Music — (B.Mus., B.A., B.S.)
Music — (B.A., B.S.)
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in applied music emphasize a broad liberal arts education, with fewer than half of the credits in music and the remainder outside of music. Students who are pursuing majors in two or more fields typically select the B.A. or B.S. major. Auditions on the student's main instrument or voice are required for admission into the Applied Music degree.
The B.A. and the B.S. degrees require additional humanities and social science requirements. Furthermore, the B.A. requires two years of college-level foreign language and the B.S. requires more math or science, an academic minor, an 18 credit area of emphasis or a second major is required.
Bachelor of Music: Business
This degree program prepares students to start their own businesses in music, lead a career in arts management or pursue graduate studies in music business. Students take courses in economics, accounting, statistics and management in addition to extensive studies in music. Auditions on the student's main instrument or voice are required for admission into the Music Business degree.
Bachelor of Music: Composition
Students in this degree strive to reach the highest possible level of achievement in the area of music composition and should also be capable performers on at least one instrument (or voice). A senior composition recital is required. Most graduates from this program go on to master's level studies, either at University of Idaho or at another institution. Auditions on the student's main instrument or voice are required for admission into the Music Composition degree.
Bachelor of Music: Music Education
Most students pursuing this degree seek certification to teach music in public schools. Music education majors must also be capable performers on at least one instrument (or voice) and auditions on the student's main instrument or voice are required for admission into the Music Education degree. Students focus on instrumental music K-12, vocal music K-12 or an instrumental track with some vocal experience. Secondary-school music teachers may with only about 25-40 additional credits per subject area. Off-campus student teaching lasting one semester is the capstone course in this degree. The Teacher Intern Handbook was designed as a resource to help students during their off-campus student teaching experience.
Teacher certification is not required for most college-level teaching jobs or in many private or parochial schools.
View resources for finding K-12 music education job opportunities >>
Bachelor of Music: Performance
Students pursuing this degree strive to reach the highest possible level of achievement in musical performance on keyboard, brass, percussion, woodwinds, strings (including classical guitar) or voice. Auditions on the student's main instrument or voice are required for admission into the Performance degree. Solo recitals are required: a half-hour in the junior year, and a full hour in the senior year. Most graduates from this program go on to master's level studies, either at the U of I or at another institution.