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The Bachelor of Musical Arts degree (B.M.A.) is an interdisciplinary music degree which requires students to develop a secondary area of emphasis outside of music. Students personally design these interdisciplinary liberal arts components through a process of individual advising with faculty members. The program culminates in a capstone experience relating studies in music to the secondary area of emphasis. As with the B.M. degree, students complete a rigorous core curriculum in theory, musicianship, music history and literature.

Three tracks are available. For the general music emphasis, students individually design an interdisciplinary liberal arts component. The second major curriculum combines the general music emphasis with another major in a liberal arts discipline. (A minimum GPA of 2.8 is required to complete the second major.) For the emphasis in business, the liberal arts curriculum combines core and career-related elective courses. Students will complete approximately half of their courses in music and half of their courses in liberal arts.

The B.M.A. degree provides an education that is more general than the B.M. degree while still emphasizing music. This degree differs from the B.A. degree in that it generally requires more music theory and history classes. The B.M.A. effectively prepares students for graduate study in music.

Students pursuing the interdisciplinary B.M.A. degree fulfill the capstone requirement by satisfactorily completing MUS 450, Senior Seminar.  Students discuss a common set of readings designed to help synthesize their diverse experiences in music and complete a major research project on an approved topic, which consists of a written thesis and oral presentation.

Completion of the B.M.A. degree requires a total of 36 course credits, including ensembles and lessons.

Requirements for the Class of 2028 and Beyond

Requirements for the Class of 2026 and 2027

Requirements for Class of 2025 and Earlier