Skip to Content

Music, B.A.

School of Music

Link your love of music with other areas of interest to expand your music major with additional studies in arts and sciences and be well prepared for a variety of careers.

A bachelor of arts in music is designed for students who want to major in music while also studying in another area either within or outside of the School of Music. You'll gain a broad liberal arts education while being able to pursue and enhance your music education on your principal instrument or voice. An audition is required.

Program Highlights

  • Music notes icon.

    Interdisciplinary Studies

    Enjoy broadening your studies with courses around music entrepreneurship, audio recording, music industry and more.

  • Toolbox with tools icon.

    Additional Skills

    Learn to think, speak and write clearly and effectively and address culture and history from a variety of perspectives.

  • Human head with brain icon.

    Enhanced Perspectives

    Gain the ability to evaluate moral issues and respect, understand and evaluate works in a variety of disciplines.

  • Lightbulb emitting light icon.

    Growth Opportunities

    Advance your capacity to explain and defend your views effectively and rationally for art forms other than music.

What You’ll Study

Complete core education courses in communication, global citizenry, history, humanities, ethics and information literacy. Study music courses in theory, history, aural skills, music electives and ensembles. Students will perform a series of jury exams on their primary instrument or voice in a wide array of musical styles and demonstrate fundamental piano skills.

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

  • Performance

    Presenting oneself creatively through a specific medium to an audience

    Communication

    Exchanging information and ideas through speaking, writing or other means of expression

    Critical Thinking

    Analyzing and evaluating information to make informed decisions or judgments

  • Listening Skills

    Understanding what others are saying to facilitate effective communication

    Attention to Detail

    Being meticulous and thorough in all aspects of a task or project

    Teamwork

    Working collaboratively with others to achieve a shared goal or objective

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Learn how alumni use degrees with outcome data from Gamecock GradStats, a service of the University of South Carolina Career Center.

Potential Careers

  • Audio Producer
  • Enterpreneur
  • Music Retailer

Job Titles of Alumni

  • Owner
  • Music Teacher
  • Performer
  • Piano Instructor
  • Studio Manager
  • Vocal Music Teacher

Average Alumni Salary

Five to 10 years after graduation without additional education $69,979

Workplace Settings

  • Business
  • Journalism
  • Media Arts
  • Music

Employers of Alumni

  • Lexington County School District One
  • South Carolina Philharmonic
  • Tacoma Opera
  • University of South Carolina
  • Sound and Images
  • San Francisco Ballet

Is USC Right For You?

There are many reasons we could be your ideal university. There's the award-winning academics, the globally modeled student life, and abundance of study abroad and experiential learning options. Take a closer look at what USC could mean for you.

Degree content is provided for informational purposes only. The Academic Bulletin is the source of record for all degree information.
©