Courses for your Music degree

First-year courses

As an Arts student, you’ll choose your major at the end of first year. You’re encouraged to explore a second major in first year to discover potential new interests.

In your Arts First courses, instead of going to a lecture hall, you and your classmates will work together to respond to an intriguing challenge. With only 25 students in each of the two first-year courses, you might address topics such as The Science of Happiness, Are We Erasing History?, Games and Culture, and Writing About Poems and Songs.

You can choose to study Music through Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.

Honours Arts

September to December

Choose two courses from
- MUSIC 110 – How Music Matters
- MUSIC 226 – Music Studio (taken with MUSIC 116)
- MUSIC 270 – Music Theory 1
Arts First requirement 1
Prospective major #2
One elective

January to April

Choose two courses from
- MUSIC 110 – How Music Matters (if not taken in fall)
- MUSIC 226 – Music Studio (if not taken in fall) or MUSIC 227 (taken with MUSIC 117)
- MUSIC 271 – Music Theory 2 (or MUSIC 270 if not taken in fall)
Arts First requirement 2
Prospective major #2
One elective

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.

Honours Arts and Business

September to December

ARBUS 101 – Introduction to Business in North America
ECON 101 – Introduction to Microeconomics
Arts First Requirement 1

Plus two courses from

MUSIC 110 – How Music Matters
MUSIC 226 – Music Studio (taken with MUSIC 116)
MUSIC 270 – Music Theory 1

January to April

ARBUS 102 – Accounting Information for Managers
ARBUS 202 – Professional and Business Ethics
Arts First Requirement 2

Plus two courses from

MUSIC 110 – How Music Matters (if not taken in fall)
MUSIC 226 – Music Studio (if not taken in fall) or MUSIC 227 (taken with MUSIC 117)
MUSIC 271 – Music Theory 2 (or MUSIC 270 if not taken in fall)

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.

After first year

About 40% of the classes you’ll take will be Music courses. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.

Sample upper-year courses

MUSIC 232 – Music as a Global Phenomenon
MUSIC 246 – Soundtracks: Music in Film
MUSIC 275 – Music and Technology
MUSIC 332 – Aesthetics of Music

Advisors are here to help

With so much flexibility, you might have a lot of questions. We're here to help! If you're applying for admission, contact our Faculty of Arts recruitment team.

Once you're a Waterloo student, you'll have access to academic advisors who can help you