Undergraduate Programs

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the Department of Music offers programs for the entire student body as well as for the serious musician pursuing a music major. Explore the Music Major, the Music Minor, and Music Courses for the Non-Major.

  • All College of Charleston students, regardless of major, benefit from broad exposure to many academic areas through the College’s liberal arts education. Music, one of the original liberal arts, plays an important and distinctive role in the lives and education of the entire campus community.
  • Students enjoy small class size and individual instruction by faculty members who are all accomplished professional musicians.
  • The department offers numerous opportunities to perform and to attend performances by world-class artists and distinguished faculty members.

Major in Music

Students may earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in music, with a concentration in one of three areas.

In addition to completing the standard College-wide form for declaring a major in a specific department, music majors need to be accepted through an audition (if majoring in a performance area) or a conference with a faculty member (music theory & composition or music history).

Minor in Music

The minor in music consists of nine hours of required courses in music theory, music literature, and music history, plus nine hours of music electives. All music minors are advised by Dr. Blake Stevens.

Courses for Non-Music Majors: Click Here to learn more!

In addition to the Music Minor, there are many opportunities for non-majors to participate in ensembles, applied lessons, and music classes.

Ensembles

College of Charleston ensembles are open to both majors and non-majors. Auditions/interviews for ensembles are held at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Please check with the Music Office for specific schedules.

Applied Lessons

The Music Department offers individual instruction in both classical and jazz performance areas. Private lessons are 30 minutes (1 credit hour) or 60 minutes (2 credit hours) per week. These lessons carry a fee of $225 per credit hour in addition to regular tuition charges. Auditions/interviews are held at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Please check with the Music Office for specific schedules.

Music Courses for Non-Majors That Qualify as Humanities: Click Here to learn more!

  • MUSC 131 Music Appreciation
  • MUSC 222 Special Topics for Non-Majors
  • MUSC 223 History of Electronic Music: Electronica, Rock, and the Avant-Garde
  • MUSC 225 The Beatles and Musical Culture of the 1960s
  • MUSC 227 Broadway: The History of American Musical Theatre
  • MUSC 230 Masterworks of Music
  • MUSC 232 History of Popular Music in the United States
  • MUSC 233 World Music Cultures
  • MUSC 234 Music in Latin America
  • MUSC 280 Music as Culture