World music refers to traditional and popular music from all over the world and from the many ethnic groups of the United States. In the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music world music is taught by the Department of Ethnomusicology, which has the largest program of its kind in the U.S. The department offers a wide range of academic courses that analyze the position of music in the cultural, social, economic, and political life of communities around the world. Its performance ensembles represent musical cultures from all corners of the world, including music of Bali, the Balkans, Brazil, China, Ghana, Korea, Mexico, the Near East, and the U.S. (African-American music).

Undergraduate Major in World Music

Graduate Program in Ethnomusicology

General Education Courses in World Music

World Music Performance Ensembles