Kent State's Bachelor of Arts in Music program provides students with a well-rounded education in music theory, history and performance. With a variety of performance opportunities, experienced faculty and state-of-the-art facilities, this program prepares graduates for careers in music and beyond.

Music - B.A.
Contact Us
College of the Arts
School of Music
www.kent.edu/music
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Undergraduate Studies Coordinator:
Gerrey Noh
hnoh@kent.edu -
Speak with an Advisor
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Chat with an Admissions Counselor:
Kent Campus
Regional Campuses
Bachelor of Arts in Music - B.A.
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 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.
Program Information for Music - B.A.
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Program Description
Program Description
Full Description
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music gives students an opportunity to earn a degree in music that aligns with their future musical and career goals and explore interdisciplinary opportunities by declaring a minor of their choice.
The Music major includes the following optional concentration:
- The Jazz Studies concentration provides students who are focused on jazz the opportunity to take coursework in improvisation, composing and arranging, and fully explore their creativity in music making.
Students in this program are encouraged to craft their major to serve their professional futures. Musicians may pair this major with a minor in areas that include, but are not limited to, media, digital music production, psychology, audiology, entrepreneurship, music technology and more.
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Admissions
for Music - B.A.
Admissions
Admission Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
Admission to this major is selective. Students are required to do a program/scholarship audition. Information regarding audition days and requirements can be found at https://www.kent.edu/music/undergraduate-audition, or inquiries can be sent to musicadmission@kent.edu.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
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Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Work conceptually, aurally and creatively with elements of music such as melody, harmony, form, rhythm and texture.
- Interpret and perform music from a multitude of diverse musical styles, composers and eras through solo, small group and large group performances.
- Apply their musical knowledge/skills in an interdisciplinary fashion with an area/areas of their choice.
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Coursework
On This Page
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C grade required in all courses) MUS 11121 THEORY I 1 4 MUS 11122 THEORY II 4 MUS 17013 FUNDAMENTALS OF JAZZ PIANO 1 or MUS 17112 PIANO CLASS II MUS 17111 PIANO CLASS I 2 1 MUS 21111 THEORY III 4 MUS 21112 THEORY IV 4 MUS 32211 WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY I 3 MUS 32212 WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY II (WIC) 3 3 MUS 38599 RECITAL (ELR) 4 1 or MUS 48598 MUSIC RESEARCH (ELR) Music Elective, choose from the following: 3 MUS 41291SEMINAR IN POST-TONAL AND RECENT MUSIC MUS 41391SEMINAR IN TONAL AND PRE-TONAL MUSIC THEORY MUS 42131MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES MUS 42221SYMPHONIC LITERATURE MUS 42227WIND BAND LITERATURE MUS 42241PIANO LITERATURE MUS 42261VOCAL LITERATURE MUS 42271CHORAL LITERATURE MUS 42291SEMINAR IN MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE MUS 48610SINGER'S DICTION Non-Western and Small Ensemble Electives, choose from the following: 3 MUS 45131KENT STATE OPERA THEATRE WORKSHOP MUS 45151KENT STATE UNIVERSITY GOSPEL CHOIR MUS 45231JAZZ ENSEMBLE MUS 45251PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE MUS 45271NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE MUS 45301AFRICAN ENSEMBLE (DIVG) MUS 45302CARIBBEAN STEELBAND (DIVG) MUS 45311CHAMBER MUSIC MUS 45313NOVA JAZZ SINGERS MUS 45315ASIAN MUSIC ENSEMBLE (DIVG) Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) CA 20005 INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS IN THE ARTS 2 or CA 31300 MUSIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1 Kent Core Composition 6 Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3 Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 9 Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 6 Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) 6-7 Kent Core Additional 6 Minor and Non-Music Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 121 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 5 27 Additional Requirements or Concentration Choose from the following: 23 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120 - 1
Music Theory Placement Test score of 02 is required.
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Placement test required. Students who pass the placement exam will replace MUS 17111 with a 1-credit hour music (MUS) elective.
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A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
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Students must complete six semesters of applied music in their auditioned area before taking MUS 38599 or MUS 48598.
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Students in the B.A Music program are required to declare and complete a minor. The number of credit hours required to complete the minor depends on the minor selected.
Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Additional Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C grade required in all courses) Applied Music Electives, choose from the following: 1 12 MUS 31211COMPOSITION MUS 36111APPLIED MUSIC PIANO MUS 36311APPLIED MUSIC VOICE MUS 36411APPLIED MUSIC VIOLIN MUS 36412APPLIED MUSIC VIOLA MUS 36413APPLIED MUSIC CELLO MUS 36414APPLIED MUSIC DOUBLE BASS MUS 36511APPLIED MUSIC FLUTE MUS 36512APPLIED MUSIC OBOE MUS 36513APPLIED MUSIC CLARINET MUS 36514APPLIED MUSIC BASSOON MUS 36515APPLIED MUSIC SAXOPHONE MUS 36611APPLIED MUSIC TRUMPET MUS 36612APPLIED MUSIC HORN MUS 36613APPLIED MUSIC TROMBONE MUS 36614APPLIED MUSIC EUPHONIUM MUS 36615APPLIED MUSIC TUBA MUS 36711APPLIED MUSIC PERCUSSION MUS 36912APPLIED MUSIC GUITAR Creative Music Elective, choose from the following: 3 MUS 21113MUSIC PRODUCTION I MUS 21213CLASS COMPOSITION I MUS 34111INTRODUCTION TO CONDUCTING MUS 41341JAZZ IMPROVISATION I MUS 41351JAZZ IMPROVISATION II Large Ensemble Electives, choose from the following: 2 8 MUS 45141KENT STATE UNIVERSITY CHORALE MUS 45142CORO CANTARE MUS 45143CANTIQUE MUS 45212ORCHESTRA MUS 45221SYMPHONY BAND MUS 45223WIND ENSEMBLE Minimum Total Credit Hours: 23 - 1
Bachelor of Arts students are restricted to taking 2-credit hour applied music sections, which include a 60-minute group practice and 60-minute private lesson. Students not declaring a concentration will need to take a total of six semesters and 12 credit hours of applied music in the auditioned area. Students must meet the B.A. Applied Music Proficiency Threshold by the end of the sixth semester of applied music.
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Students must enroll in a large ensemble appropriate to their performance area.
Jazz Studies Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C grade required in all courses) MUS 34111 INTRODUCTION TO CONDUCTING 1 MUS 36011 APPLIED MUSIC JAZZ (taken three times) 6 MUS 41341 JAZZ IMPROVISATION I 1 MUS 41342 JAZZ COMPOSING AND ARRANGING 2 MUS 41351 JAZZ IMPROVISATION II 1 MUS 42162 JAZZ STYLES AND ANALYSIS 3 Applied Music Elective, choose from the following: 1 2 MUS 36111APPLIED MUSIC PIANO MUS 36311APPLIED MUSIC VOICE MUS 36411APPLIED MUSIC VIOLIN MUS 36412APPLIED MUSIC VIOLA MUS 36413APPLIED MUSIC CELLO MUS 36414APPLIED MUSIC DOUBLE BASS MUS 36511APPLIED MUSIC FLUTE MUS 36512APPLIED MUSIC OBOE MUS 36513APPLIED MUSIC CLARINET MUS 36514APPLIED MUSIC BASSOON MUS 36515APPLIED MUSIC SAXOPHONE MUS 36611APPLIED MUSIC TRUMPET MUS 36612APPLIED MUSIC HORN MUS 36613APPLIED MUSIC TROMBONE MUS 36614APPLIED MUSIC EUPHONIUM MUS 36615APPLIED MUSIC TUBA MUS 36711APPLIED MUSIC PERCUSSION MUS 36912APPLIED MUSIC GUITAR Ensemble Electives, choose from the following: 7 MUS 45231JAZZ ENSEMBLE MUS 45312JAZZ COMBO DEVELOPMENT MUS 45313NOVA JAZZ SINGERS Minimum Total Credit Hours: 23 - 1
Bachelor of Arts students are restricted to taking 2-credit hour applied music sections, which include a 60-minute group practice and 60-minute private lesson. Students declaring the Jazz Studies concentration must take one semester and 2 credit hours of applied music in the auditioned area during their freshman year.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements Summary Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA 2.250 2.000 - Minimum C grade required in all music (MUS) courses
- Students in the B.A Music program are required to declare and complete a minor. The number of credit hours required to complete the minor depends on the minor selected. Students may select any minor available at Kent State University. However, the following minors are strongly recommended:
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Roadmap
Roadmap
Roadmaps
Music Major (No Concentration)
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Plan of Study Grid Semester One Credits MUS 11121 THEORY I 4 UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1 Applied Music Elective 2 Large Ensemble Elective 1 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 14 Semester Two MUS 11122 THEORY II 4 MUS 17111 PIANO CLASS I 1 Applied Music Elective 2 Large Ensemble Elective 1 Non-Western and Small Ensemble Elective 1 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 15 Semester Three MUS 17013 or MUS 17112FUNDAMENTALS OF JAZZ PIANO or PIANO CLASS II1 MUS 21111 THEORY III 4 Applied Music Elective 2 Large Ensemble Elective 1 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 14 Semester Four MUS 21112 THEORY IV 4 Applied Music Elective 2 Large Ensemble Elective 1 Non-Western and Small Ensemble Elective 1 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Minor or Non-Music Elective 1 Credit Hours 15 Semester Five MUS 32211 WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY I 3 Applied Music Elective 2 Creative Music or Minor Elective 3 Large Ensemble Elective 1 Music or Minor Elective 3 Non-Western and Small Ensemble Elective 1 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 16 Semester Six MUS 32212 WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY II (WIC) 3 MUS 38599 or MUS 48598RECITAL (ELR) or MUSIC RESEARCH (ELR)1 Applied Music Elective 2 Creative Music or Minor Elective 3 Large Ensemble Elective 1 Music or Minor Elective 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 16 Semester Seven CA 20005 or CA 31300INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS IN THE ARTS or MUSIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP2 or Non-Music ElectiveCreative Music or Minor Elective 3 Large Ensemble Elective 1 Music or Minor Elective 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Minor or Non-Music Elective 3 Credit Hours 15 Semester Eight CA 20005 or CA 31300INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS IN THE ARTS or MUSIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP2 or Non-Music ElectiveCreative Music or Minor Elective 3 Large Ensemble Elective 1 Music or Minor Elective 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Minor or Non-Music Elective 3 Credit Hours 15 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120 Jazz Studies Concentration
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Plan of Study Grid Semester One Credits MUS 11121 THEORY I 4 MUS 41341 JAZZ IMPROVISATION I 1 UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1 Applied Music Elective 2 Ensemble Elective 1 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 15 Semester Two MUS 11122 THEORY II 4 MUS 17111 PIANO CLASS I 1 MUS 36011 APPLIED MUSIC JAZZ 2 MUS 41351 JAZZ IMPROVISATION II 1 or Non-Western and Small Ensemble ElectiveEnsemble Elective 1 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 15 Semester Three MUS 17013 or MUS 17112FUNDAMENTALS OF JAZZ PIANO or PIANO CLASS II1 MUS 21111 THEORY III 4 MUS 36011 APPLIED MUSIC JAZZ 2 Ensemble Elective 1 Non-Western and Small Ensemble Elective 1 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 15 Semester Four MUS 21112 THEORY IV 4 MUS 36011 APPLIED MUSIC JAZZ 2 MUS 41351 JAZZ IMPROVISATION II 1 or Non-Western and Small Ensemble ElectiveEnsemble Elective 1 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Minor or Non-Music Elective 1 Credit Hours 15 Semester Five MUS 32211 WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY I 3 MUS 34111 INTRODUCTION TO CONDUCTING 1 MUS 41342 JAZZ COMPOSING AND ARRANGING 2 or Non-Music ElectiveEnsemble Elective 1 Music or Minor Elective 3 Non-Western and Small Ensemble Elective 1 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 14 Semester Six MUS 32212 WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY II (WIC) 3 MUS 42162 JAZZ STYLES AND ANALYSIS 3 or Non-Music ElectiveCreative Music or Minor Elective 1 Ensemble Elective 1 Music or Minor Elective 3 Non-Music Elective 1 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 15 Semester Seven CA 20005 or CA 31300INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS IN THE ARTS or MUSIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP2 or Non-Music ElectiveMUS 41342 JAZZ COMPOSING AND ARRANGING 2 or Non-Music ElectiveEnsemble Elective 1 Music or Minor Elective 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Minor or Non-Music Electives 4 Credit Hours 15 Semester Eight CA 20005 or CA 31300INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS IN THE ARTS or MUSIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP2 or Non-Music ElectiveMUS 38599 or MUS 48598RECITAL (ELR) or MUSIC RESEARCH (ELR)1 MUS 42162 JAZZ STYLES AND ANALYSIS 3 or Non-Music ElectiveMusic or Minor Electives 4 Kent Core Requirement 3 Minor or Non-Music Elective 3 Credit Hours 16 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120 -
Program Delivery
Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
- Delivery:
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Accreditation
for Music - B.A.
Accreditation
National Association of Schools of Music
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Music - B.A.
Those who complete the Bachelor of Arts in Music at Kent State University can benefit from specialized career opportunities in the music industry.
Your future career and advanced study possibilities are wide, with several recent alumni pursuing post-graduation paths in:
- Arts Management and Administration
- Entrepreneurship
- Music Therapy
- Music Performance or Academic Music Studies
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Musicians and singers
0.9%
little or no change
175,600
number of jobs
$N/A
potential earnings
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Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
3.8%
about as fast as the average
1,050,800
number of jobs
$62,870
potential earnings
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Additional Careers
- Music and singing teachers at community colleges, colleges and universities and art institutes
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Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.