Double Major with Music

Students who wish to combine a music major with another degree program have the opportunity to do so with the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. This program is the most flexible music major and combines well with many other majors (see below). Students in this program participate in ensembles, have the opportunity for private study (with audition) in voice or a primary instrument and participate fully in the School of Music. 

The Bachelor of Arts in Music also offers concentrations in jazz, performance, theory/composition and musicology. Dual degrees and double majors are also possible with Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Sciences degrees, but are less common. 

The tabs below detail recent graduates who pursued the Bachelor of Arts in Music double major or dual degree combinations and their time to degree completion. Other combinations are possible beyond what is listed here. 

Actual time to degree completion may vary depending on the individual student's situation (i.e. credits earned per semester, summer coursework and entering with existing college credits.)

From Ohio State News

New national study shows how a double major in college can protect future income.

Double Major Student Highlights

Nick Paul

BA in Music (saxophone), BA in History
Graduation year: 2024 (4 years)

A dual degree in music and history allowed me to pursue my passion of music and still prepare myself for law school. While I was happy to perform at a high level in the School of Music, what I didn’t expect was for music to teach me skills that were applicable to my legal journey and every other facet of life.

Maggie McCarter

BA in Music Performance (flute), BA in Zoology
Graduation year: 2022 (4 years)

I talked to professors during my audition processes for flute, and Ohio State was one that said, ‘Absolutely, this will work. We will let you do both.’ It was a main reason why I wanted to go here.

Read more about Maggie and how she combined her love for music and animals. 

Emily Nothnagle

BS in Psychology with Research Distinction, 2021
BA in Music with Honors in the Arts, 2021
BA in Anthropology, 2022
Society & Environmental Issues Minor
History Minor
Graduation year: 2022 (5 years)

Triple majoring in Music, Psychology and Anthropology certainly wasn't easy, but I received tremendous support and encouragement from the professors and advisors in the School of Music. I pursued three bachelor degrees because I wanted to be able to explore all of my passions without having to give anything up, and I found that the three fields connect in surprising and fascinating ways!

Read how Emily approached her studies in numerous areas of interest while also excelling at numerous extra-curricular activities, including a NCAA championship. 

And, let's not forget, the Director of the Best Damn Band in the Land... 

Christopher Hoch 

BS Mathematics
BME Music Education
Graduation year: 2000 (5 years)

In addition to: 
MM Instrumental Conducting
MM Music Education
PhD Music Education

For Chris Hoch, background in math and music education is a winning combination.

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