Department of Music Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Music Option (Audition Required)
The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree is appropriate for students who wish to study music within the broader context of a liberal arts education.

Popular Music Option (No Audition Required)
The Bachelor of Arts in Popular Music degree is appropriate for students who wish to study music leading to a career in the music industry. There is no audition required for this major.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Music Education (Audition Required)
The Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree leads to provisional PK-12 certification in the State of Connecticut. The program is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in music education.

Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

Performance Option (Audition Required)
This degree option is designed for students who wish to pursue a performing and/or teaching career in music. Many students who choose this option continue their studies at the graduate level and participate in various professional programs in their specific area.

Jazz Studies Option (Audition Required)
This degree option is designed for students wishing to pursue a performing and/or teaching career in jazz and commercial music. Many students who choose this option continue their studies at the graduate level and in various professional programs in their specific area.

Audio and Music Production Option (Audition Required)
This degree option is designed for students wishing to pursue a career in audio and music production. Many students who choose this option continue their studies at the graduate level and in various professional programs in their specific area.

Minor in Music – 18 credits

Master of Music (M.M.) – Enrollment beginning Fall 2025

Music Education Option

Jazz Pedagogy Option

The Master of Music (M.M.) program at Western Connecticut State University offers two concentrations: Music Education and Jazz Pedagogy. Designed for music educators, performers, and practitioners, this practical graduate program enhances professional skills, artistic growth, and pedagogical expertise. It also provides the necessary coursework for permanent teaching certification, meeting the high standards set by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), of which WCSU is an accredited institutional member.

Students will develop competencies in areas such as music pedagogy, theory, repertoire, improvisation, conducting, and educational techniques. Both concentrations are tailored to the needs of working professionals, with flexible course offerings delivered in a hybrid format. Online classes are offered during the fall and spring semesters, with short in-person residencies held in the summer. Each concentration consists of 30 credits and can be completed in two years.

The Music Education concentration is ideal for current K-12 music educators seeking to maintain certification while advancing their careers.
The Jazz Pedagogy concentration is suited for performers and educators aiming to deepen their expertise in teaching jazz.

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