The major in Music History and Cultures is designed for students who wish to study music in its historical, social and cultural contexts and in relation to other arts. Although majors are encouraged to develop performance skills, the focus of the degree is on the study of musical cultures and styles in a liberal arts environment.

With a degree in Music History and Cultures you can enter many different career paths. Some choose to pursue graduate studies in musicology, ethnomusicology, music business, and other musical fields, and ultimately teach and do research in universities and colleges. Others might work for institutions as diverse as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum or National Public Radio, leading education programs or other initiatives. There are music historians who have been awarded Grammys for their CD liner notes and others who have served as “forensic musicologists,” providing expert testimony in legal disputes of copyright infringement.

Alumni have gone on to graduate studies at many institutions, including McGill University, Johns Hopkins University, and Boston University, while others have found careers in commercial music and public relations for major arts organizations.

[Banner photo credit: Spencer Haines]