College of the Arts
School of Music
www.kent.edu/music

About This Program

The Bachelor of Arts in Music program provides students with a well-rounded education in music theory, history and performance. With a variety of performance opportunities and experienced faculty, this program prepares graduates for careers in music and beyond. Read more...

Contact Information

• Gerrey Noh | hnoh@kent.edu
• Speak with an Advisor
  • Kent Campus
  • Stark Campus
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor: Kent Campus | Regional Campuses

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus (no concentration and Jazz Studies concentration)
  • Stark Campus (Contemporary Popular Music concentration only)

Applications to the Jazz Studies concentration are not being accepted for academic year 2024-2025. Applications are being accepted for the fall 2025 admission term.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Music

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

Admission Requirements

Applications to the Jazz Studies concentration are not being accepted for academic year 2024-2025. Applications are being accepted for the fall 2025 admission term.

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Admission to this major is selective. Students must audition before being admitted to the Music major. Inquiries can be directed to the coordinator of admissions and scholarships, School of Music, E-101 Music and Speech, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242-0001 (or call 330-672-2172).

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Piano class (2 credit hours): Placement test required. Students who have piano as their main instrument and students placed into Applied Music Piano replace with music (MUS) electives.

²

Major ensemble: Students must enroll in an ensemble appropriate to their major performance area. Students in the Contemporary Popular Music concentration take one semester of major ensemble and seven separate semesters of MUS 35213. MUS 25011 and MUS 25225 can be used for major ensemble credit. Students in the Jazz Studies concentration take one semester of major ensemble, four semesters of MUS 45312 and four semesters of MUS 45321. Voice students in the Jazz Studies concentration replace MUS 45321 with MUS 45313.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

The senior recital may be used to satisfy the Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR), with approval.

³

Bachelor of Arts students are restricted to taking 2-credit hour applied music sections, which include a 60-minute group practice and 60-minute private lesson. Students not declaring a concentration will need to take a total of six semesters and 12 credit hours of applied music or replace up to two semesters of applied music with MUS 21213 and MUS 21214 based on instrument of music degree acceptance. Students must meet the 46000-entry-level prior to graduation. The 46000-level may be taken following a successful 46000-level barrier exam. One semester of MUS 21213 can replace one semester of MUS 31211. 

⁴

Piano class (2 credit hours): Placement test required. Students who have piano as their main instrument and students placed into Applied Music Piano replace with music (MUS) electives.

⁵

Major ensemble: Students must enroll in a major ensemble appropriate to their major performance area.

Contemporary Popular Music Concentration Requirements

¹

Only available at the Stark campus. 

²

MUS 36913 (senior recital) may be used to satisfy the Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR), with approval.

³

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

⁴

Applied music: Students in the Contemporary Popular Music concentration must take two semesters and 4 credit hours of applied music and 8 credit hours of MUS 31211, MUS 36913, MUS 36914, MUS 36915, MUS 36916, MUS 36917, MUS 36918, MUS 36919, MUS 36920, MUS 36921, MUS 36922, MUS 36923 or MUS 36924 (one semester of MUS 21213 can be included). Students must also meet the 46000-entry-level prior to graduation. The 46000-level may be taken following a successful 46000-level barrier exam.

⁵

One semester of MUS 21213 can replace one semester of MUS 31211.

⁶

Electric guitar and electric bass students, based upon the audition, can be placed in either MUS 16914 or MUS 16915. Upon successful completion of two semesters of MUS 16914/MUS 16915, students continue with applied study as indicated in footnote four.

⁷

Bachelor of Arts students are restricted to taking 2-credit hour applied music sections, which include a 60-minute group practice and 60-minute private lesson.

Jazz Studies Concentration Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

Bachelor of Arts students are restricted to taking 2-credit hour applied music sections, which include a 60-minute group practice and 60-minute private lesson. Students in the Jazz Studies concentration must take one semester and 2 credit hours of applied music and two semesters and 4 credit hours of MUS 36011.

³

MUS 36011 (senior recital) may be used to satisfy the Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR), with approval.

⁴

Major ensemble: Students in the Jazz Studies concentration take one semester of major ensemble, four semesters of MUS 45231 and four semesters of MUS 45312. Voice students in the Jazz Studies concentration replace MUS 45231 with MUS 45313.

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum C grade in all music courses
• Completion of a senior recital or MUS 48598
• Attendance at minimum 80 concerts or recitals for students who begin the program as first-semester freshmen (students who transferred from a non-music program or university must attend an average of 10 music concerts or recitals for semesters of full-time enrollment)
• MUS 11110, MUS 11111, MUS 16914 and MUS 16915 will not count as credit for graduation for this program

Roadmaps

Music Major (No Concentration)

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Contemporary Popular Music Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Jazz Studies Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of music history and theory.
2. Demonstrate high-level skills in recitals, ensembles or music research.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music gives music majors an opportunity to study music and liberal arts with an optional minor, available in most academic areas of the university, or as a dual degree program with a major in another field. Although not as music intensive as the Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree, the B.A. degree includes study on a main instrument and ensemble participation throughout the program.

The Music major includes the following optional concentrations:

• The Contemporary Popular Music concentration provides students the opportunity to study contemporary instruments such as electric guitar, electric bass and voice, as well as participate in a variety of styles, including rock, pop, Motown and other popular styles.
• The Jazz Studies concentration provides students the opportunity to study jazz improvisation, arranging and composing.

Students not selecting a concentration will continue with applied music and major ensemble electives, in addition to a music history course and research or senior recital as the culminating experience.