BA Music at University of Chicago

Programme overview

The Department of Music aims to broaden the exposure to and enrich the understanding of the various Western, non-Western, and vernacular musical traditions of the world. Courses develop students’ ability to analyze works and their structures; to understand music within historical lineages and socio-cultural practices; and to engage in the creative practice of music via composition and performance. The BA program in music provides a critical foundation for graduate work in music studies, careers in media production, education, or research, and provides an artistic, humanistic complement to stud

Faculty: The College | Department: Music | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Autumn | Location: Chicago, IL, United States

What you will study

General education courses listed here, which do not count toward the music major or minor, are open to all students, regardless of previous musical background; in most cases reading music notation is not required.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission is to the College, not to the major (university-level requirement): first-year applicants apply through the Common Application or Apply Coalition with the UChicago supplement essays and submit the secondary school report and transcript, two teacher evaluations and a mid-year report; testing follows the University's No Harm Testing Policy. Majors are declared after enrolment and must satisfy the College general education Core plus the major requirements listed in the catalogue.

USD 75,960 a year (2026-27). College tuition for the 2026-27 academic year (cost of attendance table); excludes student services fee, U-Pass fee, class fee, housing, food and books. Source

First-year admission is offered for entrance in the Autumn Quarter only (except prospective students-at-large).

First-year application plans (as published for the 2025-26 cycle): Early Decision I and Early Action deadline 3 November 2025; Early Decision II and Regular Decision deadline 5 January 2026. Applications are accepted through the Common Application and Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir. An application fee or automatic fee waiver is required, SAT/ACT scores are covered by the No Harm Testing Policy.

Apply through the official page: https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/application/

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