Music Dual Degrees: BM, BA, or BS? (Curriculum Specs)

The best music dual degree is the one whose course plan supports both your music goals and your second field without making the added time and cost unmanageable. A BM usually offers deeper music study; a BA often leaves more room for other subjects; a BS varies by school. Compare actual requirements, admission rules, and a written graduation plan before choosing.

Choosing between a BA, BM, or BS can feel like choosing a career before you know what daily work in that career is like. You do not have to predict your whole future. Start by asking what you want to study in music, what you want the second field to add, and how much time and cost you can manage.

“Best option” means the program that fits your goals and has a workable course sequence, not the degree title with the most impressive sound. In my work comparing music pathways, I have seen students focus on the label before checking the lesson, ensemble, and prerequisite schedule. Those details can shape the real experience more than the letters on the diploma.

Admissions and Program Overview: Choosing a Music Dual Degree

A music dual degree pairs music study with a second academic field, but colleges use the term in different ways. Some award two bachelor’s degrees; others offer one degree with a second major or concentration. Confirm the school’s exact structure, application process, and graduation rules before comparing options.

A dual degree is not the same as a double major. A double major usually places two fields within one bachelor’s degree, while a dual-degree plan may require two separate degrees and more coursework. These terms are not used the same way at every college, so ask what credentials you will earn and which requirements apply.

Admission may involve two decisions: entry to the university and entry to its music program. A music school may require an audition, portfolio, interview, or placement assessment in addition to academic materials. Requirements differ by school and by music area, such as voice, instrumental performance, composition, or music technology.

Before applying, ask both the music unit and the second-field department:

• Do I apply to both programs at the same time?
• Is admission to one program conditional on admission to the other?
• Can I add the second degree after enrolling, and are there capacity limits?
• What audition repertoire, portfolio materials, or placement steps are required?
• How are transfer credits evaluated, and which courses must be completed in residence?

Use the college catalog and department websites for current requirements. Ask an adviser to confirm anything unclear in writing. The school’s degree audit, not a general web page, should guide your final course plan.

Compare the degree labels by curriculum

A BA often includes broader study in the arts, humanities, languages, or other fields. A BM commonly devotes a larger share of its requirements to music study, such as private instruction, ensembles, theory, and history. A BS can emphasize science, technology, business, or another defined area, but its meaning depends on the institution.

These are patterns, not fixed national rules. A BA may include extensive performance work, and a BS may not be more technical than a BA. Compare required courses and credits in the catalog rather than assuming the title tells you what you will study.

Degree Curriculum and Requirements: BA, BM, BS, and Combined Credits

Curriculum specifications show what you must complete: courses, credits, lessons, ensembles, and other milestones. Many U.S. bachelor’s degrees require about 120 semester credits, but music programs and dual-degree plans vary. Some require more than 120 credits or take longer than four years.

Ask each college for a term-by-term degree map that includes both programs. It should show required courses, prerequisites, lesson and ensemble obligations, transfer-credit rules, and expected graduation term. A general statement that a plan is “four years” does not show whether required courses are offered when you need them.

Music courses often build in sequence. For example, a student may need to complete one theory or musicianship course before enrolling in the next. Private lessons, ensembles, and recitals may also carry regular term-by-term requirements. If a course is offered only at a certain time, a missed prerequisite can delay later work.

Map credits and time before you commit

For each program, compare:

• Total credits for both degrees and credits that can count toward both.
• Required courses that cannot be replaced by electives.
• Music lessons, ensemble participation, recitals, juries, or capstone work.
• Prerequisites and how often required courses are offered.
• Minimum grades, residency rules, and transfer-credit limits.
• Planned course load each term and any summer study.

A “shared” course may satisfy requirements in both programs, but the school must approve that use. Do not assume that credits double-count. Ask for the policy and a written audit showing exactly where each course applies.

Illustrative student scenarios: A vocalist considering a BM and a second degree in biology should check whether labs conflict with required rehearsals and lessons. A pianist considering a BA and a second field in languages may have more elective room, but still needs to confirm the music sequence. These examples show questions to ask, not guarantees about any college.

Academic Success and Student Experience: Auditions, Ensembles, Advising, and Workload

A dual degree’s weekly schedule can be as important as its total credits. Lessons, practice, rehearsals, classes, labs, and work hours compete for time. The right plan is one you can sustain while meeting both programs’ academic and musical standards.

Ask current students and advisers how often ensembles rehearse, how lessons are scheduled, and how students handle conflicts between required courses. Get clear on attendance and performance obligations. The catalog may list formal requirements, while the music department can explain how they work in a typical term.

A useful planning step is to draft one sample week. Include class hours, practice, rehearsals, commuting, study, meals, and paid work or caregiving. This is not a precise measure of workload, but it can reveal schedule conflicts before you enroll.

Estimate the full cost, not just tuition

A longer plan can mean extra tuition, housing, meals, and other costs. Music study may also involve expenses such as instrument maintenance, accompanists, sheet music, audition travel, or additional lessons. These costs vary by student and institution; ask which are required and which are optional.

Compare each school’s net price estimate, which reflects estimated costs after grant and scholarship aid. Use the institution’s net price calculator, then ask how aid may change if you take an extra term or reduce your course load. Submit the FAFSA and, where required, the CSS Profile by the relevant deadlines. Aid rules and renewal conditions differ.

Before accepting an offer, request written confirmation of:

• The total expected credits and number of terms.
• How institutional, state, and federal aid apply to the planned program.
• Whether aid can cover an extra term, summer courses, or a reduced load.
• Any extra music fees and likely personal expenses.
• The effect of changing or leaving one of the two programs.

For a case comparison, use actual offers rather than published sticker prices. Compare net cost for the expected time to graduation, including any likely extra term. A lower annual price may not lead to a lower total cost if the program takes longer.

Career Pathways and Employment Outcomes: Music, Complementary Fields, and Graduate Study

A music degree can support several directions, but no degree title guarantees a job or a specific salary. Outcomes depend on skills, experience, location, and the work a graduate pursues. Look for program-specific information and assess whether the curriculum helps you build relevant evidence of ability.

A music-and-second-field plan may support work in both areas, or it may help you combine them. A student might pursue performance alongside science, or music study alongside business. These are possibilities, not automatic career routes. Ask about internships, student performances, research, teaching practice, and access to career services.

For employment research, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook describes job duties, entry requirements, and national employment data by occupation. It does not predict what graduates of a particular music program will earn. The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard can provide institution-level information, but results may not isolate a specific dual-degree program.

If graduate study is a goal, check prerequisites for the target programs. Some may require particular courses, auditions, portfolios, or demonstrated skills. A BA, BM, or BS name alone does not establish eligibility. Contact graduate departments or review their current admissions requirements.

Check accreditation and outcomes

Institutional accreditation and music-program accreditation answer different questions. Check an institution’s recognized accreditation status through the U.S. Department of Education’s accreditation resources; CHEA is another reference. The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) accredits some music programs, but not all. Confirm whether the specific program is accredited and what that means for your goals.

Ask the college for outcomes that match your intended path, such as graduate-school enrollment, internships, or employment information. Find out how the data were collected, which graduates are included, and whether the results cover the dual-degree program or the institution as a whole. If data are not available, treat that absence as uncertainty, not proof of poor outcomes.

A step-by-step decision check

1. Name your intended music area, second field, and likely career or graduate-study goals.
2. Compare course plans for the BA, BM, and BS options at each college.
3. Confirm academic admission, audition or portfolio requirements, and transfer rules.
4. Get a written degree audit and term-by-term graduation map.
5. Compare total net cost for the full plan, including extra terms and music expenses.
6. Review accreditation, program support, and relevant outcome data.
7. Recheck the plan with both advisers before enrolling, then monitor degree progress each term.

Bottom line: Choose by verified curriculum, schedule, support, and total cost. If two programs seem similar, favor the one that gives you a clear written path to completing both fields without relying on assumptions about shared credits or future course availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

These answers summarize common questions about music dual degrees. Rules vary by college, so use them as a checklist and confirm details with the programs you plan to enter. In particular, verify course overlap, admissions steps, and aid treatment before making a final decision.

Is a BM better than a BA for a music career?
Not by title alone. A BM often includes more intensive music coursework, while a BA may allow more breadth. Compare the actual curriculum with your music and career goals.

Can I earn a BM and a second degree at the same time?
Some colleges allow it, but they may require separate admission, additional credits, or more time. Ask for a written plan covering both programs.

Is a BS in music more practical than a BA?
Not necessarily. BS requirements vary by school. Compare required courses, applied work, and skills rather than assuming the degree label defines the program.

Do dual degrees always take five years?
No. Some students finish sooner, while others need extra terms. Credits, prerequisites, course availability, and music obligations determine the timeline.

Can courses count toward both degrees?
Sometimes, depending on school policy. Get an approved degree audit that shows which courses meet requirements in both programs.

Do I need an audition for every music degree?
No universal rule applies. Some programs require auditions, portfolios, interviews, or placement assessments. Check the current requirements for your music area.

Can transfer students enter a music dual degree?
Policies differ. Ask both departments how credits transfer, which courses must be taken in residence, and whether you can complete the required sequence on time.

Does NASM accreditation guarantee a job or licensure?
No. Accreditation is not a job guarantee, and its relevance depends on your goals. Confirm the specific program’s status and any separate requirements for your intended work.

How should I compare the cost of two programs?
Compare net cost for the expected full time to graduation, not just annual tuition. Include aid renewal rules, extra terms, fees, and likely music-related expenses.

Where can I check career outcomes?
Use BLS occupational information for broad job and employment data, and College Scorecard for institution-level information. Ask each school whether it has outcomes specific to the program.

(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Michael Harrington. Visit our Meet the Team page.)