Music Degree

students playing instruments

Unlock your inner soundtrack and make your musical mark.

Everyone knows music is your… thing.

Turn your constant drumming, singing, dreams of concert halls, or any other way you express yourself musically and study in a program that offers flexibility to follow your passions. You’ll have access to instruction in more than 20 instruments.

Know the difference between straight-tone and vibrato? There are vocal lessons too.

Balance your study of performance, music theory, and music history with classes on the relationship between music and technology, gender, and peace.

Unpack the psychology of music, or put your analytical skills to use and dissect pop, jazz, opera, film scores, and more.

You can even orchestrate some experience before graduation by enrolling in the co-op stream. Or apply for several entrance scholarships, available only for applicants who intend to do a Music major.

Whether you’re aiming to be a performer, composer, teacher, recording technician, or music software developer, you’ll gain the background needed to turn your love of music into a career.

What courses will you take in Music?

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.

You will also take an Arts First course in either the fall or winter term of your first year. 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
  • Arts First requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2
  • One elective

January to April

  • Choose two courses from
  • Arts First requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2
  • One elective

Honours Arts and Business

September to December

  • ARBUS 101 – Introduction to Business in North America
  • ECON 101 – Introduction to Microeconomics
  • Arts First Requirement or elective

Plus two courses from

January to April

  • ARBUS 102 – Accounting Information for Managers
  • ARBUS 202 – Professional and Business Ethics
  • Arts First Requirement or elective

Plus two courses from

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

Customize your degree

You can add additional areas of expertise to your degree by including one or more of the areas of focus in Music.

  • Music and Peace
  • Music in a Global Context
  • Church Music and Worship

You can also include one of the minors available to all Waterloo students. Popular areas of focus for Music students include Church and Worship Music and Intensive Music Specialization.

Faculty:
Faculty of Arts

Degree:
Bachelor of Arts in Music

Available as a co-op program?
Yes

Available as a regular program?
Yes

Available as a minor?
Yes

Create friendships for life. Conrad Grebel University College is home to an enthusiastic residence community. Music students benefit from being two floors away from their classes, dedicated practice rooms, and a community with its own passion for music. A residence application is required.

Study in Bali and beyond. Grab your passport! Experience concerts, festivals, and the rich cultural life of countries from Bali to the Baltics with a music culture travel course.

Co-op = relevant paid work experience

Waterloo's co-op program, the largest in North America, is an amazing way to explore potential careers, learn to interview for jobs, graduate with up to two years of valuable experience —and make money!

Sample co-op job titles

  • Music instructor
  • Business improvement analyst
  • Teaching assistant
  • Guidance / at-risk support assistant
  • Senior business systems analyst

Co-op work-study sequence

Starting in second year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.

If you choose to study Music through Honours Arts and Business, your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027).

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

or after second year (which can be May to August 2027), if you choose Honours Arts

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Study Co-op
Third Study Co-op Study
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Co-op Study -

Learn more about co-op →

What can you do with a music degree?

Waterloo Music graduates often pursue careers in music, teaching, and marketing. They often work in arts schools, entertainment companies, and theatres.

Recent graduates

  • Teacher – Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Assistant Concert Manager – Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra Chamber Choir
  • Community Manager –Treehaus Collaborative Workspace
  • Manager, Client Success – Smile.io
  • Manager of Artistic Operations – Living Arts Centre
  • Music Therapist – St. Mary’s Hospital

Learn about the future of careers in arts, humanities, social sciences, languages, and creative arts.

Tuition fees for programs in the Faculty of Arts

First-year tuition

Type of fees Tuition (8 months of school)
Domestic (Ontario residents) $9,000
Domestic (Out of province students) $9,000
International (visa students) $57,000
 
  • Estimated amounts listed include incidental fees. Fees based on 2024-25 tuition rates.
  • Visit our financing page to learn about scholarships, estimate your total expenses, and see how co-op can help pay for your education.

Admissions

Apply to Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business and choose Music as your major at the end of first year.

Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including

  • Any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of at least 70%)

Admission average: Low 80s (co-op and regular)

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements for Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.

An audition is required when you would like to choose Music as your major, take your first studio course, or apply for specific music entrance scholarships. Entrance scholarship auditions take place in February and March.

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