Are you interested in studying other things with your music degree? It seems very daunting to take on another area of study while pursuing music, but it can be super helpful in creating a more diverse academic-musical balance in your college experience. My name is Sophia, and I am a double major working on a minor! The School of Music has many plans and resources to help you achieve this, and I’ll guide you through some helpful options.
As a BM (Bachelor of Music) or BME (Bachelor of Music Education) student, if you are interested in studying something other than music simultaneously, a minor may be a good choice for you to pursue. Both the BME and the BM require considerable work, so a minor would be the best option to ensure you are not overworked. A minor usually ranges from 15-18 credit hours of coursework and is significantly more achievable than you may think. One of our studio members, Izzy, is a BM working on a minor in Italian! She can provide more specific guidance related to her experiences if you have more questions: isabellagarcia@ou.edu.
There are two degrees that are super helpful if you’d want to try a secondary area of study! The BA (Bachelor of Arts) and the BMA (Bachelor of Musical Arts) are designed to support students who want to pursue another major or minor while still studying music. The BA and BMA still have the same academic requirements as the BME and BM (four semesters of music theory, aural skills, and music history) but less performance requirements (lessons and large ensembles) so the student can dedicate time to their preferred area of study. The secondary area of study can range from around 15-30 hours. I am working on a BA in Music (my secondary emphasis is a minor in International Studies) with an additional BA in History outside of the School of Music! If you have any questions about that workload or any other questions about those degrees, feel free to contact me directly: murraysophiajane@ou.edu.
Pursuing a second major or a minor is completely within reach here for you at OU! You will be heavily supported by your professors, your academic advisors, and your fellow studio members!
– Written by Sophia Murray