Music Major
The Music major at Concordia University Irvine will empower you to cultivate and articulate human thought and feeling through involvement with the mechanical, cultural, and aesthetic elements of music.
To see a full explanation of how the Music Major works, check out the Music Major Components Diagram.
Or, to see the full course list for each emphasis, click below:
Two other major options include significant coursework in music: Humanities and Fine Arts and Liberal Studies: Music Concentration (see below for details).
Many Concordia students who major in other fields also choose to complete their elective requirements with a formal program of study in music called the Music Minor. Also, the Worship Arts Leadership Minor and Musical Theatre Minor each have significant music study components.
What do you dream to be?
A church music director
Your Major: Music: Church Music with optional Director of Parish Music Certificate
Tips for Success: Get involved in Concordia's chapel program not only as a performer but also as a worship planner. Hone your keyboard skills, your conducting skills, and your praise band leadership skills. Being strong in all three of these areas will make you a very viable candidate for many churches. Having only one of these strengths will limit your options.
After College: Your bachelor's degree will make you eligible to begin your career in music ministry. Concordia's placement rate in Lutheran churches, especially for students with the DPM certificate, is very high. Those with the DPM certificate are eligible to be called and commissioned church workers in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Many students will later return to college for a master's degree in a church music related field while they continue working in music ministry.
A high school band/choir director
Your Major: Music: Music Education plus a California Single-Subject Credential
Tips for Success: Get to be a well-rounded musician. The teaching credential in California requires ability to teach instrumental and choral music. Take as many music electives as you can to become comfortable in both areas. Work closely with Dr. Geisler to prepare for the CSET. He knows the test well and will help to formulate a plan to turn your musical weaknesses into strengths. Our music education students have an extremely high pass rate in this comprehensive test. Also, get to know the ensemble directors well. This is your future, and these professors will be valuable models and mentors.
After College: Once you have completed your student teaching and passed the CSET, you are ready to enter the education field! Your degree plus California Single-Subject Credential makes you eligible for a career in K-12 education. Many students will later return to college for a master's degree while they continue their teaching careers.
An elementary or junior high school band/choir director or general music teacher
Your Major: Music: Music Education plus a California Single-Subject CredentialTips for Success: Get to be a well-rounded musician, and work especially hard on instrument techniques courses and the Music for Children class. The teaching credential in California requires ability to teach instrumental and choral music. Take as many music electives as you can to become comfortable in both areas. Work closely with Dr. Geisler to prepare for the CSET. He knows the test well and will help to formulate a plan to turn your musical weaknesses into strengths. Our music education students have an extremely high pass rate in this comprehensive test. Also, get to know the ensemble directors well. This is your future, and these professors will be valuable models and mentors.
After College: Once you have completed your student teaching and passed the CSET, you are ready to enter the education field! Your degree plus California Single-Subject Credential makes you eligible for a career in K-12 education. Many students will later return to college for a master's degree while they continue their teaching careers.
A music teacher in a Lutheran school (elementary, junior high, or high school)
Your Major: Music: Music Education plus a California Single-Subject Credential and Lutheran Teacher Certificate
Tips for Success: Get to be a well-rounded musician, and work especially hard on instrument techniques courses and the Music for Children class. The teaching credential in California requires ability to teach instrumental and choral music. Take as many music electives as you can to become comfortable in both areas. Work closely with Dr. Geisler to prepare for the CSET. He knows the test well and will help to formulate a plan to turn your musical weaknesses into strengths. Our music education students have an extremely high pass rate in this comprehensive test. Also, get to know the ensemble directors well. This is your future, and these professors will be valuable models and mentors.
After College: Once you have completed your student teaching and passed the CSET, you are ready to enter the education field! Your degree plus California Single-Subject Credential makes you eligible for a career in K-12 education. Your Lutheran Teacher Certificate makes you eligible to be a called and commissioned teacher in a school affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Concordia's teacher placement rate in Lutheran schools is extremely high. Many students will later return to college for a master's degree while they continue their teaching careers.
A regular elementary/middle school classroom teacher who is also prepared to teach music
Your Major: Liberal Studies: Music Concentration plus a California Multiple Subjects Credential and optional Lutheran Teacher Certificate
Tips for Success: Take advantage of all the music opportunities available at Concordia. Get involved in music ensembles to become a better musician. You'll also learn a lot about leadership and group dynamics, both of which will help prepare you to be a teacher.
After College: Once you have completed your student teaching and passed the CSET, you are ready to enter the education field! Your degree plus a California Multiple Subjects Credential makes you eligible for a career in K-8 education. Many schools are very anxious to have teachers with a musical background. Not nearly as many teachers have musical skills as in past generations, and students need everyday musical exposure, not just limited exposure to the music specialist. Your Lutheran Teacher Certificate makes you eligible to be a called and commissioned teacher in a school affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Concordia's teacher placement rate in Lutheran schools is extremely high. Many students will later return to college for a master's degree while they continue their teaching careers.
A musicologist (music history, theory, ethnomusicology, etc.)
Your Major: Music:Liberal Arts/Performance
Tips for Success: Hone your writing and research skills in Concordia's renowned liberal arts curriculum. Be sure to excel in courses in your field of interest (music history courses, for example). Take advantage of Concordia's low professor-to-student ratio by working on an independent advanced study in your area of interest. Enter this in the Presidential Showcase for Undergraduate Research. This experience will show graduate schools what your potential as a researcher is. Extensively read and analyze music topics outside of class - intellectual curiosity is a must in this field.
After College: This career goal will most likely take you directly to graduate school. You'll need a significant portfolio of articles and research projects for graduate school admissions. Concordia's liberal arts training will help you become a successful graduate assistant.
A professional instrumentalist/vocalist
Your Major: Music: Liberal Arts/Performance
Tips for Success: Get to know several professors very well and regularly meet with them to assess your progress as a performer. They know what it takes to make it as a professional and can guide you through your development. Take 2 units of private study on your primary instrument each semester to maximize your work with your studio professor. Commit to many hours of scheduled practicing. Perform as often as possible in recitals, worship services, and concerts. Put a lot of effort into your junior and senior recital (and sophomore recital if you progress quickly enough to qualify), these will be important markers in your development as a performer. Also, perform in ensembles that don't include your instrument so you have more than a one-dimensional perspective on style and interpretation.
After College: Many performance students will audition for graduate school. Your studio teacher will help you prepare.
A cross-discipline expert in the humanities
Your Major: Humanities and Fine Arts
Tips for Success: Create an individualized program of study in the humanities that includes a significant music component as well as studies in communication, writing and philosophy. Take advantage of Concordia's extensive range of performance ensembles to enrich the musical side of your intellect. Seek professors as mentors from a range of disciplines, including music. Engage their assistance in your research, enter the President's Showcase for Undergraduate Research, and build a portfolio of research and creative work that will appeal to graduate schools. Read and create extensively outside of class. Success in this field requires intellectual curiosity.
After College: Continue your studies in graduate school or enter a wide range of career fields.
Is your career path not included here?
Concordia's Music major is a flexible degree that can prepare you for many plans. Contact the Music Department today to see how Concordia's degree can help you reach your goals. What is listed here is only a sample of career paths possible with Concordia's Music majors.