Concordia University of Edmonton
Bachelor of Arts in Music Major
Edmonton, Canada
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* total estimated fees
Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) offers a 4-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) major in Music through our Bachelor of Arts, Science and Management programs.
In our 4-year program, students are provided with a well-rounded music education through applied music lessons on a primary instrument, courses in music history, theory and pedagogy. The 4-year program also allows students to choose a final capstone project either in the form of a performance recital or a research-based project.
CUE’s Faculty of Music offers a wide range of programs, centred primarily around classical music. Students will experience and benefit from private instruction in voice, piano, classical guitar, saxophone, strings, brass, woodwinds, organ, or percussion. Students may choose a primary and secondary instrument.
In addition, we offer one of the most active ensemble environments for a school of our size, including a Concert Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Ensembles, and, through a partnership with the Cosmopolitan Music Society, an array of wind band levels to participate in.
Our program will give you a solid, comprehensive foundation in three areas: performance through vocal and instrumental applied lessons and ensembles, music history and literature, and theory and composition. We also offer two certificates, the Certificate in Church Music and the Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance (30 credits each), which can be completed alongside your 4-year Bachelor of Arts in Music.
Areas of Study
You will study a range of subjects, including applied music, music theory, arranging, composition, conducting, music history, church music, music therapy, music technology, ear training, and music pedagogy.
Private instruction
Experience and benefit from private instruction in brass, guitar, keyboard (piano and organ), percussion, strings, voice, or winds.
Program Outcomes
Our Music graduates are prepared for a variety of music-related occupations, including performance and music instruction.
Many graduates also continue on to complete Concordia University of Edmonton’s Education After Degree program.
Performance
- 3 credits chosen from
- Applied Music - Brass Instruments (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Guitar (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Keyboard (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Percussion (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Strings (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Voice (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Winds (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Brass Instruments (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Guitar (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Keyboard (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Percussion (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Strings (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Voice (Primary Area), or
- Applied Music - Winds (Primary Area)
- 3 credits chosen from
- Choral Ensemble (Concert Choir)
- Choral Ensemble (Community Ensembles)
- Chamber Music Ensemble
- Symphony Orchestra, or
- Concert Band/Wind Ensemble
- 3 credits chosen from
- Applied Music - Brass Instruments (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Guitar (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Keyboard (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Percussion (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Strings (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Voice (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Winds (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Brass Instruments (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Guitar (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Keyboard (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Percussion (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Strings (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Voice (Primary Area)
- Applied Music - Winds (Primary Area)
- Choral Ensemble (Concert Choir)
- Choral Ensemble (Community Ensembles)
- Chamber Music Ensemble
- Symphony Orchestra, or
- Concert Band/Wind Ensemble
Theory and Composition
- Music Theory I and Music Theory II (Students may be required to take Advanced Rudiments of Music depending on their level of proficiency in music theory. In order to be successful in all areas of the degree, it is recommended that students take Music Theory I by their third year.)
- Aural and Keyboard Skills I and Aural and Keyboard Skills II
- 6 credits chosen from
- Introduction to Music Therapy
- Arranging
- Composition
- Introduction to Conducting
- Choral Methods, or
- the MUS 370-series
History and Literature
- 6 credits chosen from
- History of Western Music: Antiquity through Baroque
- History of Western Music: Classical to Present, or
- the MUS 380-series
Capstone
- Topics in Music
Senior Project/Recital
- One of
- Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Brass and Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Brass
- Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Guitar and Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Guitar
- Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Keyboard and Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Keyboard
- Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Percussion and Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Percussion
- Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Strings and Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Strings
- Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Voice and Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Voice
- Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Winds and Recital Preparation in Applied Music - Winds, or
- Senior Music Project Preparation and Senior Music Project
Unspecified
- 9–18 credits of unspecified senior-level MUS, MUPB, MUPG, MUPK, MUPP, MUPS, MUPV, MUPW, MUPE, or MUED courses
- 0-6 credits junior- or senior-level MUS, MUPB, MUPG, MUPK, MUPP, MUPS, MUPV, MUPW, or MUPE courses (Students may be required to take Rudiments of Music and/or Advanced Rudiments of Music depending on their level of proficiency in music theory.)
In addition to the above, students must complete:
- 6 credits of ENG courses
- 3 credits of courses offered by the Department of Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Classics
- 3 credits of courses in a language other than English.
- 3 credits of courses offered by the Department of Fine Arts other than Music
- 6 credits of courses offered by the Departments of Social Sciences or Psychology
- 6 credits of courses in the Faculty of Science
In addition to the above, students must present:
- Undergraduate Academic Integrity Training
Permissible minors: All minors listed in section 10.6, except for Music.
Students with a major in Music must complete a minimum of 12 credits of MUS, MUP, MUPB, MUPG, MUPK, MUPP, MUPS, MUPV, MUPW or MUPE at Concordia University of Edmonton.
Electives recommended to complement your music studies include:
In Music Education:
- Music Education for Young Children
- Music Literacy for Children
In Psychology:
- Basic Psychological Processes
In Drama:
- Fundamentals of Public Speaking
- Introduction to Dramatic Process
In Management:
- Business Fundamentals
- BUS 201
- Foundations of Leadership
In Physics:
- Physics of Music
In Religious Studies:
- Pop Culture and Religion
- Christianity and Culture from the Classical Mediterranean to the Modern World
- Religion and Pop Culture
In General University Studies:
- University Foundations
In History:
- History of Christianity
- Europe in the Central Middle Ages
- Late Medieval Europe and the World
- The Sixteenth Century, or
- Canadian History 1867-Present