BA in Music in New Haven United States | Yale University

The Music Department provides both beginner and advanced courses covering music history, theory, composition, music technology, and performance. The Music major delivers a comprehensive humanities-focused music education, while also preparing students for graduate studies or professional music careers. Course offerings include ethnomusicology, music history, theory, technology, composition, and performance. Most introductory classes have no prerequisites, and first-year seminars are open to all. Well-prepared first-year students may enroll in higher-level courses. While 200-level courses require basic music notation knowledge, 300 and 400-level classes typically expect students to read music. All students with musical interests—regardless of their major—are encouraged to explore music theory courses. Instead of a placement exam, we now offer a self-placement guide to help students choose appropriate theory courses, with faculty available for consultation.