Music majors have an opportunity to study music and liberal arts with an optional minor, available in most academic areas of the university, or as a dual degree program with a major in another field. Students can also select the Kent Campus Jazz Studies concentration or the Stark Campus-only concentration in Contemporary Popular Music. Although not as music intensive as the Bachelor of Music degree programs, this degree includes study on a main instrument and ensemble participation throughout the program.
Explore Music Degrees at Kent State
Intensive and comprehensive undergraduate music degrees to help you achieve your professional goals.
All programs are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
This professional degree provides intensive specialization in one of the following areas: music composition, music education, and instrumental, piano or vocal performance. The primary emphasis is on the development of the skills, concepts and sensitivity essential for those wishing to pursue music as a profession.
Instrumental Performance Concentration
This degree is available on the following instruments:
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Strings: violin, viola, cello, double bass
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Woodwinds: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone
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Brass: trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba
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Percussion
The instrumental concentration leads to a professional degree and includes intensive specialization in instrumental performance. Students will be prepared for graduate music study, providing private instruction, and the ability to perform as a soloist, in chamber music and in large ensembles.
Composition Concentration
This degree program leads to a professional degree and includes intensive specialization in music composition. Students will be prepared for graduate music study, providing private instruction, and the ability to compose and use technology in a variety of musical styles
Piano Performance Concentration
This program leads to a professional degree and includes intensive specialization in piano performance. Students who complete this concentration will be prepared for graduate music study, providing private instruction, and the ability to perform as a soloist, as an accompanist, in chamber music and in large ensembles.
Voice Performance Concentration
The program leads to a professional degree and includes intensive specialization in voice performance. Students who complete this concentration will be prepared for graduate music study, providing private instruction, and the ability to perform as a soloist, in opera, in chamber music and in large ensembles.
Regarded as one of the most forward-looking curricula in the country, this program includes studies in jazz, folk, musical theatre and world music, while providing a strong grounding in Western art music. Students are prepared for Ohio licensure, recognized in most states, to teach music in grades K–12 in choral, general and instrumental music. While students receive training in all areas, they choose to specialize in either instrumental music or choral/general music.
Explore the B.M. in Music Education in the University Catalog
AVAILABLE ONLY AT THE KENT STATE UNIVERSITY STARK CAMPUS.
This degree concentrates on courses in music production and audio recording using industry-standard technology. Students take classes and work in five on-campus recording and music production facilities, as well as at Kopperhead recording studio in North Canton. The development of strong musicianship is also an important aspect of the curriculum. Students are required to study instrumental or vocal performance, music theory, and music history, including world music, to provide a well-rounded education in preparation for successful careers in the music industry.
The program is enhanced by educational partnerships with leading music software companies including McDSP, maker of professional grade audio plug-ins, and Rational Acoustics, maker of the industry-standard Smaart® software for real-time sound measurement in acoustic applications.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MUSIC TECHNOLOGY, PLEASE CONTACT:
Cindy Deng
Admissions Counselor
cdeng@kent.edu | 330-244-3238
Kent State Kent Campus minors
Music Minor
Available at both the Kent and Stark Campuses.
The music minor on voice or selected instruments is available to students in other fields who desire private instruction in addition to ensemble participation. Acceptance into this program is determined by an audition.
Jazz Studies Minor
Available exclusively at the Kent Campus.
The jazz studies minor is available to students in other fields and to music majors. Acceptance into this program is determined by an audition.
World Music Minor
Available at both the Kent and Stark Campuses.
The world music minor program provides concentrated study of traditional and popular world music (style, performance, history, cultural associations and related arts). Students of any major can pursue this minor as part of their degree program. An audition is not required.
Arts Entrepreneurship Minor
Offered on the Kent Campus by the College of the Arts.
Arts Entrepreneurship is a mindset, a creative way of looking at opportunities, a passion, doing what one loves, a challenge, persistence and operating a business whether one owns it or not. The Arts Entrepreneurship interdisciplinary minor exposes students to that mindset and develops skills that can be applied to creating a new arts enterprise or developing opportunities for the individual artist.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND KENT CAMPUS MINORS, PLEASE CONTACT:
Kyle Lovell
College of the Arts Academic Advisor
330-672-0083 | klovell1@kent.edu
Schedule an appointment
Kent State Stark campus Exclusive minors
Music Technology Minor
The music technology minor at Kent State Stark is designed to give students a strong foundation in the rapidly developing field of music production and audio recording technologies.
Audio Recording Minor
The audio recording minor at Kent State Stark is designed to give students a strong foundation in the rapidly developing field of audio recording technologies.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STARK CAMPUS MINORS, PLEASE CONTACT:
Cindy Deng
Admissions Counselor
cdeng@kent.edu | 330-244-3238
For audition and admission information
Eric Black
Recruitment Coordinator
musicadmissions@kent.edu | 330-672-9239
For questions about Scholarships, course offerings & transfer credits
Dana Brown
Undergraduate Studies Coordinator & Class Piano
dabrown@kent.edu | 330-672-9236
For questions regarding graduate studies and assistantships
Andrew Shahriari
Graduate Studies Coordinator
ashahria@kent.edu | 330-672-2172
For questions concerning Stark Campus offerings (Music Technology)
Keturah Kneuss
Director, Admissions
kkneuss@kent.edu | 330-244-3274
Online Master of Music in Music Education
Jenna Sepúlveda (Bice)
Program Acadmic Advisor
jbice@kent.edu | 330-672-2418
Questions?
Contact Music Admissions
Eric Black, Recruitment Coordinator
musicadmissions@kent.edu | 330-672-9239
