BA in Music (Honours) (Double Majors) 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 peace initiatives. Investigate the science of musical perception or explore diverse genres from pop and jazz to opera and cinematic scores.

Whether your aspirations include performing, composing, teaching, audio engineering, or music software design, this program provides essential foundations. Gain practical experience before graduation through our co-op option. The University of Waterloo's Music Department merges classical training in performance, history, and theory with contemporary studies in popular culture, global music traditions, technological applications, psychological aspects, and sacred music. Our unique Music and Culture travel course includes educational visits to London and other significant locations. 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 achievement including music coursework. We recommend including performance studies in your first year, though studio course admission doesn't guarantee program acceptance.

Our graduates pursue diverse paths including teaching (both institutional and private), music entrepreneurship (retail, production, publishing), specialized fields like music therapy, or advanced academic/performance degrees. Note that honors undergraduate degrees are typically required for graduate music studies or music education programs.