The Arts Advantage: A Balance Between Theater Studies and Computer Science

Spencer Rosen

Spencer Rosen is majoring in Computer Science, with minors in Theater Studies and Creative Writing, and hopes to focus on data science and computer security after graduation. While at Duke, he’s been part of a data science team and has worked as a data-driven pricing consultant outside of school. We sat down with the senior to learn why he’s making a conscious effort to include theater in his studies.

How did you get involved in Theater Studies at Duke?

In high school, I didn’t take part in theater because it conflicted with the sports I played. My sophomore year at Duke, however, I was introduced to the Theater Studies Department through Neal Bell's screenwriting course, which I took because I've always loved film and writing. Since then, I've taken a handful of other theater-related classes, focusing mainly on those with a writing component. This fall, I’m co-stage managing the fall mainstage production of Golem

With a career path that is clearly STEM-focused, why do you choose to include Theater courses in your studies?

I love the balance that Theater Studies classes bring to my learning. They require a completely different skillset to my STEM courses and challenge my creativity along with my ability to analyze existing work. More than balance though, I've just enjoyed all the classes I've taken in the department, so I just kept adding more. 

It's also nice to have a break from the intensive left-brain tasks that STEM classes can demand, and I think I've learned a lot through my theater courses about working in a group to create a final product out of nothing—which is such a rewarding experience.

While I still don't know what I'm looking for in a career, I’d like to find a way to bring an arts element to a STEM-related path, or at least remain involved in the arts. Through my work in Theater Studies, I've realized how important it is to me that my career involves creating something physical and unique, whether that be as an individual or as part of a team.