Curriculum

Undergraduate students have multiple options for participating in Music at Columbia. Currently we offer the Major in Music, SEAS Music Minor and Concentration in Music. Starting in Fall '24, Music will be rolling out the new Minor in Music and phasing out the existing Concentration in Music. Columbia College and General Studies students will now have the option to declare either a Major in Music or the new Minor in Music. Starting in Spring '25, the SEAS Music Minor will provide the same flexibility as the new CC/GS Minor in Music. All students at Columbia University and Barnard College are welcome to take music courses in the Department of Music.

Students currently declared Concentrators in Music can either continue the concentration or if they have multiple concentrations across different departments or a major outside the Music department, can switch their Concentration in Music to the new Minor in Music (so long as they keep one concentration or major outside of Music).

Students can declare a major or minor in the Spring semester of their sophomore year. They can declare a minor at a later point also if they determine that they have the interest and space in their program of study to complete one.  

The architecture of the new Minor in Music/revamped SEAS Music Minor is organized around pathways of personal interest. Any combination of 15 credits from the Music course list will fulfill the minor. Of those 15 credits, up to 6 maximum performance credits, consisting of lessons and/or ensembles, are allowed for any pathway (audition & acceptance into Music Performance Program required). Upon completion of the 15 credits, all students will earn a minor.

Please note that HUMA1123UN/Masterpieces of Western Music (aka Music Hum) is a Core requirement and therefore cannot count towards the major or minor credit requirements but AHMM3320UN/Music in East Asia and AHMM3321UN/Music in India & West Asia (aka Asian Music Hum), both Global Core courses, can count towards both the major and minor.

Courses/Points: 40 Points Required for the Major

All courses must be taken for a letter grade to count for the major. AHMM3320UN/Music in East Asia and AHMM3321UN/Music in India & West Asia (aka Asian Music Hum), both Global Core courses, can count towards the Music Elective requirement.

The new Minor in Music is organized around pathways of personal interest, designed with the guidance of an advisor in the Department of Music. Any combination of 15 credits from the Music course list will fulfill the minor. Of those 15 credits, up to 6 maximum performance credits, consisting of lessons and/or ensembles, are allowed for any pathway (please note students must audition and be accepted into the Music Performance Program in order to register for lessons and/or ensembles).

Below are recommended pathways that students can use as a guide if they have interest in the areas of Music Studies, Music Production, Jazz, Performance or Composition. The courses listed in these pathways are not required and serve only as suggestions to students with interests in these areas.

All students interested in the Minor in Music should reach out to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, who will refer you to an advisor.

Courses/Points: 15 Points Required for the Minor in Music

All courses must be taken for a letter grade to count for the minor. AHMM3320UN/Music in East Asia and AHMM3321UN/Music in India & West Asia (aka Asian Music Hum), both Global Core courses, can count towards the 15 credit requirement but HUMA1123UN/Masterpieces of Western Music (aka Music Hum) is a Core requirement and therefore cannot count towards the minor credit requirement.

Starting in Spring ’25, the SEAS Music Minor will be organized around pathways of personal interest, designed with the guidance of an advisor in the Department of Music. Any combination of 15 credits from the Music course list will fulfill the minor. Of those 15 credits, up to 6 maximum performance credits, consisting of lessons and/or ensembles, are allowed for any pathway. Please note that performance credits do not count towards the 128 credits SEAS students must earn to graduate; in addition, students must audition and be accepted into the Music Performance Program in order to register for lessons and/or ensembles.

Below are recommended pathways that students can use as a guide. There is the General SEAS pathway or there are additional pathways if students have an interest in the areas of Music Studies, Music Production, Jazz, Performance or Composition. The courses listed in these pathways are not required and serve only as suggestions to students with interests in these areas.

All students interested in the SEAS Music Minor should reach out to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, who will refer you to an advisor.

Courses/Points: 15 Points Required for the SEAS Music Minor

All courses must be taken for a letter grade to count for the minor. AHMM3320UN/Music in East Asia and AHMM3321UN/Music in India & West Asia (aka Asian Music Hum), both Global Core courses, can count towards the 15 credit requirement but HUMA1123UN/Masterpieces of Western Music (aka Music Hum) is a Core requirement and therefore cannot count towards the minor credit requirement.

Students who declared the Concentration In Music in Spring '24 or prior can either continue with the concentration curriculum or can switch to the new Minor in Music. Please speak with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, if you intend on switching.

Courses/Points: 28 Points Required for the Concentration

All courses must be taken for a letter grade to count for the concentration. AHMM3320UN/Music in East Asia and AHMM3321UN/Music in India & West Asia (aka Asian Music Hum), both Global Core courses, can count towards the Music Elective requirement.