BA Music at University of California, Davis

Programme overview

The Bachelor of Arts degree in music provides both a broad liberal arts education and the skills necessary to explore music through its history, composition, theory, and performance. Students majoring in music may choose from four tracks in the major: (1) composition, (2) music history, theory, and ethnomusicology, (3) performance, or (4) an independent track . After a common core of courses in the lower division, students pursue their chosen track with specialized courses leading to an appropriate senior project.

Faculty: College of Letters & Science | Department: Music | Duration: 61 units (quarter system) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Davis, CA, United States

What you will study

The major requires a minimum of 61 units. Requirements are organised into preparatory subject matter, depth subject matter, core components. Required courses include MUS 006B Elementary Theory, Part; MUS 007C Intermediate Theory, Part; MUS 013 Introduction to Musicianship, Part; MUS 016B Elementary Musicianship, Part; MUS 017C Intermediate Musicianship, Part.

Career pathways

Students who graduate with a B.A. in music from UC Davis have gone on to careers as composers, performers, educators, scholars, and as professionals in the concert, media, and computing industries.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission is to UC Davis and the College of Letters & Science; the catalogue entry gives no major-specific admission requirement beyond the major requirements below.

Domestic applicants: USD 14,202 a year (2026-27). Systemwide UC undergraduate Tuition for California residents, cohort first enrolled in 2026-27 (annual, quarter system); rate is the same for all undergraduate majors. Excludes Student Services Fee, campus-based fees, and Nonresident Supplemental Tuition. Source

First-year and transfer students enter in the fall term (quarter system); the UC application opens Aug. 1 and the filing period is Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 for admission the following year.

The UC application filing period is Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 for admission the following year, and a single application covers all UC campuses.

The UC application filing fee is $80 per campus for domestic applicants and $95 per campus for international applicants, payable by credit card or mail; fee waivers are available for up to four campuses.

Transfer applicants submit the UC application by Nov. 30; Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) applications are due Sept. 1-30; the priority deadline for the Transfer Academic Update is Jan. 31.

Apply through the official page: https://www.ucdavis.edu/admissions

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