Undergraduate Music Degree Programs
Undergraduate Music Degree Programs
Bachelor of Arts: Composition
The Music Composition program of Columbia College Chicago combines technical training with a practical approach. Techniques learned are immediately applied in assignments that are critiqued in class. Every course in the composition program culminates in a performance of student work by a professional ensemble. The composition curriculum is designed to provide students from diverse composition backgrounds the skills necessary to compose in a variety of genres and idioms.
Students continue their studies with several semesters of private composition lessons and advanced courses such as Counterpoint, Orchestration and Composing for Films. Beyond the mastery of techniques, students are encouraged to express themselves freely, with their own voice.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music requires the completion of 38 credit hours of core courses, 26 credit hours of specialized course work, 14 credit hours of electives and 42 credit hours of liberal arts and sciences classes, totaling 120 credit hours. Download program information sheet.
Bachelor of Music: Composition
The Bachelor of Music degree is the initial professional degree in music. Its primary emphasis is on the development of skills, concepts, and sensitivities essential to professional musicianship.
The first two years of coursework for the Bachelor of Music degree are exactly the same as those for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. When a student reaches between 45 – 60 credit hours, the student may file an application for the Bachelor of Music degree program.
Upon acceptance, subsequent sequencing of classes in Composition, Orchestration, Counterpoint, Analysis, Electronic Music and Conducting deepens and refines the student’s proficiency as a professional musician.
The Bachelor of Music in Composition degree requires the completion of 128 credit hours that include 39 hours of core requirements, 36 hours of specialization courses, 5 credit hours of music electives, and 48 credit hours of general education. Download program information sheet.
Bachelor of Music: Contemporary Urban and Popular Music
Columbia College Music now offers a unique and innovative performance degree in Contemporary, Urban and Popular Music (CUP). This Bachelor of Music program is for instrumentalists, singers and songwriters, and includes courses in Music Technology and Music Business in addition to specialized courses in Music History, Music Theory and Keyboard.
The number of students accepted into the CUP program each year is limited. Acceptance is based on a committee review of a candidate’s application and the quality of his/her audition. Generally, students should apply for the program during their fourth semester, as they near completion of their Music Core studies (see below).
If you are interested in applying and auditioning for the upcoming fall semester, contact CUP program director Gary Yerkins at CUPBM@colum.edu to discuss the program details or to set up an advising appointment and audition. Download program information sheet.
Bachelor of Arts: Instrumental Performance
Instrumental Performance studies emphasize professional training with a foundation in liberal arts and sciences. Students take both required courses and electives. Practical procedures such as working on stage, solo techniques and ensemble techniques are emphasized. Qualified students are encouraged to audition for performances in Chicago’s professional music community.
The Bachelor of Arts degree emphasizes popular forms of jazz, rock, blues, and music for theater, providing students with a firm foundation in instrumental performance. Faculty advisors guide students in choosing courses and ensembles appropriate to each performer's goals. Studies are structured to attain the highest performance level according to each student's needs and abilities.
Instrumental Performance studies in the Music Department of Columbia College Chicago include classes specific to your emphasis, general education courses and private instruction in contemporary music of many genres.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music requires the completion of 38 credit hours of core courses, 26 credit hours of specialized course work, 14 credit hours of electives, and 42 credit hours of liberal arts and sciences classes, totaling 120 credit hours. Download program information sheet.
Bachelor of Arts: Jazz Studies
The Jazz Studies program is a comprehensive study of jazz from academic and performance perspectives. It offers a strong foundation in improvisation, jazz history, theory, composition and arranging, and ensemble performance.
The Jazz Studies program includes instrumental performance and vocal performance. The program focuses on three areas:
All jazz students study privately with applied instructors for either instrumental jazz performance or vocal jazz performance.
Jazz ensembles perform music that encompasses virtually all styles and eras of jazz: classic repertory, contemporary, and new and exploratory styles. Auditions for jazz ensembles are held at the beginning of each semester.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music requires the completion of 40 credit hours of core courses, 23 credit hours of specialized course work, 15 credit hours of electives and 42 credit hours of liberal arts and sciences classes, totaling 120 credit hours. Download instrumental and vocal program information sheet.
Bachelor of Arts: Vocal Performance
Vocal Performance studies emphasize professional training with a foundation in liberal arts and sciences. Students take both required courses and electives. Practical procedures such as working on stage, solo techniques and ensemble techniques are emphasized. Qualified students are encouraged to audition for performances in Chicago’s professional music community.
The Bachelor of Arts degree emphasizes popular forms of jazz, rock, blues, and music for theater, providing students with a firm foundation in vocal performance. Faculty advisors guide students in choosing courses and ensembles appropriate to each performer's goals. Studies are structured to attain the highest performance level according to each student's needs and abilities.
Vocal Performance studies in the Music Department of Columbia College Chicago include classes specific to your emphasis, general education courses and private instruction in classical or contemporary music of many genres.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music requires the completion of 38 credit hours of core courses, 26credit hours of specialized course work, 14 credit hours of electives and 42 credit hours of liberal arts and sciences classes, totaling 120 credit hours. Download program information sheet.
Music Department Course Catalog:
Music Department Course Catalog
The Music Composition program of Columbia College Chicago combines technical training with a practical approach. Techniques learned are immediately applied in assignments that are critiqued in class. Every course in the composition program culminates in a performance of student work by a professional ensemble. The composition curriculum is designed to provide students from diverse composition backgrounds the skills necessary to compose in a variety of genres and idioms.
- Composition I focuses on melodic writing based on a vocal model, tonal harmony and short forms.
- Composition II continues this direction and adds chromatic harmony and counterpoint.
- Composition III adds extended tonality, modern techniques, orchestration and forms composed for large ensembles.
Students continue their studies with several semesters of private composition lessons and advanced courses such as Counterpoint, Orchestration and Composing for Films. Beyond the mastery of techniques, students are encouraged to express themselves freely, with their own voice.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music requires the completion of 38 credit hours of core courses, 26 credit hours of specialized course work, 14 credit hours of electives and 42 credit hours of liberal arts and sciences classes, totaling 120 credit hours. Download program information sheet.
Bachelor of Music: Composition
The Bachelor of Music degree is the initial professional degree in music. Its primary emphasis is on the development of skills, concepts, and sensitivities essential to professional musicianship.
The first two years of coursework for the Bachelor of Music degree are exactly the same as those for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. When a student reaches between 45 – 60 credit hours, the student may file an application for the Bachelor of Music degree program.
Upon acceptance, subsequent sequencing of classes in Composition, Orchestration, Counterpoint, Analysis, Electronic Music and Conducting deepens and refines the student’s proficiency as a professional musician.
The Bachelor of Music in Composition degree requires the completion of 128 credit hours that include 39 hours of core requirements, 36 hours of specialization courses, 5 credit hours of music electives, and 48 credit hours of general education. Download program information sheet.
Bachelor of Music: Contemporary Urban and Popular Music
Columbia College Music now offers a unique and innovative performance degree in Contemporary, Urban and Popular Music (CUP). This Bachelor of Music program is for instrumentalists, singers and songwriters, and includes courses in Music Technology and Music Business in addition to specialized courses in Music History, Music Theory and Keyboard.
The number of students accepted into the CUP program each year is limited. Acceptance is based on a committee review of a candidate’s application and the quality of his/her audition. Generally, students should apply for the program during their fourth semester, as they near completion of their Music Core studies (see below).
If you are interested in applying and auditioning for the upcoming fall semester, contact CUP program director Gary Yerkins at CUPBM@colum.edu to discuss the program details or to set up an advising appointment and audition. Download program information sheet.
Bachelor of Arts: Instrumental Performance
Instrumental Performance studies emphasize professional training with a foundation in liberal arts and sciences. Students take both required courses and electives. Practical procedures such as working on stage, solo techniques and ensemble techniques are emphasized. Qualified students are encouraged to audition for performances in Chicago’s professional music community.
The Bachelor of Arts degree emphasizes popular forms of jazz, rock, blues, and music for theater, providing students with a firm foundation in instrumental performance. Faculty advisors guide students in choosing courses and ensembles appropriate to each performer's goals. Studies are structured to attain the highest performance level according to each student's needs and abilities.
Instrumental Performance studies in the Music Department of Columbia College Chicago include classes specific to your emphasis, general education courses and private instruction in contemporary music of many genres.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music requires the completion of 38 credit hours of core courses, 26 credit hours of specialized course work, 14 credit hours of electives, and 42 credit hours of liberal arts and sciences classes, totaling 120 credit hours. Download program information sheet.
Bachelor of Arts: Jazz Studies
The Jazz Studies program is a comprehensive study of jazz from academic and performance perspectives. It offers a strong foundation in improvisation, jazz history, theory, composition and arranging, and ensemble performance.
The Jazz Studies program includes instrumental performance and vocal performance. The program focuses on three areas:
- Individual achievement fostered by private lessons with classroom instruction by accomplished jazz musicians
- Performance with chamber jazz or small combos and
- Performance with larger jazz ensembles and orchestras.
All jazz students study privately with applied instructors for either instrumental jazz performance or vocal jazz performance.
Jazz ensembles perform music that encompasses virtually all styles and eras of jazz: classic repertory, contemporary, and new and exploratory styles. Auditions for jazz ensembles are held at the beginning of each semester.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music requires the completion of 40 credit hours of core courses, 23 credit hours of specialized course work, 15 credit hours of electives and 42 credit hours of liberal arts and sciences classes, totaling 120 credit hours. Download instrumental and vocal program information sheet.
Bachelor of Arts: Vocal Performance
Vocal Performance studies emphasize professional training with a foundation in liberal arts and sciences. Students take both required courses and electives. Practical procedures such as working on stage, solo techniques and ensemble techniques are emphasized. Qualified students are encouraged to audition for performances in Chicago’s professional music community.
The Bachelor of Arts degree emphasizes popular forms of jazz, rock, blues, and music for theater, providing students with a firm foundation in vocal performance. Faculty advisors guide students in choosing courses and ensembles appropriate to each performer's goals. Studies are structured to attain the highest performance level according to each student's needs and abilities.
Vocal Performance studies in the Music Department of Columbia College Chicago include classes specific to your emphasis, general education courses and private instruction in classical or contemporary music of many genres.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music requires the completion of 38 credit hours of core courses, 26credit hours of specialized course work, 14 credit hours of electives and 42 credit hours of liberal arts and sciences classes, totaling 120 credit hours. Download program information sheet.
Music Department Course Catalog:
Music Department Course Catalog