BA in Music in Chestnut Hill United States | Boston College

The Music Department caters to students aiming for professional music careers as well as those pursuing personal artistic growth, providing instruction in music theory, composition, historical studies, contemporary developments across global traditions, and vocal/instrumental training. All courses are open to every student without prior musical experience unless specified prerequisites or instructor approval is required (particularly for some theory classes).

Unlike specialized conservatories, our liberal arts approach gives music majors a more expansive worldview. This interdisciplinary environment exposes students to diverse musical viewpoints - historical, theoretical, cultural, ethnographic, and performance-based. Boston College music graduates pursue careers in education, media, arts management, sacred music, or simply value the intellectual enrichment and personal fulfillment the discipline provides. Many continue to advanced studies at graduate programs or conservatories, preparing for careers as performers, composers, scholars, educators, or arts administrators. The major establishes a shared foundational knowledge while allowing upper-level specialization in composition, performance, musicology, or cultural studies. We emphasize not just Western classical traditions but also consider understanding American music and world musical cultures essential to comprehensive musical education.