BA in Music (General) - Music and Peace in Waterloo Canada | University of Waterloo

Explore music through a program designed to adapt to your creative interests. At Waterloo, you can learn to play over 20 different instruments or develop your vocal skills. However, our offerings extend far beyond performance.Combine your training in performance, music theory, and history with innovative courses examining music's connections to technology, gender studies, and peace initiatives. Investigate the science of musical perception or explore diverse genres including pop, jazz, opera, and film composition.This program provides the foundation for various music careers—whether as a performer, composer, educator, audio engineer, or music software developer. Gain practical experience before graduation through our optional co-op program. The University of 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 unique travel course lets students experience musical cultures firsthand in destinations like London, UK. Flexible program combinations enable students to pair music studies with other disciplines, including our interdisciplinary Church Music and Worship Minor.

Nearly all music courses welcome students from every faculty. Prospective music majors typically enter the program in second year, evaluated on their first-year academic achievements including multiple music courses. We recommend including performance courses in your first-year schedule, though studio course admission doesn't guarantee acceptance into the Music program.Our graduates pursue diverse paths—some become educators in schools or private studios, others launch music-related businesses in retail, recording, or publishing. Many specialize further in areas like music therapy or continue to graduate studies in academic or performance disciplines. An honours undergraduate degree typically serves as the foundation for advanced music education or graduate studies.