Overview

The Music Composition programme at Western Michigan University provides a comprehensive foundation for students aiming to master the art of creating original musical scores. This undergraduate degree is designed to challenge students through a blend of theoretical study and practical creative application within a professional environment.

Why Music Composition at Western Michigan University?

Western Michigan University offers a highly competitive environment for composers, ensuring that every student is surrounded by dedicated peers and expert faculty. The School of Music maintains high standards, requiring a successful audition and testing process before admission to ensure all candidates possess the necessary musical foundations.

A distinctive feature of this programme is the emphasis on public performance and creative output. Students are required to present a senior recital featuring thirty minutes of original compositions. This capstone project serves as a professional showcase of the skills and artistic growth developed throughout their time at the university.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 20525 per year
National fee: USD 20525 per year
Local fee: USD 16449 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum focuses on building technical proficiency and artistic voice. Modules may include:

Music Composition
Music Theory
Aural Skills
Orchestration
Counterpoint
Music History
Senior Recital

Careers with Music Composition

Graduates from Western Michigan University are well-prepared for diverse roles within the global music industry. The programme equips students with the creative and technical skills necessary to pursue professional paths in various artistic and educational sectors.

Recent alumni have successfully secured positions as professional composers, performers, and educators. They find employment in a wide range of environments, including private music studios, primary and secondary schools, and commercial music companies. The training provided ensures that graduates can adapt their compositional skills to different media and performance contexts.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Solo Literature

Wind Music Literature

Jazz History and Literature

Topics in Musicology and Ethnomusicology

Contemporary Music

Choral Music Literature

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-01-11 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2027-01-01 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-09-02 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-06-01 00:00:00

Language

English

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Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Kalamazoo, United States

Disciplines

Music Composition View 311 other Bachelors in Music Composition in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

100

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

ACT or SAT Scores

Copy of passport identification page

Proof of English language proficiency

Transcripts from all secondary and post-secondary schools attended or are attending, including diplomas, examination results, mark sheets and certificates*

$100 non-refundable application fee

Proof of sufficient funds for the first academic year of study at WMU according to estimated cost of attendance

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

20525 USD / year

≈ 20525 USD / year
Out-of-State

20525 USD / year

≈ 20525 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

16449 USD / year

≈ 16449 USD / year

Additional Details

Local Summer Tuition: 3,768 International Summer Tuition: 4,711

Living costs

Kalamazoo

United States

1000 - 1500 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Music Composition.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Living costs

Kalamazoo

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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