The UWG Department of Music offers professional undergraduate and graduate degree programs in music. These programs are designed to prepare talented students for careers in music education, performance, or composition.
In addition to the specific degree programs, students find enrichment through concerts, recitals, workshops, and master classes by visiting performers and scholars and the department's full-time and part-time faculty. The University of West Georgia is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
Students at West Georgia, regardless of their major, participate in a wide range of music performance activities for university credit. University ensembles include the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Opera Workshop, Symphony Band, Chamber Winds, Jazz Ensemble, Marching Band, Keyboard Ensemble, and various small ensembles. Private study is offered in piano, organ, voice, guitar, and the wind, brass, and percussion instruments.
The following undergraduate and graduate programs are offered in music (The following links redirect you to the UWG Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog):
- Bachelor of Music in Music Education
This program is intended for those students who wish to teach music in the schools at the elementary, middle, and/or high school level. Students who complete this program have many career options in teaching and performance and can opt to pursue graduate study and seek teaching positions in higher education. Options under this degree program include 1) Keyboard & Guitar, 2) Voice, and 3) Woodwind, Brass & Percusion. - Bachelor of Music in Performance
This program is designed for those students who wish to pursue a professional performance career, pursue graduate study and seek teaching positions in higher education, or establish private studios. - Bachelor of Music in Performance with emphasis in Jazz Studies
This program is intended for those students who wish to pursue the performance degree with a special emphasis in jazz. Students in this program take specialized courses in jazz improvisation, jazz composition and arranging, and jazz history. - Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance/Emphasis in Piano Pedagogy
This program is intended for those students who wish to pursue the performance degree with a special emphasis in piano pedagogy. Students in this program take specialized courses in piano pedagogy, keyboard literature, and collaborative performance. - Bachelor of Music in Composition
This program is designed for those students who wish to become composers or who wish to pursue graduate study and seek teaching positions in higher education. - Music Minor
The music minor is designed for undergraduate students who wish to continue formal study in music while earning a degree in another field of study. The typical music-minor student actively performs in the University's choral and vocal ensembles, bands, percussion groups, and small ensembles. - Initial Certification Program in Music Education (P-12)
The Initial Certification Program in Music Education is a non-degree program designed for those individuals who have an earned undergraduate degree in music from an accredited institution and wish to obtain certification to teach music (P-12) in Georgia. - Master of Music Degree Admission Requirements
- Master of Music in Music Education
This fully online program is intended for those individuals who seek advanced licensure in music teaching or for those who wish to pursue doctoral study and seek teaching positions in higher education. - Master of Music in Performance
This program is intended for those individuals who seek advanced training in music performance and/or wish to pursue doctoral study and seek teaching positions in higher education.