Bachelor of Arts in Music (B.A.M.)
Lawrence Township, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 61,215 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international applicants studying in country | international applicants studying out of country: 15 june 2025
** for living on campus | living at home: 43,515 USD per year
Crafted with flexibility in mind, the Bachelor of Arts in Music (BAM) degree offers musically talented students the opportunity to double major or pursue a dual degree in any of Rider’s colleges and schools while receiving training and performance access to the renowned Westminster Choir College. Students can choose voice, piano, or organ as their primary instrument alongside a concentration or minor. Select from one of the many minors offered across the University, or choose a concentration such as music theory, music composition, music history, or sacred music.
Program Overview
All students in the B.A.M. degree select a minor or a concentration. Concentrations are offered in specialized areas of music and require 9-10 credits. These include Composition Studies, Music Theory, Music History, and Sacred Music, among others.
Minors are offered in most disciplines of the university and require 18-21 credits. Students may choose from any concentration or minor approved by Rider University.
Typically, this selection is made no later than the end of the sophomore year. Students are encouraged to make this decision earlier, if possible, as the date of the decision may affect progress towards a timely graduation. The declaration is made through the Registrar’s office.
Courses taken to fulfill Arts and Sciences core requirements may be used to complete minor requirements. Interested students have the option to take elective composition lessons for an additional fee.
Rider’s financial aid office works with families to ensure an undergraduate education is affordable at every income level. Scholarship and aid award offers are customized to fit your unique financial circumstances.
To get a full picture of the scholarships, grants, and other aid that you may be eligible to receive, apply to Rider and transmit your FAFSA using federal school code 002628. Merit-based scholarships and aid are automatically awarded when you apply, and once we receive your FAFSA, the Office of Financial Aid can help identify additional resources to fund your education.
Scholarships and Awards
The scholarships below are competitive and are typically awarded based on a comprehensive review of the student's academic record, including cumulative high school GPA, rigor of academic course selection, test scores, and auditions (if applicable), and other supporting credentials.
| Scholarships Awards | Award Range | Maximum value over 4 years |
|---|---|---|
| Merit-based scholarships | $14,000 - $27,000 annually | Variable based on financial aid offer. Students who meet the criteria and qualifications for a scholarship automatically receive the award upon admission to Rider. No additional scholarship application is required. |
To be considered for a merit-based academic scholarship, you must:
- Apply to Rider: Submit your completed application for admission, including official transcripts, standardized test scores (unless applying test-optional), essay, and one letter of recommendation by January 15. (Note: the final deadline is November 15th for all Musical Theatre and Acting applicants.)
- Rider offers Test-optional Admission, which means SAT/ACT scores are not required for admission and most scholarships at Rider. Test-optional applicants will be given full consideration for most merit-based scholarships.
- Are you a high achiever? Students with a 4.0 GPA and 1300+ SAT/28+ ACT score may be eligible to receive the maximum merit-based scholarship offer of $27,000. You must submit your SAT/ACTs to Rider in order to qualify for this award level.
- Complete an audition, if required (audition results are a factor in scholarship awards).
- Be regularly admissible to the University as a full-time student.
- Have a minimum cumulative academic 2.7 GPA (unweighted) on a 4.0 scale.
For New Jersey residents—the Rider Tuition Guarantee:
Rider guarantees free tuition for qualified in-state students! If you're a New Jersey resident with a GPA of 3.5 or above based on a 4.0 grading scale, an adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less, and are receiving both full TAG and Pell grants, you may be eligible to attend Rider University tuition-free when you apply as an undergraduate student for the fall 2025 or spring 2026 start terms. Terms and conditions apply.
Visit our website to learn more about the scholarships and aid opportunities.
Our innovative curriculum provides a comprehensive academic education with rigorous musical training that develops creative and intellectual habits essential for success in careers of all kinds.
Students in the BAM program must select either a concentration or a minor. This provides students with flexibility in approaching their education and the opportunity to study subjects that interest them and prepare them for a variety of career paths.
Academic Plan of Study
The following educational plan is provided as a sample only. Rider students who do not declare a major during their freshman year, who are in a Continuing Education Program, who change their major, or who transfer to Rider may follow a different plan to ensure timely graduation. Each student, with guidance from their academic advisor, will develop a personalized educational plan.
Year 1
Fall Semester
- Chapel Choir
- Piano Secondary I or Voice Secondary
- Applied Organ or Applied Piano or Applied Voice
- Musicianship I
- English & Italian Diction I
- Seminar in Writing and Rhetoric or Honors Seminar: Great Ideas I
- Foreign Language Level I
Spring Semester
- Chapel Choir
- Piano Secondary II or Voice Secondary
- Applied Organ or Applied Piano or Applied Voice
- French & German Diction I
- Musicianship II
- Seminar in Writing and Research or Literature and Composition or Honors Seminar: Great Ideas II
- Foreign Language Level II
Year 2
Fall Semester
- Schola Cantorum
- Piano Secondary III or Voice Secondary
- Applied Organ or Applied Piano or Applied Voice
- Musicianship III
- Music Historiography I
- French & German Diction I
- Pre-Modern World: Evolution to Revolution
Spring Semester
- Schola Cantorum
- Piano Secondary BAM or Voice Secondary
- Applied Organ or Applied Piano or Applied Voice
- Music Historiography II
- World in the Modern Era: Exploration to Globalization or Contemporary World: Historical Perspectives or Cold War: A Global History
- General Education Elective
Year 3
Fall Semester
- Symphonic Choir
- Applied Organ or Applied Piano or Applied Voice
- Seminar in Music History
- Concentration Course
- Speech Communication
- General Education Elective
Spring Semester
- Symphonic Choir
- Contemporary Trends or Music Since 1900
- Applied Organ or Applied Piano or Applied Voice
- Concentration Course
- General Education Electives
Year 4
Fall Semester
- Symphonic Choir
- Applied Organ or Applied Piano or Applied Voice
- Concentration Course
- General Education Electives
Spring Semester
- Symphonic Choir
- Applied Organ or Applied Piano or Applied Voice
- General Education Electives
- Free Electives
Cultivate your creativity
Westminster Choir College is brimming with on-campus opportunities for students to exercise their learned skills. Gain valuable experience by working on the creative and managerial teams for both on-campus and local stage productions, and through internships in campus administrative departments and with local arts organizations.
Students are also eligible to receive the Undergraduate Research Scholarship Award and participate in the annual Celebration of Westminster Student Research and the Independent Scholarship and Creative Activities Presentation (ISCAP) Day.
With a broad foundation in liberal studies complemented by extensive studies in music, BAM graduates have the flexibility to explore a spectrum of careers that directly involve music or extend beyond it.
Common careers:
- Arts administrator
- Studio coordinator
- Researcher
- Graduate assistant
- Communications specialist
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