Music (Music and Culture), BA
Discover how music shapes cultures and connects communities. Explore the traditions, sounds and stories that link people across the world and reveal what music means to us.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
The National Association of Schools of Music accredits Arizona State U...
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Music (Music and Culture) degree description
The Bachelor of Arts program in music with a concentration in music and culture is a broadly based liberal arts program offering the most elective flexibility of any ASU music major.
You develop artistic and research skills by performing, composing and writing about music of all genres, including the classical and popular music of Western Europe and the United States, and a variety of forms and genres from the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Africa.
You may also focus on concepts across diverse cultures and styles, such as theories and practices of listening, acoustics, advocacy of wellness through music, ecomusicology, dance as musical embodiment, and teaching about music. You explore music as a cultural artifact, through the lenses of human history and social behaviors, and engage in interdisciplinary thinking and academic research and writing. You may tailor both the general studies courses and the music electives to suit your career goals. The program supports you in your wide-ranging explorations, while emphasizing verbal and nonverbal thought and communication skills.
Why specialize in music and culture at ASU?
You gain experience in and out of the classroom, learning from guest artists in residencies, workshops and masterclasses; receiving one-on-one support from diverse faculty who are leaders in their field; networking in career fields; and participating in solo and ensemble performance opportunities.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| MHL 140 Sounds and Cultures |
| MTC 125 Music Theory I |
| MTC 221 Music Theory II |
| MHL 490 Capstone Project I: Undergraduate Thesis Research |
| MHL 491 Capstone Project II: Undergraduate Thesis |
| MHL 499 Individualized Instruction |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Analyze key creative and artistic processes from at least two musical styles and historical periods.
- Analyze specific musical products within the context of new musical fields, cultures, or practices.
- Write research papers applying the conventions of scholarly discourse in music.
Analyze key creative and artistic processes from at least two musical styles and historical periods.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
Important: Applicants must submit an ASU application for undergraduate admission in addition to a separate School of Music, Dance and Theatre application. Admission to the School of Music, Dance and Theatre is based on an audition. Auditions take place in November (spring admission) and in January and February (fall admission) of each year. Admission to the music program is highly selective and based on an audition process. Students are admitted as music audition students and must successfully complete the audition before enrolling in music major courses. Upon admission to both ASU and the School of Music, Dance and Theatre, the applicant's major is changed to music. If a student is admitted to ASU but not to the School of Music, Dance and Theatre or misses the audition deadline, the student remains a music audition major and must successfully pass the music audition milestone in the first semester to gain admission into the program. The audition process for admittance to the music and culture concentration comprises the following: Application Deadlines: Students should review the complete music deadline information. Spring admission: The deadline to apply for admission to this program is October 15. Fall admission: The deadline to apply for admission to this program is January 5.
Transfer admission requirements:
Transfer applicants: Transfer of courses from other accredited institutions is subject to the existence of parallel and equal courses in the college's curriculum and to departmental or school evaluation of studio and class piano courses with respect to performance standards. Every candidate for the bachelor's degree must earn a minimum of 30 hours in resident credit at ASU. Transfer students enrolled in the institute must complete a minimum of 15 resident credit hours in the major as approved by the faculty. Application Deadlines: Students should review the complete music deadline information. Spring admission: The deadline to apply for admission to this program is October 15. Fall admission: The deadline to apply for admission to this program is January 5.
Students who want to change their major to this one should reference the audition requirements listed in the admission requirements section above.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
With more than 300 Global Education program opportunities available to them, music and culture students are able to tailor their experience to their interests and skill sets. Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, students build communication skills, learn to adapt and persevere, and are exposed to research and internships around the world, increasing their professional network.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historian | 3.0% | $76,750 | Learn more |
| Library Media Specialist | 2.6% | $68,270 | Learn more |
| Museum Curator | 4.9% | $63,420 | Learn more |
| Music Producer | 1.2% | $73,710 | Learn more |
| Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners | 1.9% | $46,420 | Learn more |
| Musician/Singer | 0.3% | Not available | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Careers this music and culture concentration prepares you for
Graduates have skills applicable to careers in music and many other fields (e.g., librarianship, arts festival management or production, criticism, audience education, recruitment, artist representation, publishing and development, and creative writing). The program prepares graduates for potential careers in fields that require skilled written communication, the ability to conduct research in both electronic and print media, critical and logical thinking, the dissection of an argument, and careful time management. In addition to the careers listed below, graduates may pursue jobs in music and medical humanities or copyright and entertainment law.
Graduates are prepared to work in various professional capacities, including:
- community and professional ensemble performance in a variety of styles and traditions
- music criticism and research, ethnomusicology and musicology
- music entrepreneurship, concert management and promotion
- music in culture, music blogging
- music librarianship
- music publishing, program annotation
- private studio or community program teaching
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Music, Dance and Theatre
|
MUSIC E167
mdtadmissions@asu.edu
480-965-5069
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
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