Bachelor of Music Studies/Bachelor of Arts

The aim of the combined Bachelor of Music Studies/Bachelor of Arts course is to allow students to develop musical skills in composition, musicology, music education and performance together with expertise in an arts discipline within a broad humanities context.

The structure of the course facilitates creative interdisciplinary links within music disciplines and between music and other subject areas in the University of Sydney. The course develops broadly educated musicians who are able to apply their knowledge, skills and attitudes creatively and flexibly in a variety of music and music-related professions.

Course structure

Units of study which can be taken for the degree are set out in the relevant unit of study tables for the Bachelor of Arts in the Arts Handbook, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences undergraduate handbook and for the Bachelor of Music Studies in the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Handbook.

All students take a Principal Study in an instrument, voice, composition or musicology, core units in music skills, studies in analysis, history and culture plus other units of their own choice.

Principal study is available in the following areas:

• Brass: Horn, trombone, trumpet, tuba
• Composition: instrumental/vocal or electroacoustic
• Contemporary Music Practice
• Historical Performance: baroque flute, harpsichord, lute, recorder, viola da gamba, baroque trumpet
• Musicology stream (General Stream)
• Organ
• Percussion
• Piano
• Strings: cello, double bass, guitar, harp, viola, violin
• Voice: classical or jazz
• Woodwind: bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone.

Core requirements

Students must successfully complete 240 credit points comprising 126 credit points from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, plus 114 credit points from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and reach the minimum levels of achievement in each core area as outlined in the Degree Resolutions.

Typical enrolment patterns

A typical enrolment program over 10 semesters in the Bachelor of Music Studies/Bachelor of Arts, together with the credit point values accumulated in Conservatorium units of study (114 credit points) and those to be accumulated in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (126 credit points). Students should follow the typical enrolment patterns appropriate to their specialisation. Students are required to ensure the award course is completed within 5 years full-time or equivalent.