown a clear connection. Take engineering and music, for example. Musical notes are divided into fractions. Dance movements on stage are related to counts and beats of music that affect not only what a dancer is doing, but also where they are positioned on stage.

“I appreciate when our students want to push boundaries,” Holt says. “It is important to their sense of fulfillment. So many have succeeded beautifully while at OU and in their careers, whether pursuing the artistic or engineering sides.”

When students continue something that brings richness and color to their lives, such as dance or musical performance, Gallogly College of Engineering Dean John Klier is more than glad to oblige. Klier says he encourages engineering students if they have the passion and bandwidth to pursue fine arts—especially as a release from the pressures of engineering courses. 

 “Dual-major students have an incredible workload and some of the university’s highest credit-hour loads,” he says. “They learn to balance multiple commitments with difficult engineering coursework and practice hours. While challenging, this time management and prioritization will prepare them well to succeed in fast-paced and demanding professional careers, whether they directly go into industry or further professional studies.” 

As a dual major in vocal music performance and engineering physics, Aubrey McNiel balances the demands of performing as a classically trained soprano with the rigors of design-based quantum computing research while maintaining a near-perfect grade point average.

“I knew I wanted to major in engineering, and I have always been in choirs and competitions,” explains the Bixby, Okla., native. “But I had not considered majoring in music until a scheduling conflict led me to a music theory class. It surprised me how much I enjoyed it. Rather than just taking lessons, I thought that, by majoring in music, I could learn some of the other skills musicians have, such as playing piano, composing and conducting.”

To McNiel's mind, music and engineering complement one another. Studying both equally develops a flexible and creative way of thinking and problem-solving, and she intends to continue performing as she pursues graduate studies in physics.  

“I think music and engineering are related because, to some extent, music makes us better at math,” she says. “While I try to keep each area as separate as possible, my identity is not tied to one discipline.”

That flexibility came in handy last year when McNiel performed in OU Opera’s production of The Merry Widow.

“The only time I could work on my quantum mechanics homework was during rehearsal water breaks. Within the span of 15 minutes, I’d go from dancing a can-can to deriving the wave function of a hydrogen atom to busting out a high C.”

Gallogly College Senior Associate Dean Randa Shehab says the integration of fine arts and engineering can equip well-rounded individuals for navigating complex career paths upon graduation. She also believes it’s important to have balance in one’s life.

Shehab studied ballet while growing up. As a first-year OU engineering student, she decided to take lessons in the OU School of Dance, where future dean Mary Margaret Holt was her teacher. Although she didn’t pursue a double major, Shehab was inspired to continue dancing independently with the Norman Ballet Company. 

“Many engineers have incredible expressive and creative talents,” she says. “The fine arts allow for creativity of expression that builds on dedication and perseverance, qualities that are also important for success in engineering. 

“Ballet, for example, allows our minds and bodies to fully engage in the expressive process of dancing while releasing the parts of ourselves that are so focused on learning and practicing the critical math and science foundations of engineering.

“Engineers,” she says clearly, “are not monolithic.” 

Susan Grossman is Senior Program Officer for the Kirkpatrick Foundation in Oklahoma City and a freelance writer who lives in Norman. 

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