Degree Program Options

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Why choose music? The reason for most music majors is PASSION. Music has been a powerful part of our past and we want to share this extraordinary experience with others. Music education, music performance, and music therapy are the most common professional careers in music, but those alone don't cover the careers music majors pursue once they graduate. At EMU, we have many ways to help you realize your dream of a music career. Below you can learn about the flexibility of EMU Music Degrees and which degree best fits your passion.

We have three professional music degrees:

  • Music Education
  • Music Performance
  • Music Therapy

Students in these degree tracks have clear degree programs that are available to them. However, the most flexible program we offer is the Bachelor of Arts in Music. If you find that your interest lies outside one of the three professional music degrees, you should consider this liberal arts degree.

  • What can one do with a music degree? Expand dropdown

    Acoustician

    Arranger

    Artist manager

    Artistic director

    Arts administrator/arts manager (box office, concert series, programming house manager)

    Audio producer, editor

    Collaborative pianist in public and private schools, music schools and performing arts camps, religious centers and schools; dance rehearsals and performances; other venues.

    Community music school director

    Composer

    Concert manager, promoter

    Conductor (band, choir & orchestras: K-12, college, community, youth, domestic/international)

    Copyist, transcriber

    Copyright consultant

    Cruise ship entertainer

    Educator (K-12, college, university, conservatory, religious organizations, private studio)

    Electronic production and design (audio engineering, mastering, mixing, music directing, producing, program directing, programming, recording engineer, studio manager, MIDI technician)

    Entrepreneur

    Entertainment lawyer, music business lawyer

    Ethnomusicologist

    Event producer (management, planning, technology)

    Film scorer (Composing, editing, supervising, arranging/adapting, mixing, conducting, orchestrating, synthesis specialist, theme specialist)

    Fundraiser, grant writer

    Historian

    Instrument builder, designer

    Instrument company or music store (owner, manager, sales)

    Lecturer (schools, media, cruise ships, community)

    Librarian

    Lyricist

    Marketer

    Media developer

    Military bands member

    Music online and print magazine

     

    Music school administrator

    Music supervisor

    Music therapist

    Music instrument repair and tuning

    Musical theatre

    Musicologist

    Orchestral contractor

    Performer (vocal or instrumental soloist, chamber musician, session musician, orchestra/band/group member, background vocalist or instrumentalist, performing artist, show band. Venues may include business meetings, conferences, cruise ships, weddings, hotels, restaurants, clubs, religious events.)

    Personnel Manager (orchestras, arts organizations, shows, events)

    Piano tuner, mover

    Pit orchestra musician

    Public relations agent or coordinator

    Radio – programming, research, management

    Recruiter for a talent agency or  university

    Religious music – sacred music

    Session musician

    Set Designer 

    Songwriter (including composer, lyricist, producer; jingle writing for television, radio, and internet; freelance work; librettist)

    Sound technician (sound engineer)

    Stage/Operations Manager

    Summer camp music director/staff

    Talent representation (booking, management)

    Talent scout

    Tours/road work (road manager, sound technician, tour coordinator, tour publicist)

    Vocal coach

    Wellness (injury prevention and intervention)

     

  • How can EMU help me reach my musical goals outside of Music Education, Music Performance & Music Therapy? Expand dropdown

    A Bachelor of Arts in Music with a minor in another area is an excellent way to cultivate important skills and prepare yourself for a fulfilling career in the arts. If you choose the BA degree option, you will select a minor in another area. We believe a broad music education is the most thorough way for you to become a flexible 21st-century musician outside of the three professional degree offerings. Below is a list of several possibilities that are popular at Eastern. Your Music Advisor will have a pre-organized plan for your studies in each of these areas. The degree paths below will prepare you for a future that incorporates your musical passion and represent only a few of the potential possibilities.

  • Can I double major in music? Expand dropdown

    Yes! This is common.

    Through this process, you will be able to pursue all of your passions fully.  It is more common for a student to pursue a BA Music or the Music Performance degree simultaneously with other non-music degrees without adding extra time or complexity. 

    While it is difficult to double major in Music Education and Music Therapy due to the certification requirements, it is not impossible.  We have had recent students pursue these possibilities. This can result in additional semesters of study, but for those who have divided passions it is possible.

  • Can I double major in Music Education and Music Performance? Expand dropdown

    Yes! It is possible to pursue these two music degrees (bachelor of music education & bachelor of music) simultaneously. It is a "double major" in the same way a business student might also pursue an economics degree. Education and Performance are often equally desired by incoming music students. Students must audition for and be accepted into both programs. Once acceptance has been achieved, please see The School of Music & Dance advisor to explore the coursework pathway.

  • What do I do if I am unsure what degree to pursue? Expand dropdown

    If you are considering a Music degree but are unsure which path to follow, you are not alone. Many incoming music students have a passion for music and a desire to continue in their future, without a clear picture of which area to pursue. If this is true for you, we recommend auditioning for the Bachelor of Arts degree. This will allow you to gain admission into the School of Music & Dance and start your academic studies in music. In your first few years, you will discuss options with faculty, student mentors, and friends to determine the best path for your studies and career.

  • Is it true that medical schools and law schools look for students with music degrees? Expand dropdown

    Many medical and law professionals attribute their success to studying music and many still continue to make music part of their lives today. Students who study music learn a number of skillsets that are directly applicable to medicine and law including dedication, tenacity, focus, effective communication, compassion, and great attention to detail. These are all areas where music students thrive. A double major in music and another field is an excellent way to keep your musical passion alive and strengthen your auxiliary skills while you pursue other avenues for your career.

  • Is there an honors track for music students? Expand dropdown

    Absolutely!  We have music students from all degree paths involved with the EMU Honors College. The Honors College is home to many intellectually talented and motivated students and provides the intimacy of a small, liberal arts education within a large, comprehensive university. Honors students are offered educational and cultural experiences through challenging courses and extra-curricular activities that encourage scholarly curiosity, leadership, civic engagement, and diversity. The Honors College provides undergraduate students opportunities for a wide range of experiences that aid in developing student’s appreciation for creativity, the arts, sciences, critical issues facing contemporary society, and diversity among people and their cultures.

  • Is there a Music Theatre Degree at EMU? Expand dropdown

    Yes!

    The Musical Theater degree is housed in the Department of Communication, Media & Theatre Arts. There is both a music theatre major and minor specifically designed for music major students who are interested in keeping musical theatre a big part of their future. In the School of Music & Dance students can study musical theatre alongside operatic scenes in the Opera Workshop course. There are many ways in which music students learn on the stage. Music students are often cast in the Theatre Arts productions.

*Entrepreneurial skills, technology skills, and business skills like marketing are useful in every music degree. Students are encouraged to consider these areas when selecting electives.