BA Music (Popular Music) at Arizona State University

Programme overview

The Bachelor of Arts program in music offers a popular music concentration, for musicians like you who are interested in various popular music genres, such as singers, songwriters, laptop performers, producers, composers, instrumentalists and vocalists. You can choose between performer and nonperformer tracks, following a flexible major map. The program equips you with foundational skills in musicianship, preparing you for specialized areas such as songwriting, production, composition, performance and more.

Faculty: Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts | Department: School of Music, Dance and Theatre | Study mode: full-time | Location: Tempe, AZ, United States

What you will study

What If Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major .

Career pathways

Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including: Career Growth Median Salary More Information Art Professor Growth: 2.2% Median Salary: $78,620 Learn more Casting Director Growth: 4.0% Median Salary: $90,360 Learn more Freelance Writer Growth: -0.3% Median Salary: $76,910 Learn more Music Producer Growth: 1.2% Median Salary: $73,710 Learn more Musician/Singer Growth: 0.3% Median Salary: Not available Learn more Public Relations Manager (PR Manager) Growth: 5.7% Median Salary: $146,910 Learn more Public Relations Specialist Growth: 1.8% Median Salary: $74,750 Learn more Sound Recording Engineer Growth: -3.1% Median Salary: $73,130 Learn more Talent Agent Growth: 9.7% Median Salary: $82,890 Learn more Show more Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Audition Process for admittance to BA in Music (Popular Music) concentration: Artist Statement: All auditioning students must submit an artist statement explaining both their current work and vision of their future work in popular music. A minimum of 250 words is required. Audition: Live auditions or recorded auditions are required for admission to the BA program in popular music and for placement in MUP 111 Studio Instruction in popular music. A live audition consists of a 15-minute performance or presentation consisting of three to five selections of live or digital music performance. The selections may be original works or selections from popular music repertoire. The audition also includes scales, improvisation and aural skills. Students may also provide a recorded sample of their creative popular music work if they so choose. For students seeking to pursue popular music performance, a live or recorded performance video is required for at least part of the audition.

Domestic applicants: USD 12,177 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the undergraduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit Source

International applicants: USD 22,792 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the undergraduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loa Source

Entry terms: Fall and Spring semesters plus Summer; the estimator lists Fall 2026, Spring 2027 and Summer 2027 admit terms. Transfer students may start in multiple terms throughout the year.

First-year applications open on or around July 1. ASU's priority admission date is Nov. 1. The application fee is $55 for Arizona residents, $85 for domestic nonresidents, $75 for ASU Online and $90 for international nonresidents; apply with the ASU application or the Common Application (one only). ACT or SAT scores are not required for admission. FAFSA priority filing date: Jan. 15.

Transfer students apply with the ASU application or the Transfer Common Application; ASU uses rolling admission without hard deadlines for transfer applicants and decisions follow two to four weeks after all items are received. The application fee is $55 for Arizona residents, $85 for domestic nonresidents, $75 for ASU Online and $90 for international nonresidents. ACT or SAT scores are not required.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply

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