School of Audio and MusicMusic Bachelor's Degree
- BA
Refine your music skills and tap into your professional potential by earning a BA in Music at Columbia College Chicago, where we focus on contemporary, jazz, and popular music. Here, you’ll learn theory, composition, improvisation, arranging, technology, history, analysis, and aural skills. Private lessons focused on your primary instrument/voice will give you the one-on-one attention to grow as a musician while other coursework and performance opportunities will provide invaluable collaborative music-making experiences. NOTE: For a Music BA at Columbia College Chicago, no audition is required.
Examples of Music Careers
The Student Experience
Explore our classes and the many opportunities you’ll have at Columbia to grow your talent, collaborate with other musicians, and perform music.
With a BA in music, you can take advantage of the many classes outside your major, including business and marketing courses. You can add a minor or even another major to complement your Music degree.
Gain skills and experience in collaborative music-making in one of our ensemble courses covering such genres as pop, rock, jazz, R&B, fusion, and gospel as well as ensembles dedicated to creating original music.
These required lessons with experienced professional musicians are available across a range of vocal and instrumental genres and styles and will help you master your performance skills and distinctive sound.
As part of your coursework, participate in Chicago’s vibrant music scene on and off campus. Columbia’s Music Center hosts more than 200 student, faculty, and artist-in-residence performances and workshops each year.
Professional musicians come for week-long residencies every semester; they lead workshops and master classes with student ensembles as well as recording sessions and public performances.
Our diverse faculty, some of whom are GRAMMY and Emmy winners, includes composers and arrangers, performers who have toured with well-known bands, and music educators.
With access to rehearsal space, concert halls, and recording gear, you’ll have the space and tools in to make your music.
Take advantage of our study abroad program while earning college credits. Scholarships and financial aid are available.
Career Readiness
Columbia faculty and staff support you in your career pursuits, whether you want to play in a band, compose or arrange music, teach music, or work in the music industry for a venue, recording studio, or record label.
Our Career Center provides advice and guidance on everything from finding an internship to building your music portfolio to identifying the different ways to become a working musician.
Our Alumni Network is here to connect you to key people to support and guide you throughout your career in music.
Alumni Spotlight
Jonathan McReynolds ‘11
GRAMMY-winning gospel artist and six-time GRAMMY nominee who recently performed with Common at the Democratic National Convention.
of 2023 grads are employed, enrolled in continued education, or pursuing their creative practice.