Degrees

DEGREES

BM
BA

BACHELOR OF MUSIC

The Bachelor of Music degree provides intensive professional preparation for careers in music. The program includes private study, weekly master classes in major performing areas, solo and ensemble performance, music history, and music theory. Students also learn to think critically, listen sensitively, and speak and write clearly. 

The curriculum consists of 70 percent music courses and emphasizes intensive work in one of the following major areas of study: 

PERFORMANCE
Performance majors choose one of the following for principal private study: piano, harp, voice, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion or guitar. The main focus is individual performance instruction, but the program also emphasizes music theory and history/literature. In addition to performing solo repertoire, students develop their skills in chamber music and large ensemble performance. 

MUSIC EDUCATION
Music education majors graduate with teaching certification and prepared to teach K-12 choral or instrumental music in public schools. Converse students graduate as versatile, well-grounded, practical musicians, having had the performance and educational opportunities offered by Converse’s unique small-college atmosphere. Beyond course work in such areas as music theory, history, performance studies, piano study, instrumental methods, ensemble participation, conducting, orchestration and teaching methods, students complete nine credit hours in student teaching. 

COMPOSITION, MUSIC THEORY, OR MUSIC HISTORY
These programs emphasize the history, analysis, and creation of music. Students focus on developing aural and analytical skills, composition techniques, and expanding their own creative instincts. The search for self-knowledge, a historical understanding, and one’s own creative voice enter into each major. Each program encourages students to develop performance skills and to gain an in-depth understanding of history, theory and literature. 

MUSIC THERAPY
Students interested in using music to help people should consider a career in music therapy. Demand for practicing music therapists far outweighs those prepared to enter the field. The Bachelor of Music degree in music therapy from Converse College prepares you to work in a variety of clinic situations. Music therapists use music to care for premature infants in neonatal units, communicate with children in psychiatric care facilities, ease the pain of terminally ill patients, comfort the elderly in assisted living environments and endless other possibilities.

BACHELOR OF ARTS

For students who want a balance between music and liberal arts studies, the Petrie School offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. The degree is also attractive for students who want to combine music study with a second major or minor. 

GENERAL MAJOR IN MUSIC
For the BA in Music degree, 40 percent of the student’s courses will be in music, including music theory and history, piano studies, applied music, and ensemble participation. The remainder of the courses will be in the liberal arts. Although this program does not offer the degree of specialization of the BM programs, it can lead to graduate study or a career in music. 

DOUBLE MAJOR
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree with a general major in music may choose a second major or a minor outside of music. Alternative career options are made available through unique programs designed to meet your interests and goals. 

MINOR IN MUSIC
Non-music majors can choose to minor in music, which requires 27.5 credit hours and covers course work in music performance studies, ensembles, music history, and theory. In addition, any Converse student can take private lessons, music courses as electives, or participate in one of several instrumental and choral ensembles that perform on campus and in the community.