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The Western Art Music concentration is essentially a rebranding of our current Music B.A. program. It focuses on comprehensive understanding of Western music theory, history, and performance on a principal instrument, while providing flexibility for students to explore other disciplines through advanced electives. In contrast to the other concentrations, it doesn't follow a modular structure.
UC Santa Cruz's Music Department provides two undergraduate programs: a Bachelor of Arts in Music (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Music (B.M.). The B.A. features an exceptionally broad curriculum, allowing students to specialize in Contemporary Practices, Global Musics, or Western Art Music. The B.M. caters to those pursuing professional performance careers. The department also offers minors in Electronic Music, Jazz, Spontaneous Composition and Improvisation, and Western Art Music, enabling both music majors and students from other fields to incorporate musical studies. Both degrees stand out by combining performance, theory, composition, literature, and cultural history. Graduates leave UCSC equipped for advanced studies and careers in performance, education, and digital music arts.