The Bachelor of Music degree (B.M.) is typically a four-year degree that can be obtained with many different majors, including performance, composition, history, theory, jazz studies, music production, church music and music technology. This degree contains a core curriculum of study involving basic courses in music theory, history and performance.
The Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) with a major in music is a four-year degree that combines courses in music with university prescribed core liberal arts coursework. This degree category includes majors in music business and music administration.
Other undergraduate music degrees exists, such as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in music, which combines music study with coursework in sciences that can prepare students to enter a career in the medical or science fields while still developing their talents and interests in music. Also, the Bachelor of Music Education degree (B.M.E.) leads to completion of requirements for teacher certification.
Master of Music (M.M.), Master of Music Education (M.M.E), Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees are available for those who wish to continue their musical studies. Majors available include musicology, ethnomusicology, accompanying, arranging and conducting.
Doctoral students can pursue a PhD or Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree in a field of their choosing. One of these degrees is usually a prerequisite to obtaining a position as a music professor at a college or university.