Conservatory of Music

B.M. Music History

Program Director: Sarah Clemmens Waltz, Music History Faculty.

A degree from the Conservatory's Music History program is one of the richest ways to study a broad range of topics while approaching music as an intellectual pursuit. Because they examine music within an historical and sociological context, University of the Pacific music history students combine a strong core of courses in foreign languages and the humanities with intensive Conservatory musical training.

The four-year Music History program begins with three survey courses that present music history from ancient Greece to the modern era, moves to a series of courses that immerse the student in intensive specialized work, and culminates in a senior thesis.

Students have access to a wide range of courses within the liberal arts, as well as to specialized courses in music history and music theory. From our program, Music History majors often go on to graduate school to pursue master's and doctoral degrees, which enable them to teach at the university level. Other options include using a music history major as preparation for the study of conducting or music criticism; combining music history with performance skills for a career in early music performance; or combining music history with a degree in library science for a career as a music librarian.