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The prepares students for professional careers as performers and private instructors. The curriculum emphasizes applied lessons, conducting, and performance pedagogy, alongside the music theory and music history courses required of all Bachelor of Music majors. Many graduates continue their training in competitive graduate programs to further refine their artistry.

Students select a concentration in Jazz Performance, Piano Performance, Piano Performance (Pedagogy Emphasis), Organ Performance, Instrumental Performance (winds, strings, or percussion), or Vocal Performance.

In addition to meeting degree requirements, students must successfully complete a sophomore barrier examination to advance to junior-level applied study.

The Composition prepares students for careers as composers of concert music and for advanced study at the graduate level. In addition to the music theory and music history courses required of all Bachelor of Music majors, students receive applied instruction in both composition and their primary instrument.

The program places a strong emphasis on securing high-quality live performances of original works and developing a deep familiarity with the concert music repertoire of the past 100 years. By the completion of the degree, students will have presented at least 60 minutes of original compositions in performance.

The Music Theory prepares students for advanced graduate study and careers as university professors and professional theorists. Coursework emphasizes musical form, structure, and other technical and expressive elements of music, equipping students with a deep analytical foundation.

The program also features a strong research component, culminating in a senior thesis project that demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct original scholarship in the field.

The Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy at the Moores School of Music prepares students to become board-certified music therapists (MT-BC). Music therapists work in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, mental health facilities, and private practice, using music-based interventions to support clients’ physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being.

Students receive comprehensive training in musicianship, clinical skills, and evidence-based interventions. Coursework includes psychology, anatomy, and therapeutic techniques, complemented by supervised clinical practica and a six-month internship. Throughout the program, students develop musically, personally, clinically, and interprofessionally across both classroom and clinical experiences.

Upon completion, graduates are eligible to sit for the national board certification exam administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). This degree provides a strong foundation for a meaningful career at the intersection of healthcare, education, and the arts. Please consult an advisor for details on coursework and certification.

The programs provide students with a rigorous, well-rounded musical education paired with a complementary specialty. Four-year academic maps are available through , and detailed degree requirements can be found in the .

Students may choose from the following areas of elective study:

Music Education (Teacher Certification)

• The Bachelor of Music with Elective Studies in Music Education prepares students to become accomplished musicians and certified music educators. Graduates pursue careers as band, orchestra, and choir directors, general music teachers, and private instructors in both public and private schools.
• Music education students receive the same high level of musical instruction as performance majors while also completing coursework in conducting, elementary and secondary teaching methods, and professional development. Majors are required to take a 2-credit, half-hour lesson each semester, but may elect to take a full-hour lesson for additional credit. Choosing full-hour lessons may require summer coursework or delay graduation; students should consult with an advisor for guidance. The program leads to a Texas All-Level (EC–12) Certification.

• The Bachelor of Music with Elective Studies in Nonprofit Leadership is a four-year degree paired with the program through the UH Graduate College of Social Work. This pathway prepares students for careers in arts administration and other nonprofit fields.
• Students complete the full Bachelor of Music curriculum, including applied lessons, music theory, music history, conducting, and ensemble performance. In addition, they take courses in marketing, public relations, nonprofit management, and financial management, as well as an internship with a Houston-area arts organization. Graduates earn the credential of Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP).

• The Bachelor of Music with Elective Studies in Music Marketing combines a four-year music degree with a through the Bauer College of Business. This program prepares students to work in arts administration or to manage their own careers as professional musicians.
• Alongside the university core, students study applied music, theory, music history, and conducting, and gain performance experience in ensembles or solo settings. The required marketing minor provides additional career flexibility, serving as a professional foundation while establishing oneself as a working musician.

Music Therapy

• The Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy prepares students to become board-certified music therapists (MT-BC). Music therapists work in hospitals, schools, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centers, and private practice, using music-based interventions to enhance clients’ physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being.
• Students receive comprehensive training in musicianship, clinical skills, and evidence-based interventions, with coursework in psychology, anatomy, and therapy techniques. They also complete supervised clinical practica and a six-month internship. Throughout the program, students develop musically, personally, and clinically across both classroom and field experiences. Graduates are eligible to sit for the national board certification exam administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). This degree provides a strong foundation for a rewarding career in healthcare and education.

• Collaborative Piano
  • The provides skilled pianists advanced training and performance experience as collaborators with vocalists and instrumentalists.

• Composition
  • The provides advanced training for students pursuing a career in music composition.

• Conducting
  • The provides advanced training and performance experience for students pursuing a career in either choral, jazz, orchestral, or wind conducting.

• Music Education
  • The strengthens the pedagogical skills and broadens the musical knowledge of the music teacher.

• Music Theory
  • The provides advanced training in music analysis, research, and writing for students pursuing a career in the college-level teaching of music theory.

• Musicology
  • The provides advanced training in musicological research and writing for students pursuing a career in the college-level teaching of musicology, music literature, or music criticism.

• Performance
  • The Master of Music in Performance provides advanced training and performance experience for students pursuing a career in music performance.
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• Performance & Pedagogy
  • The Master of Music in performance and pedagogy provides private music teachers advanced training in performance and in techniques of private and group music lessons.
    
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• Sacred Music
  • The Master of Music in sacred music program provides advanced training and specialized education for students in the history and performance practice of sacred musical literature.
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• Collaborative Piano

  • The provides skilled pianists advanced training and performance experience as collaborators with vocalists and instrumentalists, and prepares students for teaching collaboration at the collegiate level. The program offers a broad spectrum of opportunities and allows for specialization in vocal collaboration, instrumental collaboration, or chamber music.

• Composition
  • The provides advanced training and experience for students pursuing a career in composition and prepares students to teach composition at the collegiate level.

• Conducting
  • The provides advanced training and performance experience for students pursuing a career in conducting and prepares students to teach choral, jazz, orchestral, or wind conducting at the collegiate level.

• Music Education
  • The provides advanced training and research skills in music education and prepares students for a career in teaching music education at the collegiate level or in leadership positions in public or private schools.

• Performance
  • The DMA in performance provides advanced training and performance experience for students pursuing a career in music performance and prepares students to teach music performance at the collegiate level.
    
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• Brass
• Piano
• Organ
• Percussion
• Strings
• Voice
• Woodwinds