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Music scholars examine musical works and culture within Western traditions, concentrating on specific forms (such as masses, motets, symphonies, and string quartets) along with stylistic developments, musical institutions, theoretical concepts, and composers' contributions. This field investigates patterns of evolution—exploring why musical styles transform and why certain genres thrived in the 16th century while others peaked in the 19th. These inquiries are explored within a wider sociocultural framework, analyzing religious, political, social, and intellectual shifts that shaped Western civilization.
Music majors complete a three-semester overview of Western music history and select an advanced specialized course (options include non-Western music studies) with an intensive writing requirement. The Bachelor of Arts with a Music History focus prepares students for graduate studies in the field or deeper personal enrichment. UConn's Music Department provides graduate opportunities including a Master of Arts in music history and a combined theory-history Ph.D. program. Additional details about graduate studies are available in the Graduate Music Student Handbook.