BA (Music)
Bachelor of Arts
Major: Music
Harmonize your talent with your goals.
Combine your passion for music with a flexible program customized around your diverse interests.
A bachelor of arts degree (BA) in music is a broad, general program of study that allows you to explore music as well as other interests and provides flexible options. Build and customize your program across art, humanities, sciences and social sciences.
Through our classical music programs, you can choose a performance route and receive one-on-one instruction from highly skilled faculty, attend guest artist masterclasses and have multiple performance opportunities throughout the year. Areas of concentration include brass, composition, guitar, percussion, piano, strings, voice and woodwinds.
An audition is not required for admission, but is required to take music studio courses. See below for details about the process.
Program: Bachelor of Arts
Major: Music
Degree Length: 4 years
This flexible program allows for more customization when it comes to choosing courses and enables you to build around your diverse interests with fewer required music courses. If you are interested in both arts and science, a BASc (Music) allows for two majors: one in the arts and one in the sciences.
This major includes studying music history and theory courses, and may include applied music instruction in:
Studio courses
Ensemble activity courses
Conducting and composition
Key skills gained
- Instrumental & vocal technique
- Music theory, composition & arranging
- Critical listening & effective communication
Explore careers in
- Performance & composition
- Music education
- Arts leadership & administration
What you need to know as a current student in this program
This general program has fewer required music courses and enables you to build around your diverse interests. You can choose to focus on scholarly and written work without requiring a high level of musical performance skills, although a degree of facility on an instrument is recommended.
There are some must-take courses that provide a great foundation for your major, but you'll have a lot of flexibility in choosing courses that you're interested in. Refer to your Program Planning Guide in your calendar year for the courses to achieve your degree.
- at least 40 courses (120.0 credit hours) with cumulative and graduation grade point averages of at least 2.00;
- 16 required music courses (48.0 credit hours);
- A maximum of 24 courses (72.0 credit hours) may be completed from any one discipline for credit towards the degree;
- at least 15 courses (45.0 credit hours) at the 3000/4000 level;
- 12 courses for Liberal Education Requirements.
Remember that program requirements vary depending on the calendar year, which is usually the year of admission (or readmission) to ULethbridge. Therefore, requirements may differ from year to year even within the same major.
Not sure what calendar year you should be using for your program? Want to change your calendar year?
What is a Program Planning Guide?
A Program Planning Guide (PPG) outlines the courses required to complete your program, along with a sequencing plan. You should keep your Program Planning Guide up to date and refer to it for course registration and general program planning. You can find and download Program Planning Guides below.
Did you know? A minor is a great way to complement your major and have your interests in another subject area recognized on your official transcript. It is an optional component of your degree program that requires a smaller number of courses to complete.
See an Advisor for more information about this.
- Visit Fine Arts Advising to request a program check and confirm you are on track to complete your requirements.
- Review the Convocation page and Graduation Checklist.
- Apply for graduation on the Bridge by the applicable deadline.
Fine Arts Advisors are here to help you along the way!
We understand that your goals may change during your academic journey. The Fine Arts Student Program Services team is here to assist you in selecting courses, exploring your academic options, doing program checks and making sure you have everything you need to graduate from this program.
Additional Resources
See what we're about in Fine Arts!
Interested in this program but have a few more questions? Speak to a human about this program today!
Contact Dr. Nick Sullivan, our Fine Arts Recruitment & Retention Specialist. Nick can answer Fine Arts admissions-related questions, and gives awesome tours of the University Centre for the Arts.