Lawrence Township, USA
DEGREE TYPE
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest start date
TUITION FEES
USD 37,700 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Rider practices rolling admissions
** additional fees may apply
Key Summary
Introduction
Focuses on the study of 20th and 21st-century popular music. Tailor your studies, by selecting from one of three specialization tracks: general, performance and songwriting.
From jazz and country to rock and roll and hip-hop, our atypical music program explores music from The Beatles and Radiohead to pop and hip-hop geniuses, like Ariana Grande and Cardi B, and blends hands-on learning to provide students with a well-versed knowledge of theory, history and culture in popular music.
The B.A. in Music Production provides students with the skills necessary to make music at every step of the process. Students will take courses that help them germinate ideas for songs, flesh them out in arrangements, work fluidly in digital software, generate their own unique sounds through digital synthesis, and apply mixing techniques that make their songs ready to be shared with the world.
The Music Production B.A. grounds all of this work in an understanding of popular music theory and an exploration of the social and political histories of popular music, fostering well-rounded, deeply knowledgeable musicians. Music Production students are also encouraged to take courses in departments across the university that cover skills in radio, podcasting, and multimedia, as well as music publishing and other aspects of the music industry. The degree culminates in a capstone project or internship where the student applies all that they’ve learned in a self-directed study or a work environment in their future field.
Curriculum
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 those who transfer to Rider may follow a different plan to ensure a timely graduation. Each student, with guidance from his or her academic advisor, will develop a personalized educational plan.
Year 1
Fall Semester
- MUS 100 Popular Music Lab
- MUS 113 Popular Music Theory I
- & MUS 113L Popular Music Theory Lab I
- MUS 205 History of Pop and Rock Part I
- MUS 213 Digital Composition of Popular Music
- CMP 120 Seminar in Writing and Rhetoric
- Minor/Free Elective
Spring Semester
- MUS 100 Popular Music Lab
- MUS 114 Popular Music Theory II
& MUS 114L Popular Music Theory Lab II - MUS 206 History of Pop and Rock Part 2
- MUS 313 Digital Synthesis
- CMP 125 Seminar in Writing and Research
- Minor/Free Elective
Year 2
Fall Semester
- MUS 100 Popular Music Lab
- MUS 220 Songwriting
- Music Production Elective
- General Education Credits
- Minor/Free Elective
Spring Semester
- MUS 100 Popular Music Lab
- MUS 221 Popular Music Arranging
- Music Production Elective
- General Education Credits
- Minor/Free Electives
Year 3
Fall Semester
- MUS 100 Popular Music Lab
- MUS 308 World Music
- MUS 316 Digital Mixing and Mastering
- Music Production Elective
- General Education Credits
- Minor/Free Electives
Spring Semester
- MUS 100 Popular Music Lab
- MUS 116 Digital DJing
- Music Production Elective
- General Education Credits
- Minor/Free Elective
Year 4
Fall Semester
- MUS 100 Popular Music Lab
- Music Production Elective
- General Education Credits
- Minor/Free Electives
Spring Semester
- MUS 100 Popular Music Lab
- MUS 491 Internship in Music
or MUS 498 Popular Music Culture Capstone - Music Production Elective
- General Education Credits
- Minor/Free Elective
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
At Rider, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all, and our aid packages are no exception. In fact, 99% of students receive Rider-funded scholarships and financial aid. Let us work closely with you and your family to find scholarships and aid that are right for you.
| 99% of students receive Rider-funded scholarships and financial aid | $21.8 Average student assistance package | $71.2 million Total institutional funds awarded by Rider for the 21–22 school year |
Career Opportunities
Graduates emerge with developed talents and skills in all musical areas, ready to enter a variety of popular music-related careers.
Common careers:
- Producer
- Performer
- Sound engineering
- Television and media production
- Arts administrator
- Music educator
- Local arts organizer
Career Preparation
Westminster College of the Arts is brimming with on-campus opportunities for students to exercise their learned skills. You’ll also have the opportunity to strengthen your creative muscles and build your résumé in professional internships.
Recent student internships include:
- Sony Red
- Atlantic Records
- VH1 Save the Music
- New Jersey 101.5
- Water Music Recording Studios
Student Testimonials
English Language Requirements
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