Prepare for a Career in Music

A Bachelor of Arts degree at Waldorf University will provide a comprehensive music education program for students interested in teaching, performing, church music, or arts management. A liberal arts approach to our instruction allows for classes such as music theory, practical musicianship, music technology, sight singing and dictation to provide the framework for advanced studies in music history, choral and instrumental conducting, commercial music and music literature. Music majors participate as solo and/or ensemble participants, attend and perform in recitals, and take voice and piano classes, providing extensive, diverse musical experiences. Additionally, students can perform on national tours and at local schools and churches. Non-Majors engaged in co-curricular studies around campus also have the privilege of performing with any of our ensembles, many with scholarship incentives.

Bachelor of Arts in Performance

The Bachelor of Arts in Performance (Instrumental, Vocal, or Piano concentration) prepares the student to attain the knowledge, competencies and skills to enter many professional careers in music, including musicians, performers, composers, teachers, arts administration, music technologies, conductors, solo and chamber musicians, commercial or studio musicians, ensemble players, freelancers, orchestrators, film composers, copyists, and music educator in early childhood, private, public and college/university music programs.

Bachelor of Science in K-12 Music Education

The Bachelor of Science in K-12 Music Education degree leads to provisional PK-12 certification in the State of Iowa. The program is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in music education. Program goals include:

  1. To prepare students to become highly skilled teaching professionals.
  2. To prepare students to become highly skilled performers on their principle instrument.
  3. To give students a comprehensive musical education, which includes experiences in traditional ensembles, conducting, form and analysis, music history, music of diverse cultures, pedagogy, music technology, composition, improvisation and professional development.
  4. To increase students’ understanding and awareness of the arts in relation to society, particularly in the education system; thereby developing lifelong advocates of the arts.

Self-declared music education majors must maintain a GPA of 2.67 or higher upon completing 60 credit hours of coursework to remain a self-declared education major. Students must achieve a GPA of 2.8 or higher to be accepted into all professional education programs as candidates for teacher certification.

Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management

The Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management is an interdisciplinary program that combines arts management, business, performing arts and an area of artistic specialization in art, film, music or theater. The degree prepares students for careers in arts organizations and arts-related businesses or for graduate study in arts management. Students are required to complete practicums and internships to apply the concepts and techniques they learn in the classroom, culminating in a senior project. The program features a curriculum based on nonprofit management objectives that explores the arts, public administration, financial management, grant writing and advertising theories. Students graduate with a foundational knowledge of best practices and methods for managing arts organizations and foundations. Semester internships may be arranged locally, regionally, nationally or internationally.