A Bachelor of Arts or Science degree in Popular Music provides students with a comprehensive course of study focused on songwriting, music production, music performance, music theory, and popular music history and culture. It can also include preparation for music entrepreneurship through coursework in marketing, business, and law. Students choose from a variety of performance ensembles, including gospel choirs, a hip hop ensemble, and popular music combos, among others. They can use elective requirements to deepen their engagement with a variety of subjects, including music production, jazz, electronic music, and the history and culture of popular music.
The Popular Music degree program has a flexible curriculum that can be completed in as little as two years or as many as four, depending on a student’s personal interests and goals. The School of Music and Dance is available to help each student construct an individualized curriculum.
Degree Programs
What can I do with a degree in Popular Music?
Post-graduation opportunities in the field of popular music include performing, songwriting, producing, and working in the music industry in business-oriented roles of various kinds. Some students pursue careers in other fields, utilizing the Popular Music program as a major within the broader context of a liberal education.
Performance Opportunities
UO Hip Hop Ensemble
Sean Peterson, director
The UO Hip Hop Ensemble is a for-credit band of MCs and instrumentalists who write and perform hip hop music. Featuring a horn section, drums, percussion, bass, guitar, keys, and original lyrics, the UO Hip Hop Ensemble has rocked audiences on radio and festival stages in Eugene since 2016. Students from all areas of campus are encouraged to audition. Instrumentation is flexible and can include strings, samplers, percussion, singers, and more.
American Roots Ensemble
Sarah Wilfong Joblin, director
The American Roots Ensemble invites students to bring a sense of curiosity and can-do spirit to explore the world of American roots music, including styles such as bluegrass, old-time, Celtic, early gospel, and early country through string band instruments—fiddle, banjo, dobro, guitar, mandolin, bass—and voice. Experienced practitioners, new players, and students from all areas of campus are welcome to enroll. The American Roots Ensemble has performed at the Sisters Folk Festival (Sisters, OR) and Wintergrass Bluegrass Festival (Seattle, WA), and performs regularly at SOMD and at pop-up events around campus.
Rock and Funk Ensemble
The Rock and Funk Ensemble brings together instrumentalists and singers to create original songs as well as cover versions of classic recordings in a variety of styles. The ensemble, which is open to both majors and non-majors, rehearses weekly and performs at least once per term. Auditions for the year are held during Week of Welcome; contact Sean Peterson to join in winter or spring terms (also by audition).
Scholarships
School of Music and Dance scholarships and financial aid are available. For complete information about financial aid, including loans, see the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships section of the UO catalog.
Take the Next Step
Call us, email us, visit us or apply to the program. We’re here to answer your questions about how a degree in music composition can shape your future and positively impact your community.