Your Music. Your Direction.
Build a music degree around your interests and the future you want to create!
Your interests may not fit neatly within a single traditional music pathway. The Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Individualized Studies gives you the flexibility to connect your musical interests with your academic goals and the future you want to build.
You will develop a strong foundation in musicianship, music history, technology, business, applied study, and ensemble participation. From there, 24 hours of music electives and 21 hours of general electives give you substantial room to shape your education—with guidance from faculty and academic advisors.
Whether you want to prepare for an emerging music career, combine music with another area of study, pursue a double major, or bring transfer coursework into a clear path toward graduation, the Individualized Concentration helps you create a purposeful degree that reflects where you have been and where you want to go.
At the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, you will learn in a vibrant community of performers, creators, scholars, educators, and industry professionals. You will also study in Memphis, a city whose musical legacy and evolving creative industries offer countless opportunities for inspiration, connection, and discovery.
- Want to explore more than one area of music.
- Hope to connect music with another academic discipline.
- Are considering a double major.
- Are preparing for a music career that does not follow a traditional pathway.
- Are transferring from another institution or returning to complete your degree.
- Have meaningful musical experience outside traditional band, orchestra, or choir settings.
- Value the flexibility to build a course of study around your goals.
Build your foundation
Develop essential knowledge and experience through the 28-hour BA Music Major Core, including musicianship, music history, music technology and business, seminars, ensembles, and applied lessons.
Shape your focus
Choose 24 hours of music electives to explore the musical subjects, skills, and experiences most relevant to your interests.
Broaden your possibilities
Use 21 hours of general electives to connect music with another field, support a second major, or develop complementary knowledge for your future plans.
Students enter this concentration with many different kinds of musical experience. Review the School of Music’s admission and audition information to learn about the application process, important dates, and next steps.
What degree do we offer?
Outcomes
Students completing the Individualized Concentration will:
- Develop foundational skills in musicianship, music history, music technology, and music business.
- Gain experience through applied music study and participation in School of Music ensembles.
- Create an individualized academic focus through a broad selection of music and general electives.
- Connect musical study with complementary interests and disciplines.
- Develop an adaptable educational foundation for creative careers, entrepreneurship, community engagement, graduate study, or other professional goals.
- Complete a senior seminar that brings together their learning and prepares them to articulate their individual direction.
Map out your college experience
Explore the required courses and recommended sequence for completing the Bachelor of Arts in Music – Individualized Concentration.
VIEW THE 2026–27 DEGREE SHEET >
Degree requirements and course availability may vary based on catalog year and enrollment date. Students should work with an academic advisor when planning their individualized course of study.