Career Opportunities for Majors in Music

Rutgers offers two distinct programs of study in music. Students can pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) in music through one of the liberal arts colleges. This is a generalist liberal arts major. A Bachelor of Music degree (B.M.), offered through the Mason Gross School of the Arts, is more specialized and is oriented towards professional careers in performance, jazz, or music education. Both degree programs provide a thorough study of music theory and music history. While some performance is also included in the B.A. program, the B.M. program offers much more intensive training in this area.

Some students pursue careers closely related to music, such as performers, educators, songwriters, conductors, arrangers, composers and actors. Others choose careers behind the scenes, or in the business area of music in careers such as producers, engineers, managers, agents, and in publishing and sales. Many careers do not require a specific major but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Thus, some graduates pursue careers in fields quite unrelated to music. Regardless of your career choices, increasing your marketability to employers through internships, responsible work experience, good grades and involvement in college activities is important. A bachelor's degree is sufficient for many entry-level positions, but for advancement in an area of specialization, an advanced degree may be required.