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Understanding College Degrees and Majors
When it comes to preparing for college, choosing the right degree and major can feel overwhelming — especially if you're the first in your family to navigate this process. But don’t worry. Understanding a few key terms can help you make smarter decisions and find the best path toward your future career.
One of the most important things to know? A degree and a major are not the same thing. Colleges use these terms carefully — and using them correctly shows you’re prepared and serious.
Let’s break it all down.
| Term | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | The overall credential you earn after completing your program of study | Bachelor of Music (BM) |
| Major | Your main area of academic focus inside that degree |
When you talk to a college admissions officer or fill out applications, be sure to use the right words. This shows you understand how college works — and it makes a great first impression.
Say:
Don’t Say:
Mixing up “degree” and “major” is a common mistake — but using them correctly shows admissions officers that you’re serious, well-prepared, and ready for college-level work.
Quick Reminder:
Degree = the credential or diploma you earn (e.g., Bachelor of Music)
Major = your main subject of study (e.g., Composition)
A degree is the official credential you earn after finishing a college program.
Music students typically pursue one of these:
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
Bachelor of Music (BM)
Your degree shows the level and type of education you’ve completed.
Your major is the subject you concentrate on while earning your degree.
Example:
Degree: Bachelor of Music (BM)
Major: Composition, Viola Performance, Music Education
A major is your primary focus — it’s what you specialize in.
A minor is a secondary subject you study in addition to your major.
Example: A student might earn a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Minor in Songwriting.
Let’s break it all down.
| Degree | Focus | Majors | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA (Bachelor of Arts) | Broader, general education plus music studies | Music Music Education |
Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities |
| BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) | Intense, professional training in performing arts | Music Performance | Conservatories Schools of Music Institutes of Music |
BA programs combine music study with a wide variety of liberal arts classes — humanities, writing, languages, and more.
You’ll still get music training but also build skills in critical thinking, writing, and communication.
Why does this matter for musicians and educators?
The broader education you gain in a BA program doesn’t just make you smarter — it makes you a better teacher, communicator, and professional artist.
BFA programs — like those at Juilliard or Oberlin Conservatory — immerse you in performance training. They’re designed to shape students into professional performers over four intensive years.
BFA students focus heavily on private instruction, ensembles, recitals, and studio work, preparing for careers on the stage.
If you dislike spending time alone in a practice room, a BFA program may not be the best fit for you.
Some colleges offer both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Music Education.
Both degrees can qualify you to become a certified music teacher — one is not better than the other.
Key Differences:
What does “technical” mean here? In a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, technical means a focus on the scientific, research-driven side of education — not computer programming.
For example:
Important: Technical in this context means precise, research-based training to make you a better music educator.
The Bachelor of Music (BM) is the most specialized degree for music students.
It focuses heavily on:
BM students often take extra performance credits for lessons, ensemble rehearsals, and solo recitals.
This heavier performance load may:
Important Fees to Plan For:
Always ask your college about these additional costs — they vary widely between institutions.
Music majors are often asked, “What will you do with that degree?” — and the answer is: a lot.
A music degree teaches creativity, discipline, communication, and teamwork — all skills that employers value across industries.
| Career Field | Example Jobs |
|---|---|
| Performance | Soloist, Orchestra Musician, Touring Artist |
| Education | K-12 Music Teacher, Private Instructor, University Professor (with graduate degree) |
| Therapy & Health | Music Therapist (with certification) |
| Media & Business | Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, Recording Technician |
| Church | Worship Leader, Choirmaster |
Good news: Whether you choose a BA, BS, BFA, or BM, the degree type usually does not impact the base tuition or your eligibility for scholarships.
What can affect cost:
For Music Majors: BM and BFA degrees often have additional costs — be sure to ask about:
Try these sentences:
If you can say it this way, you're using college vocabulary correctly!
Understanding the difference between a degree and a major is more than a vocabulary lesson — it’s a key step toward college and career success.
Your degree is the credential you earn — Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Your major is the subject you dive deep into — Composition, Music Education, Songwriting, or Performance.
Getting the words right matters. It shows admissions officers you’re serious. It shows you’ve done your homework.
More importantly, it helps you find the best-fit program for your goals — whether you want to teach, perform, write, record, or heal with music.
College is a big step. Make it a confident one — with the right words and the right plan.
Know what you want. Know how to say it. And go for it.
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ARTICLE GLOSSARY
Accompanist Fee: A payment made to a professional pianist or musician who plays with a student during lessons, recitals, auditions, or juries.
Bachelor of Arts (BA): A college degree that combines music study with a broad liberal arts education, including classes in writing, humanities, and sciences.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA): A highly focused college degree for students in the performing arts, providing intense training in performance-related fields like music, dance, or acting.
Bachelor of Music (BM): A college degree designed for students who want advanced, professional-level music training, focusing heavily on performance, theory, and musicianship.
Bachelor of Science (BS): A college degree that emphasizes science, math, and technical coursework, including research and education methods, sometimes used for music education majors.
Concentration: A specialized area of focus within a major (for example, Organ Studies within a Music major).
Conservatory: A specialized college or school that offers professional-level training in the arts, especially music, often requiring auditions for admission.
Degree: The diploma or academic credential a student earns after completing a specific course of study in college (such as a BA, BS, BFA, or BM).
Ensemble: A group of musicians who perform together, such as an orchestra, choir, or band.
Jury: A performance examination where students play or sing for a panel of professors to assess their progress in private lessons.
Liberal Arts: College courses in subjects like history, languages, philosophy, and social sciences, aimed at providing a broad education.
Major: A student's main subject of study in college — for example, Composition, Music Education, or Trumpet Performance.
Minor: A secondary subject of study in college, requiring fewer courses than a major, used to broaden a student’s education or skills.
Pedagogy: The art and science of teaching — often used in degrees like Music Education or Choral Pedagogy.
Performance Credits: Courses that involve participating in lessons, ensembles, and recitals, required for music degrees like BM or BFA.
Private Lessons: One-on-one instruction in a student's main instrument or voice, often a required part of music degree programs.
Program Notes: Short written pieces describing the music to be performed, often included in concert programs to help audiences understand the works.
Recital: A solo or small-group concert, typically performed by a music student to demonstrate progress and skill development.
Scholarship: Financial aid awarded to students based on talent, academic achievement, or financial need, sometimes specifically for music students.
Studio Class: A class where students studying with the same private teacher perform for each other and receive feedback.
Objective: Students will explore different music careers and begin to understand the kinds of college degrees that can help musicians reach their career goals.
Assignment:
Careers:
Options for College Programs:
(Match one to each career.)
Example Response (Model for Students)
Career: Professional Orchestra Musician
College Program: Bachelor of Music (BM) in Performance
Explanation: They need strong training in performing their instrument at a high level to win an orchestra job.
Rubric: Middle School Music Career Match
| Criteria | Excellent (5) | Good (4) | Fair (3) | Needs Improvement (1–2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correct Match | Correct program matched for each career | One match incorrect | Two matches incorrect | Three or more incorrect |
| Explanation Clarity | Clear, simple, correct explanation for all | Minor mistakes or missing one explanation | Some unclear explanations | Little or no explanations |
| Effort and Completion | All parts complete with good effort | One part incomplete | Some missing parts | Many missing or incomplete answers |
Grading Scale (15 points total):
14–15 = A
12–13 = B
10–11 = C
8–9 = D
0–7 = F
Answer Key for Teacher
| Career | College Program | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Orchestra Musician | Bachelor of Music (BM) in Performance | Focus on solo and ensemble performance. |
| Elementary School Music Teacher | Bachelor of Music Education (Music Ed) | Prepares students to teach music in schools. |
| Church Musician and Private Lesson Teacher | Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music | Flexible program for teaching and performing. |
Objective: Students will demonstrate the ability to distinguish between degrees and majors by selecting the ideal degree and major for different career goals, explaining how their choices align with each student's aspirations.
Assignment: Start by reading the article “BA, BS, BFA, BM – Understanding College Degrees and Majors” found on Accoladi.com.
For each scenario below:
Scenarios:
Rubric: Choosing the Right Degree and Major
| Criteria | Excellent (5) | Good (4) | Fair (3) | Needs Improvement (1–2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correct Identification | Correct degree and major named for each scenario | Correct degree but unclear major (or vice versa) | Partial match; some confusion on degree vs. major | Incorrect or missing degree and major |
| Explanation and Reasoning | Clear, thoughtful explanation connecting choices to career goals | Adequate explanation but missing some detail | Minimal explanation; unclear connections | No explanation or off-topic |
| Use of Vocabulary | Correct and consistent use of “degree” and “major” | Minor misuse of terms | Frequent confusion between terms | Incorrect use of vocabulary |
| Writing Clarity | Well-organized, few/no grammar errors | Generally clear, few grammar mistakes | Some organizational or grammar issues | Hard to follow, many grammar errors |
| Completion | All parts fully answered for each scenario | Most parts answered | Some parts missing | Many parts missing |
Grading Scale (20 points total):
18–20 = A
16–17 = B
14–15 = C
12–13 = D
0–11 = F
Dear _________________ Parents
In middle school, we focus a lot on the basics: good posture, good tone, good practice habits.
But as your child grows as a musician, it’s never too early to start thinking about the bigger picture — like what it might look like if they want to keep music a part of their future after high school.
Believe it or not, there’s a lot more to college music programs than just “majoring in music.” In fact, musicians can choose from degrees like:
Each of these degrees opens different doors — to performing, teaching, writing music, or working behind the scenes in recording studios, churches, schools, and more.
Why start thinking about this now? Because understanding the difference between a degree and a major — and knowing that music can lead to real careers — helps students stay motivated.
It also helps families plan ahead for high school course choices, auditions, and even college applications down the road.
There’s a simple, parent-friendly guide to all of this now at Accoladi.com —
Check out "BA, BS, BFA, BM: Understanding College Degrees and Majors" — it’s written just for families like ours, and it will give you a clear roadmap without any confusing music jargon.
Find the article at Accoladi.com — and feel free to reach out to me if you ever have questions about helping your child continue their musical journey.
P.S. – It’s never too early to dream big — and music degrees are one more way to keep the music going for life.
Musically Yours,
___________________________________________________
Director’s Name and Position
________________________________________________________________
School Name
Dear _________________ Parents
Let’s be honest: when it comes to preparing for college, music degrees can feel like alphabet soup. BA, BS, BFA, BM... before long, it sounds less like a path to higher education and more like a new piece of music composed by someone who really loves random letters.
But here's the good news — we’ve found the perfect cheat sheet to help you decode the mystery.
At Accoladi.com, there's a fantastic new article titled "BA, BS, BFA, BM: Understanding College Degrees and Majors" that breaks it all down in plain English. (No music theory degree required to understand it.)
This article is not just for students — it’s a great read for parents who didn’t major in college applications either. Trust me — it’s better to learn the difference between a BA and a BM now rather than halfway through senior year when everyone’s Googling in a panic.
You can find the full article at Accoladi.com — just search for the title "BA, BS, BFA, BM: Understanding College Degrees and Majors" and consider it your official decoder ring for the college music journey.
P.S. – If your student has ever said, "I want to major in Bachelor of Music," or "I’m getting a degree in Songwriting," you definitely want to read this article. (Trust me — admissions officers notice!)
Happy reading — and happy practicing!
Musically Yours,
___________________________________________________
Director’s Name and Position
________________________________________________________________
School Name
