A music history degree at University of the Pacific will give you opportunities to study the interaction of music and culture. This can be done as a stand-alone Bachelor of Music degree or as a minor in conjunction with any other Bachelor of Music degree.
Though all conservatory students study some music history in order to contextualize musical trends, composers, and individual musical works, the opportunity to major in music history at the undergraduate level is somewhat rare. At Pacific you will receive a broad exposure to musical eras and genres that encourages development of communication and research skills applied to music. Our graduates have gone on to PhD in musicology and ethnomusicology, archival and librarianship programs, popular writing or criticism on musical figures, and conducting careers; they have also used music history to inform their performance careers or their work as music educators, analysts or composers. You will be assured of several opportunities to practice and acquire the tools of the profession, through coursework and ample independent study and personal attention to your future goals. Recent students have had research projects ranging from Schoenberg’s relationship with Mahler, French baroque music, and individual works by Beethoven and Mendelssohn to examinations of hyperpop, Black opera composers, and women orchestral composers. The department encourages development of broad values regarding the music we listen to, compose, support, or perform.
