Introduction to the Major
The Department of Music grants a B.A. degree in Music(link is external) and also a minor in Music. The department is dedicated to a holistic liberal education in the arts and humanities and thus involves students in all aspects of the study of music: theoretical and creative studies, historical and cultural studies, music and technology, and performance.
The Music major may serve as pre-professional training for the student seeking a career in music or provide a lasting source of enrichment for the student with other career goals. A performance audition is not required to declare the major.
Capstone and Honors
A capstone project, taken concurrently with one additional course, concludes the major during senior year. Capstone projects may include performance recitals, music compositions, scholarly papers, or digital creations, among others.
Music offers an honors program that may be substituted for the capstone requirement in the senior year to develop a more in-depth honors project working with a faculty advisor in any area of music studies. Visit music.berkeley.edu/major-requirements/(link is external) for information on major requirements.
Amplify Your Major
- Look into complementary opportunities. There are a large number of Music double majors with fields such as Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies(link is external), Molecular and Cell Biology, Rhetoric, Physics, Political Economy of Industrial Societies, English, Business Administration, and more.
- Dive into performance opportunities(link is external) with the school.
*Activities are open to students at any time during their Berkeley career. Students are encouraged to participate through multiple years.
Jobs and Employers
- Consultant, SGR Consulting
- Musician
- Music Teacher, School of Audio Engin.
- Program Leader, Think Together
- Software Developer, Cisco Systems
- Software Development Engineer, Google
- Software Engineer, Pensando
- Staff Writer, Longneck and Thunderfoot
Graduate Programs
- Foreign Languages
- Medicine
- Music Performance
- Music Theory & Composition
- Public Health
Examples from the First Destination Survey(link is external) of recent Berkeley graduates.
Connect With Us
Cal Day
Come to Berkeley’s annual Open House(link is external) in April for information sessions, campus tours, special talks, and more.
Golden Bear Orientation
Join your peers in the campus-wide UC Berkeley orientation(link is external) program for all new students.
Events
Attend Music department events with students, faculty, and staff. Visit events.berkeley.edu/music(link is external) for news and updates.
Advising
Contact the Undergraduate Advisor 104 Morrison Hall for Music advising(link is external), including questions about the Music major, the minor, programs of study, or need help preparing for your enrollment appointment. Email musicadvising@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) or sign up for an advising appointment at calendly.com/ucbmusicadvising(link is external)
How to Use this Map
Use this map to help plan and guide your experience at UC Berkeley, including academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities. Everyone’s Berkeley experience is different and activities in this map are suggestions. Always consult with your advisors whenever possible for new opportunities and updates.
