Academic Area
Music is an art and practice that matters enormously to humans. At the University of Alberta, the academic study of music allows you to explore those ways through a rich selection of courses and programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. As a distinctive and powerful element of human culture, music can be studied in a variety of ways.
In addition to elective courses, undergraduate students can pursue academic music studies through the certificate program in World Sound Arts, the BA Major or Minor, the BA Honors program in Music, and the BMus. In the BMus, the general route can be tailored to focus on academic study or a particular aspect of it (world music, Western music history, music theory, etc.).
The MA and PhD in Music are designed for advanced academic study of music, with concentration on areas including musicology, music theory, ethnomusicology, and popular music and media, or integrating those areas in a unique program. Particular strengths include, but are not limited to, music and health, global music history, canon formation, music theory and philosophy, ownership, experimental music, music and media industries, and video game music. Recent published work and research topics are listed on the Faculty profile pages.
We encourage you to contact any member of the faculty to discuss possibilities for graduate study.