World Music Concentration

(B.A. degree in Ethnomusicology)

(Effective Fall 2007)

Students in the world music concentration may, through elective courses, prepare for a variety of career goals, including the study of ethnomusicology in graduate school, composing and performing music, working in the music industry, serving society in the nonprofit sector, or becoming a K-12 music teacher.

Students in the world music concentration must choose one of four emphases (see below). To select an emphasis, students who entered the program as freshmen must submit an application to the department in the Fall Quarter of their third year in the program. Students who entered as transfers must select their emphasis during Spring Quarter of their first year of training at UCLA.

Freshmen must submit application materials to the emphasis of their choice in the Fall Quarter of their third year in the program (Friday of the 5th week of Fall Quarter).

Transfer students must submit application materials to the emphasis of their choice during Spring Quarter of their first year in the program (Friday of 8th week of Spring Quarter).

Click here for more information on applying for an emphasis.

World Music Degree Requirements

General World Music Emphasis (for students interested in general training in world music. No application is required): Students must take courses in the music of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe; popular music and jazz; and the aesthetics, politics, and psychology of music. Students who do not apply for one of the emphases listed below will be automatically placed in the General World Music emphasis.

Performance and/or Composition Emphasis (for students interested in a career in performance and/or composition): Students must take courses in performance, composition, jazz keyboard harmony, theory, arranging and improvisation. Students must also give a final performance or compose an original composition.

Public Ethnomusicology Emphasis (for students interested in careers in the music industry, the music business, archiving, arts education, or arts administration): Students must take courses such as the music industry; the music business; audiovisual archiving; and music, science and technology. Students must also work as an intern in professional institutions to prepare for their careers.

Scholarly Research Emphasis (for students interested in pursuing graduate study): Students must choose from courses concerned with culture areas (Americas, Africa, and Asia); popular music and jazz; aesthetics, politics, and psychology; and/or special topics and individual studies. To demonstrate their research skills, students must also write a senior thesis.