Degree Programs
Flexible degrees hit just the right note.
Valpo’s Department of Music has been training musicians for over a century, with a focus on musicians who want to make a difference in their communities — students who have a passion for music while seeking a life that impacts others through their art.
To achieve this, the Department of Music offers the Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Music Therapy degrees, along with certificate options in Music Therapy for students pursuing continuing education. These are professional degrees that lead to licensure in these fields. Graduates from these programs vividly live-out the mission to lead and serve that is at the core of our institutional identity.
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is a full liberal arts music major curriculum in which students take a core music curriculum of 40 credits, with an option for as many as 20 additional elective credits in music studies of interest to them, including music industry, church music, composition, and performance. Students in the BA degree may also elect a second major in many other areas across the university, taking advantage of the interdisciplinary connections across campus.
With a host of opportunities, music students can select from multiple pathways at Valpo to pursue their creative and professional aspirations.
Liberal Arts: The Bachelor of Arts in Music
The bachelor of arts in music provides students with a liberal arts education and the ability to concentrate in a music area of their choice. All of the B.A. options include 40 hours of coursework in music and allow students the flexibility to major or minor in another field.
This option is designed for students who expect to make their career in church music or related fields. The degree’s 40 hours of music coursework include a practical internship and selected studies in church music and liturgy.
Students looking for careers in the music industry can take courses in music careers, entrepreneurship, and copyright law and complete an internship in a music field of their interest. Because this music major is only 40 credits, there is opportunity to take a minor or a second major in a complementary field.
For students who seek a full music major curriculum, this degree option offers full performance opportunities and plenty of flexibility for an additional major or minor.
Professional Majors: The Bachelor of Music Education and The Bachelor of Music Therapy
The professional majors offer certification for students who wish to enter the music profession as music educators and music therapists. Students majoring in one of these intensive professional programs will have music as their only major.
This degree prepares students for certification as music educators. The curriculum includes 66 credit hours in vocal, instrumental, and general music as well as 31 credit hours in professional education, including supervised teaching.
This degree program prepares students for national board certification (MT-BC) as music therapists. The curriculum includes 64 credits in music therapy and 31 credits in music, including supervised field training and internship.
The Bachelor’s level equivalency is an undergraduate certificate that prepares students for Music Therapy Board Certification in educational, healthcare, correctional, psychological, wellness, and other settings.
Music Minor
The requirements for a music minor can be easily coordinated with most academic majors. The minor consists of a minimum of 18 credit hours in music, participation in a musical ensemble, plus attendance at 20 authorized concerts.
Degree Requirements »