Undergraduate Study

Kaley Mason
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Email: krmason@uchicago.edu

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students listen to a lecture in a Music History class.

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in music will study the areas of music history, music theory, ethnomusicology, and composition. Courses explore the theory and analysis of music, harmony and voice leading, topics in music history and popular music, composition and computer music, and music from various regions of the world. Advanced undergraduates can register for certain graduate courses and seminars with consent of the instructor and approval from the director of undergraduate studies.

The Chicago music major requires twelve course credits and participation for at least three quarters in a performance organization approved by the Department of Music. To declare a music major, a student must consult with his/her College advisor and with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Music Department, Prof. Kaley Mason. Please note that Chicago does not offer a B.A. in Music Performance: its extensive Performance Program is all a part of co-curricular life.

While the deadline for declaring a major at Chicago is spring quarter of a student's third year, it is recommended that a student declare a music major at the end of the first or beginning of the second year, as the required sequences of introductory and advanced courses typically take three years to complete. Additionally, many students choose to attain departmental honors status by writing a large-scale B.A. paper or composition; such projects are developed through close relationships with one or more faculty members.

The minor program in music requires seven course credits and participation for at least three quarters in a performance organization approved by the Department of Music. To declare a music minor, students must meet with the director of undergraduate studies before the end of Spring Quarter of the third year.

Music majors from Chicago have been accepted to the finest graduate music programs, including Harvard, Berkeley, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, and Indiana. Many have later secured faculty positions at leading colleges and universities or achieved careers as singers, instrumentalists, and conductors.