BA in Music (General) - Music in a Global Context 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. That's only the start. Combine performance training, music theory, and historical studies with innovative courses examining music's connections to technology, gender studies, and conflict resolution. 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 optional co-op program. The University of Waterloo's Music Department merges classical training in performance, history, and theory with contemporary studies including modern music genres, global music traditions, technological applications, psychological aspects, and sacred music. Our Music and Culture travel course includes educational visits to London, UK, and other significant locations. Flexible program combinations let students pair music studies with other disciplines, including our interdisciplinary Church Music and Worship Minor.

Nearly all music classes welcome students from every faculty. Prospective music majors typically enter the program in second year, evaluated on first-year academic achievement including multiple music courses. First-year students are encouraged to enroll in Music studio courses, though studio acceptance doesn't guarantee admission to the Music program. Graduates often pursue teaching careers in schools or private instruction, launch music-related businesses in retail, recording, or publishing, specialize in fields like music therapy, or advance to graduate studies in academic or performance disciplines. An honours undergraduate degree is generally required for postgraduate music education or advanced studies.