Degree: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Major: Music

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in music is a flexible and rigorous program for students who wish to develop their musical abilities while engaging in a broad liberal arts education. Offered through the College of Arts and Sciences as part of the Joint Music Program with the Cleveland Institute of Music, this degree combines conservatory-level training with opportunities for interdisciplinary exploration.

Students in the Music, BA program can pursue advanced study in performance, theory, composition, or musicology. Although they are not required to combine music with a second major or degree, many students do so, thanks in part to flexible curricular options and supportive advising. The program offers a variety of academic pathways:

• Double majors within the College of Arts and Sciences
• Dual degrees (e.g., BA in music and BS in engineering)—with careful planning, this option can be completed in four years
• A secondary major in music while completing a BS in another school

Students are encouraged to declare additional majors or degrees early and work closely with faculty advisors to plan their academic path. Learn more about academic pathways and how to combine the BA in music with other programs.

Learning Outcomes

The Music, BA program provides a strong foundation in performance, music theory, history, and collaborative musicianship. It encourages intellectual curiosity, artistic exploration, and interdisciplinary study, preparing students to think critically and creatively about music in a variety of academic and professional contexts.

• Students will be able to demonstrate technical and artistic proficiency within a primary performance medium (instrument or voice).
• Students will be able to demonstrate personal musicianship, apply general musical knowledge, participate professionally in a collaborative demeanor, and apply musical and technical performance skills to the ensemble.
• Students will be able to demonstrate facility with major concepts, techniques, and skills of music theory, music analysis, and musicianship.
• Students will be able to critically situate musical techniques and practices through a variety of methods including technical analysis, cultural contextualization, and critically-informed performance.
• Students will be able to draw on knowledge and skills in performance, music theory, music history, and/or music education to write a substantial critical assessment of musical works, concepts, and/or practices in the Western classical and/or popular traditions.

Admission

To apply to the Music, BA program, students must submit the CWRU Application and Music Arts Supplement, which includes a digital questionnaire and video audition on the primary instrument or voice.

For detailed application and audition information, please refer to the Undergraduate Applications page.

Advising and Student Resources

Undergraduate students in the Music, BA program are supported by a variety of tools and resources: 

• Undergraduate Music Handbook
  A comprehensive guide to Department of Music policies, procedures, and deadlines.
• Current Undergraduate Students Page
  Access advising forms, checklists, and links to academic support services.

Undergraduate Policies

For undergraduate policies and procedures, please review the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.

Program Requirements

Students seeking to complete this major and degree program must meet the general requirements for bachelor's degrees and the Unified General Education Requirements. Students completing this program as a secondary major while completing another undergraduate degree program do not need to satisfy the school-specific requirements associated with this major.

The Music BA program requires that 42–50 of the total 120 credit units necessary for the degree be devoted to music study, with the remaining credits devoted to Unified General Education Requirements (UGER), a possible minor or additional major program, and a liberal selection of elective courses. 

Music requirements include applied lessons, recital class, and jury exams on a primary performance medium; participation in ensembles; courses in music theory and music history & culture; and upper-level electives in music history & culture/analysis/education/technology. 

a

Private instruction on primary instrument in sequence is required. Private instruction on secondary instrument (MUAP 131, 1-2 credits per registration) is optional.

b

The faculty may place you in an alternate primary ensemble in certain semesters (see the Undergraduate Music Handbook). The two additional semesters may be any combination of primary ensembles or one or more additional ensembles.

c

Woodwind & Brass Chamber Music or studio classes in flute, guitar, horn or saxophone.

d

Music majors must take 6 credit hours of elective courses from the electives listed below.

Electives (Music Major)

Capstone for Music Majors and Departmental Honors

The Music Capstone is focused on a major project, such as a senior thesis or senior recital with supporting document. A project must have a substantial writing component and must include a public presentation. For recitalists, this requirement is satisfied by the recital. The written component should represent an original argument, beyond the scope of a typical term paper. In MUHI 395A, offered for 2.00 credit units in the fall, students will begin research and complete a formal Capstone Prospectus consisting of a 5 – 6 page proposal followed by a detailed outline and annotated bibliography. In MUHI 395B, offered for 1.00-4.00 credit units in the spring, students will complete the written component of the project and deliver a public presentation. Students are urged to complete the department seminar and as many music history electives as possible before embarking upon a Capstone project, which represents the culmination and synthesis of the totality of previous undergraduate study. 

Double majors and dual degree candidates may opt to take the Capstone in a department other than music. All other music majors must do a Capstone in music or another program of interest to which they are accepted. Students must take the 2-semester sequence in order (strictly enforced), usually in the senior year.

Music majors who maintain a GPA of 3.75 or above in the major, and who complete an ambitious and outstanding Music Capstone project, can earn Departmental Honors by music faculty nomination and vote. This distinction appears on the transcript, is announced at commencement, and is printed in the commencement program.

More information about registration, applied instruction, document length, and public presentation can be found on the Department of Music Capstone for Music Majors webpage.