What you will study
When you major in Music at the University of Central Missouri, you’ll study music
history, music theory and aural training, music technology, composition and improvisation.
In addition to these core curriculum classes, students majoring in Music take private
lessons and enjoy many opportunities to perform in our ensembles.
Depending on your interests and career goals, you can focus on study areas such as
music composition, music history or theory or music technology. Some of the undergraduate
courses you could take while you major in Music at UCM include:
- Music of the World’s Cultures
- Fundamentals of Music Technology (Hardware, Software)
- Jazz Improvisation
- Early Music
Since all undergraduate students complete at least two semesters in a foreign language
of their choice, your BA in Music degree can open doors to a more global approach
to a career in music.
Excellence in Music
- The University of Central Missouri has been accredited by the National Association
of Schools of Music (NASM) since 1947.
- UCM is one of the largest music schools in the state of Missouri, with 19 full-time
and 12 adjunct faculty and about 200 Music majors.
- UCM owns the Essig Instrument Collection, one of the country’s larger collections
of historical instruments. Artifacts are displayed in the Utt Music Building.
- UCM was one of the first universities in Missouri to be designated an All-Steinway
School. It is also a Conn-Selmer school, with a large collection of high-quality instruments
from the premier company.
- Top 15%: Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Music (College Factual, 2022)
- One of the Most Focused Colleges for General Music (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 8%: Most Popular Colleges for General Music (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 15%: Popular Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Music (College Factual, 2022)
Unique learning opportunities in music
One-on-one advising sessions with your faculty advisor and real-world experiences
will help you forge a clear career pathway with your undergraduate Music degree:
- Flexible electives: Students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Music benefit from a liberal arts approach
to their college education. The flexibility of pursuing a BA in Music degree allows
you to connect a broad range of fields while majoring in Music. You may, for example,
add a minor or double-major in Anthropology, Business, Psychology or Biology, among others.
- Capstone project: Design your own capstone project with faculty guidance. Past special projects have
included creating a portfolio of compositions, recording an album of music tracks,
conducting an in-depth historical research study, performing a lecture recital and
creating advanced work in music technology and audio production.
- UCM ensembles and student organizations: A wide range of music ensembles is available to students who major in Music. You can
also join UCM student chapters of music sororities and fraternities, nationally recognized
music associations for educators, the international Audio Engineering Society and
other vibrant on-campus organizations. You’ll gain real-world experience in composing,
recording and performing music, and join music-oriented professional networks.
What can you do with a Music degree from UCM?
The advantage of UCM’s Bachelor of Arts in Music degree is its flexibility, which
lays a broad creative foundation for pursuing a music career.
Students majoring in Music may choose to become researchers who study cultures around
the world and use technology tools to record musical instruments and customs. If you
want to be a songwriter, a Music major coupled with courses in creative writing or
theatre could lead to a career as a lyricist or music director. If you take electives
in business or sound design, you might work for a company that creates commercial
advertising or tours with Broadway plays. You could combine your love of music with
a career in video game development or film production as a music soundtrack composer
or producer. The career possibilities after majoring in Music are seemingly endless.
Wide-ranging career paths for BA degrees in Music
Use the interactive tool below to learn more about the potential salaries and career
pathways available when you earn a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from UCM.
Financial assistance options for your undergraduate Music degree
The University of Central Missouri has a variety of resources to help finance your college education and keep your college costs and student debt low.
Beyond general university awards and scholarships, UCM offers numerous scholarships
for students earning degrees in Music, including:
- Music Merit scholarships
- More than 50 endowed scholarships managed by the UCM Foundation
- Music Service awards
You can learn more about program-specific scholarships using the UCM Scholarship Finder.
UCM Service awards
Students earning degrees in Music may also qualify for UCM Service awards. These awards
recognize students playing in the Service Jazz Combo, the String Quartet or the Marching
Mules, as well as those who tutor other music students or provide other music services
to the university.
Perform in UCM Concerts
150+ annual performances
Audition to perform with Music majors and non-majors alike while gaining invaluable
performing and recording experience. Options include the Concert Choir, the Wind Ensemble,
the Jazz Ensemble, the Marching Mules and the Symphonic Band. You can also join an
ensemble of technology-based or percussion instruments, a guitar ensemble or one of
our jazz combos.
Meet Shelby R.
BA Music ’20
“I absolutely love being a part of UCM Music. Between having incredible faculty, diverse
course options and multi-interest student organizations to join, it is hard NOT to
find your place here! Choosing UCM Music was one of the best choices I’ve made for
my future.”
Meet Our Faculty
Music industry professionals, researchers and leaders
UCM faculty are renowned composers, arrangers, producers, performers, recording artists
and audio engineers. Many have ongoing research projects and present their work at
international conferences. Their broad-based interests in music and related fields
offer Music majors access to a diverse network of professionals for learning and career
opportunities.
Read Our Bios
Ample Performance, Rehearsal and Practice Space
UCM facilities include state-of-the-art equipment
Learn in real-world settings. As part of a major renovation, our practice rooms now
have sound-isolating doors and acoustic treatment. Our studio equipment is the same
as that of professional recording studios. Hart Recital Hall and Hendricks Hall are
multi-purposed for performances, recording sessions and our Ovation Performance Series.
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