The Bachelor of Arts in Music is intended for students who wish to pursue the study of music in a liberal arts and interdisciplinary framework. We offer two emphases within the B.A. Music program: Music and Culture emphasis and Music Industry Studies emphasis. Students choose one or the other emphasis to pursue.
Music and Culture Emphasis:
The Music and Culture emphasis prepares students for graduate study in musicology, ethnomusicology, arts administration, or music theory and serves students who want a broad intellectual program concurrent with specialized study.
Music Industry Studies Emphasis:
The Music Industry Studies emphasis prepares students for careers in the music industry including producing, distributing, managing, and promoting music; artist management; arts administration; music recording and production; and music supervision. The program includes frequent lectures and workshops with prominent national and global music industry professionals, with particular focus on the Los Angeles area.
The B.A. in Music, Music Industry Studies emphasis includes tracks in Business and Arts Administration, Recording and Producing, and Media Music (film, television, streaming, video games). Although not a film composition degree, if combined with a B.M. in Composition, the B.A. Music, Music Industry Studies emphasis will prepare composers for a career in the industry.
Both Emphases:
All bachelor of arts degrees require students to take a minimum of 60 credits outside of the major or discipline of the major. For the B.A. Music, this means 60 credits from non-music courses. Music courses, even if they are not required for the B.A. in Music degree, do not fulfill this requirement. Students are recommended to take non-music courses that complement the students’ interests. For the Music and Culture emphasis this could included general history, literature, philosophy, languages, anthropology, business, film studies, etc. For the Music Industry Studies emphasis this could include business and marketing, film studies and production, or sound design.
General education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Music, Music and Culture Emphasis
Students may take any language to satisfy the GE language requirement, except Ancient Greek and ASL.
Additional degree information
Specific transfer requirements, proficiency requirements, applied music policies, minimum grade policy, retake course policy, are listed at General Information for all Music Programs . Requirements for lessons and studio classes are listed at Applied Music Courses .
The two B.A. Music emphases may not be combined.
The B.A. Music, Music and Culture emphasis, cannot be combined as a double major with any of the B.M. degrees or with minors in Film Music, General Music, or Music Technology, but may be combined with the Music Business minor.
The B.A. Music, Music Industry Studies emphasis, may be combined with any Chapman University undergraduate degree, including the Bachelor of Music degrees. The B.A. Music, Music Industry Studies Emphasis may not be combined with any of the four music minor programs.
Program Learning Outcomes for B.A. in Music
Students pursuing the B.A. Music, Music and Culture Emphasis are required to:
- Demonstrate the following proficiency requirements:
Sight Singing Proficiency Requirement (if voice is primary instrument).
Piano Proficiency Requirement.
- Take jury exams at the end of each semester of applied lessons.
- Earn an overall GPA of 2.000 for all required major courses.
- Complete all courses in the major, including applied lessons, for a letter grade. The only exceptions are in information literacy classes, recitals, and studio classes (if taken).
- Pass courses with a minimum grade of “C” in all required courses in music theory, music history, music cultures, and in MUS 496A , and MUS 496B .
- Complete a minimum of 23 credits from upper division courses in the major. A minimum of 5 upper-division credits taken from piano, large ensemble, or individual instruction courses.
- Complete the senior capstone requirements MUS 496A and MUS 496B.
Students pursuing the B.A. Music, Music Industry Studies Emphasis, are required to:
- Take jury exams at the end of each semester of applied lessons.
- Complete all courses in the major, including applied lessons, for a letter grade. The only exceptions are in information literacy classes, recitals and studio classes (if taken), internships and COM 308 (if taken).
- Pass courses with a minimum grade of “C” in all required courses in music theory, music history, and MUS 496A .
- Complete the senior capstone requirement MUS 496A .
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