BA in Music (Co-op) in Waterloo Canada | University of Waterloo

Explore music through a program designed to adapt to your creative interests. At Waterloo, you can train on over 20 different instruments or develop your vocal skills. That's only the starting point.Combine performance training, music theory, and historical studies with innovative courses examining music's connections to technology, gender studies, and peace initiatives. Investigate the science of musical perception or explore diverse genres from pop and jazz to opera and cinematic scores.Whether your aspirations lie in performing, composing, teaching, audio engineering, or music software design, this program provides essential foundations. Gain practical experience before graduation through our co-op option. Waterloo's Music Department merges classical training in performance, history, and theory with contemporary studies in popular music, global traditions, music technology, psychological aspects of music, and sacred music. Our Music and Culture travel course includes educational trips to London, UK, and other significant destinations. Flexible program combinations let you pair music studies with other disciplines, including our interdisciplinary Church Music and Worship Minor.

Most music classes welcome students from all academic backgrounds. Prospective music majors typically enter the program in second year, evaluated on first-year academic performance including music coursework. First-year students are encouraged to enroll in Music studio courses, though studio admission doesn't guarantee program acceptance.Our graduates pursue diverse paths including teaching (both institutional and private), music entrepreneurship (retail, recording, publishing), specialized fields like music therapy, or advanced degrees in music scholarship and performance. An honours undergraduate degree is generally required for postgraduate music studies in education or graduate programs.