The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music is a flexible and rigorous program designed for students who want to pursue serious musical study while exploring a broad range of academic interests. Offered through the College of Arts and Sciences as part of the Joint Music Program with the Cleveland Institute of Music, the degree combines conservatory-level musical training with the breadth of a liberal arts education.
Whether you plan to pursue graduate study in music, combine music with another academic discipline, or apply your musical training in a wide variety of professions, the BA in Music provides the freedom to tailor your education to your goals while pursuing additional interests across the university.
The curriculum encourages interdisciplinary study, making it possible to combine music with fields such as engineering, business, psychology, cognitive science, computer science, the natural sciences, and many other areas of study. With personalized advising and degree planning, students can build an academic pathway that reflects their individual interests and career aspirations.
Combine Music with Another Major
Many students choose to expand their education by combining music with another academic program. Common pathways include:
- Double Major within the College of Arts and Sciences
- Dual Degree (such as a BA in Music and BS in Engineering), which can be completed in four years with careful planning
- Secondary Major in Music while earning a BS degree in another discipline
Explore Interdisciplinary Opportunities
Students are encouraged to declare additional majors or degrees early and work closely with faculty advisors to develop a personalized academic plan.
We also offer competitive performance-based scholarships, including full and partial tuition awards, for incoming undergraduate music students.
Learning Outcomes
The BA in Music program provides a strong foundation in performance, music theory, history, and collaborative musicianship, while fostering intellectual curiosity, artistic exploration, and interdisciplinary learning. Graduates are prepared to think critically and creatively about music in a variety of academic and professional contexts.
As a graduate of the program, you will:
- Demonstrate artistic and technical proficiency in your primary instrument or voice.
- Apply musical knowledge effectively in collaborative performance settings with professionalism and technical skill.
- Analyze tonal and post-tonal music using advanced theoretical concepts.
- Demonstrate rhythmic fluency through eurhythmics, including keyboard improvisation, movement, and pedagogical applications.
- Evaluate major composers, performers, musical styles, techniques, and historical developments within Western music traditions.
- Produce substantial written analyses and critical evaluations of musical works and concepts in both Western classical and popular music traditions.
Admission
Ready to pursue music within a flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum?
To declare the BA in Music, students must:
- Submit the CWRU Application and a Music Arts Supplement, which includes a digital questionnaire and recorded audition on the student's primary instrument or voice.
Application and audition requirements are available on the Undergraduate Applications & Auditions page.
Program Requirements
The BA in Music requires that 42–50 of the 120 credit units needed for graduation to be devoted to music study. Remaining coursework fulfills the University's Unified General Education Requirements (UGER) and provides ample opportunity for additional majors, minors, electives, or pre-professional study.
Music coursework includes:
- Music Core: Sequential coursework in music theory, musicianship, music history and culture, and foundational study across the discipline.
- Applied Music: Private instruction, recital classes, and performance juries on your primary instrument or voice.
- Ensembles: Participation in Department of Music ensembles appropriate to your primary performance area.
- Music Electives: Upper-level coursework in areas such as music history, theory, conducting, arranging, music technology, historical performance practice, jazz, popular music, music education, and other interdisciplinary topics.
- General Education: Completion of the University's Unified General Education Requirements (UGER), providing a strong liberal arts foundation.
Complete curriculum requirements, course descriptions, and a sample plan of study are available in the General Bulletin.
Advising & Student Resources
BA in Music students have access to a variety of advising and academic resources throughout their undergraduate experience:
- Undergraduate Music Handbook
Department policies, recital information, academic procedures, and important deadlines. - Current Undergraduate Students Page
Advising forms, degree planning and tracking tools, registration information, departmental policies, and student support services. - General Bulletin
Official degree requirements, university academic policies, and complete course descriptions.