Undergraduate Degrees

The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree offers students a versatile liberal arts education within an extraordinary music school. By fostering intellectual and scholarly engagement in many disciplines, it is particularly well-suited for musically talented students who have additional academic interests and desire a flexible career trajectory.

The BA curriculum provides a comprehensive academic education with rigorous musical training that develops creative and intellectual habits essential for success in careers of all kinds. It encourages the creative spirit and flexibility needed in a quickly evolving global economy. Students will choose a track either from inside the School of Music (audio technology, composition, or jazz) or are encouraged to choose a minor from those offered from other departments at CSU. The various tracks allow students to tailor the degree to their particularly academic or career interests. While studying a wide range of academic disciplines, BA students receive exceptional professional training in musicianship, including private study with our artist faculty in applied music, and are able to participate fully in the musical life of the Schwob School of Music.

The Composition Concentration within the Bachelor of Arts in Music offers many of the same benefits as the more general Bachelor of Arts in Music with instrumental performance concentration – flexibility, intellectual and scholarly engagement in many disciplines, and rigorous musical training. The primary distinction between this degree and the more general BA are two-fold: 1) students in the Composition Concentration are required to take courses that develop analytical, orchestrational, and contrapuntal facility and 2) the Major Applied instrument requirement must be fulfilled through composition lessons.

The Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree prepares students to become professional music educators. It provides skilled musicians the opportunity to develop expertise as a classroom teacher and ensemble director in K-12 music programs. Much like the Music Performance degree program, students also study applied music on a principal instrument or voice with our artist-faculty and perform in our large ensembles. Music Education students are held to the same high standards as those in other music degree tracks.

The BME degree has three concentrations: General Music (Elementary), Instrumental, and Choral. Coursework is completed at both the CSU College of Education and the Schwob School of Music. Field experiences provide "real-world" experiences for students to transfer directly to the classroom after graduation. Our music education faculty specialists, along with applied and ensemble faculty, mentor students through this demanding program, a relationship which continues after graduation. Upon completion of this program, students receive the BME degree and qualify for Georgia Teacher Certification in Music K-12.

The Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree program makes up approximately half of the Schwob School of Music's student population. It continues to serve the state and region with outstanding professional educators who advance the art of music among our youth.

The Bachelor of Music in Performance degree is for students who aspire to become professional performers. Students study privately under the direction of our artist-faculty and are held to the highest performance expectations, and classroom instruction with low student-to-teacher ratios in the core areas of music theory, ear training, and music history provide the fundamental background necessary for success as a well-rounded musician.

Students perform in our large ensembles (symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, choir, jazz band) as well as have the opportunity to grow through the chamber music experience each semester. These ensembles are coached by faculty and include multiple performance opportunities in our world-class facilities and throughout Columbus and the surrounding region. Celebrated guest artists from around the world come to the Schwob School of Music to teach and perform with and for our students. Students can also elect to take courses in areas that supplement their performing skills such as music business, audio technology, and body mapping, creating well-equipped performers for the 21st century marketplace.

Graduate Degrees and Certificates 

The Master of Music in Performance degree is for students with an undergraduate degree in music who wish to pursue advanced studies in either instrumental or vocal performance or conducting. This degree combines private study with our artist faculty with graduate-level courses in music history, theory, and research. Students perform in large ensembles, chamber music, and present at least one graduate recital as well as a graduate research project or lecture recital, preparing them as performers and scholars. This is a two-year program.

The Artist Diploma certificate is for students with an undergraduate degree in music who wish to pursue applied music at the highest level. Studies center around performing both as a soloist and in ensembles. This is a two-year program.