Music Major, B.A.

MSU Denver’s Bachelor of Arts degrees offer vigorous study of music alongside a strong liberal arts education, equipping students with versatile skills that are highly valued in the broad spectrum of music-related careers. Extended B.A. degrees with options in Music Theory, Musicology and Ethnomusicology, and Songwriting and Music Production provide a more focused set of courses to choose from.

Music at MSU Denver offers extensive performance opportunities with over 20 ensembles, studio instruction, and access to over 200 concerts and events per year including masterclasses with visiting artists, competitions, and music festivals.

Music Concentration

A Bachelor of Arts degree in Music is less intensive than a Bachelor of Music degree and provides space in your course schedule to broaden your academic pursuits according to your personal goals or interests. Past B.A. Music students have minored in business, marketing, graphic design, or journalism to hone their skills for desired careers in the music industry or arts administration.

Music Theory Concentration (Extended BA)

If music theory is your passion, the Bachelor of Arts extended degree in Music Theory trains you in classical and jazz music theory, composition, arranging, and orchestration.

Musicology and Ethnomusicology Concentration (Extended BA)

What makes music integral to the human experience? The thriving fields of musicology and ethnomusicology dive into the history and significance of music across the globe and examine its evolving social and cultural contexts. The Extended BA in Musicology and Ethnomusicology offers a broad selection of course options from music, anthropology, history, sociology and more, allowing you to customize your degree to suit your particular field of interest.

Songwriting and Music Production Concentration (Extended BA)

If you’re full of musical creativity and looking for the tools to develop your passion, look no further. Our Extended BA in Songwriting and Music Production will teach you the skills, techniques, and technology to bring your music to life. Whether you are drawn to hip-hop, pop, jazz, folk, electronic music, improvisational odysseys, or scoring for film and multimedia, this customizable degree has a path for you.

The Department of Music at MSU Denver boasts state-of-the-art performance venues and a faculty of innovative musicians, scholars, and composers. Our modern curriculum flows through classical, jazz, commercial, and global music to help you navigate the broad range of career opportunities that exist for the 21st-century musician.

MSU Denver’s music faculty are among the finest performers and educators in the nation, committed to building a familial atmosphere for students and bringing a passion for music education that will ignite your creativity and inspire you to think about music in innovative ways.

With a B.A. degree in Music, you’ll have myriad opportunities for music-related jobs, which can be further expanded by a minor field of study.

Graduates of MSU Denver’s Bachelor of Arts in Music program have launched careers as choir and church music directors, private-instruction business owners, recording studio managers, and educators in schools and universities. B.A. Music alumni have been accepted for postgraduate study at the University of Colorado Denver, Regis University, and other institutions.

The Department of Music at MSU Denver is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music.