University of Washington campus

Arts & Humanities

BA Music Theory at University of Washington

University of Washington, United States

Programme overview

The School of Music at the University of Washington is a comprehensive professional school offering both performance and research-oriented degree programs. There are over 500 music majors pursuing the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Master of Arts, Master of Music, Doctor of Musical Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy. In addition, many students who are not majors take private instruction or participate in an ensemble for their own enjoyment.

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences  |  Department: Music  |  Duration: 74 credits  |  Location: Seattle, WA, United States

What you will study

74 credits; Core courses (30 credits): MUSIC 201, MUSIC 202, MUSIC 203, MUSIC 204, MUSIC 205, MUSIC 206, MUSIC 216, MUSIC 250, MUSIC 331, MUSIC 498, MUHST 212; Minimum 6 credits MUSEN ensembles; Minimum 23 credits approved American music studies electives with at least one course from each of the following lists: theory/music analysis; comparative perspective; and ethnomusicological/cultural. See adviser for approved lists.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission is competitive to all music programs. All students must participate in an entrance audition or submit an application and satisfy the requirements of each degree program or track for admittance. Check department website for entrance audition dates. Major status in performance areas is accorded when, after admission to the College of Arts and Sciences is acknowledged and the required School of Music audition is successfully completed, the student commences applied-music study in a performance medium (e.g., voice) with an approved faculty member of the School of Music. In American music studies, music education, composition, and ethnomusicology, additional entrance requirements apply. All music programs require instruction on an instrument. Auditions into freshman-level applied-music instruction (private lessons) are based on the assumption that a student's background includes ...

Domestic applicants: USD 12,664 a year (2026-27). Resident rate. Seattle campus, full-time, Autumn+Winter+Spring quarters, rate band "Undergraduate" Undergraduate rate for tuition-based programs. Tuition only (operating + building fee); excludes technology fee, services & activities fee, IMA bond and fac Source

International applicants: USD 44,580 a year (2026-27). Non-Resident rate. Seattle campus, full-time, Autumn+Winter+Spring quarters, rate band "Undergraduate" Undergraduate rate for tuition-based programs. Tuition only (operating + building fee); excludes technology fee, services & activities fee, IMA bond and Source

First-year entry quarters: Autumn (begins late September), Winter (begins early January; not open to international first-year applicants), Summer (begins mid-June; most degree-seeking students apply for Autumn). Spring quarter is not open to first-year applicants.

Transfer entry: Autumn and Summer quarters; Spring quarter transfer admission is open only to applicants to specific departments in engineering and computer science.

First-year applications for Autumn (and Summer) open August 15 and close November 15; notification March 1-15. Winter applications open August 1 and close September 1, with notification in November and December. The UW does not offer early decision or early action. Apply through the Common App.

First-year application fee is $85 for U.S. students (fee waivers available) and $95 for international students (no fee waivers). Application requires a Common App essay and a self-reported academic record in STARS. SAT/ACT scores are not required for most applicants; homeschooled applicants and applicants from schools without letter or numeric grades must submit SAT or ACT scores. International applicants submit TOEFL or IELTS scores meeting the minimum English proficiency requirement.

Transfer applications for Autumn and Summer open December 15 and close February 28; notification May 1 to June 30. Transfer application fee is $85 (U.S., fee waivers available) or $95 (international, no fee waivers). SAT/ACT scores are not required for transfer applicants.

Apply through the official page: https://admit.washington.edu/apply/

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