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Major · Music

A craft-and-composition credential for writing and arranging work

Music Theory and Composition (CIP 50.0904) prepares students in the principles of musical structure, harmony, and original composition. About 847 students complete it across 180 institutions, with bachelor’s graduates earning around $43,972 in tracked five-year wages.

Schools offering
180
Annual completions
847
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$44k

About this major

Music Theory and Composition (CIP 50.0904) is a craft-and-composition credential preparing students in the principles of musical structure, harmony, and the creation of original music. The CIP definition organizes coursework around aural theory, melody, counterpoint, complex harmony, modulation, chromatics, improvisation, progressions, musical writing, instrumentation, orchestration, electronic and computer applications, studies of specific musical styles, and development of original creative ability. Programs blend rigorous theoretical analysis (analyzing scores, harmonic and counterpoint exercises, ear training) with original composition work — typically a portfolio of compositions across different ensembles or media, plus performance of student work in concerts or recordings.

The major fits students drawn to writing and arranging music as their primary musical identity, comfortable with the rigorous analytical side of theory work alongside the creative side of original composition, and willing to build a substantial portfolio of completed pieces and performance documentation alongside coursework. It rewards musical aptitude, persistent practice in writing and revising, comfort with both pencil-and-paper notation and digital composition tools (Sibelius, Dorico, Logic Pro, Pro Tools), and the patience to develop genuine artistic identity over years.

One grounded observation about programs and field reality: 847 students complete this CIP across 180 institutions, with Los Angeles Film School (219) and Berklee College of Music (205) together producing roughly half of national completions through contemporary, commercial, and screen-music-focused programs. Traditional university music schools (NYU 22, SUNY Purchase 13, CalArts 10, University of Miami 10, Musicians Institute 10, Western Connecticut State 15) round out the list with more classical-and-contemporary-concert focus. Bachelor’s graduates earn $43,972 in five-year tracked wages — modest, reflecting the field’s reliance on portfolio careers and project income. The named labor-market destinations are music directors and composers ($63,670, -0.3% growth, bachelor’s typical) and postsecondary art, drama, and music teachers ($80,190, 1.7% growth, master’s typical) — with the postsecondary teaching path requiring graduate study.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80k +1.7% Master's degree
Music directors and composers $64k -0.3% Bachelor's degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$44k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$37k

Bachelor's

$44k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if writing and arranging music is your primary musical identity and you’re willing to build a substantial portfolio of original compositions alongside coursework, you’re comfortable with both the rigorous theoretical side (counterpoint, harmonic analysis, ear training) and the creative side (original work in your chosen styles), you’re strategic about choosing a program whose focus matches your direction (LA Film School and Berklee for screen and commercial composition; NYU, SUNY Purchase, CalArts, Miami Frost for classical-and-contemporary concert work), you’re realistic about the modest bachelor’s wage and mixed-income reality of composition careers, and you’re prepared to consider a master’s (MFA or MM) for postsecondary teaching or serious concert traction.

Think twice if you’re drawn to performing more than writing — Music Performance, General (CIP 50.0903, 3,958 completions) is the named performance track. Reconsider if your interest is music production and engineering rather than writing — Music Technology (50.0913, 1,542 completions) covers recording, mixing, and electronic-music tools more directly. Also pause if your goal is K-12 music teaching; that path uses Music Teacher Education (CIP 13.1312, 3,229 completions) with state-licensure preparation rather than this composition-focused major. The named music director and composer destination shows flat (-0.3%) growth, so plan portfolio and network-building deliberately.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Music Theory and Composition

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Los Angeles Film School Hollywood, CA 105 114 219
Berklee College of Music Boston, MA 0 205 205
Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA 4 23 27
New York University New York, NY 0 22 22
Western Connecticut State University Danbury, CT 0 15 15
SUNY at Purchase College Purchase, NY 0 13 13
Los Angeles College of Music Pasadena, CA 7 5 12
California Institute of the Arts Valencia, CA 0 10 10
Musicians Institute Hollywood, CA 0 10 10
University of Miami Coral Gables, FL 0 10 10
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Music, General

7,606 completions/yr

Music Performance, General

3,958 completions/yr

Music Technology

1,542 completions/yr

Music Management

1,476 completions/yr

Musical Theatre

1,121 completions/yr

Rhetoric and Composition

1,071 completions/yr

Music, Other

861 completions/yr

Jazz/Jazz Studies

341 completions/yr

Considering this direction?

We've taken a hard look at the debt, earnings trajectory, and degree-level tradeoffs for the Music Theory and Composition field. Read our verdict before you commit.

Is Music Theory and Composition worth it? Read verdict
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do Music Theory and Composition majors actually study?
The CIP definition organizes coursework around aural theory, melody, counterpoint, complex harmony, modulation, chromatics, improvisation, progressions, musical writing, instrumentation, orchestration, electronic and computer applications, studies of specific musical styles, and development of original creative ability. Programs blend rigorous theoretical analysis (analyzing scores, harmonic and counterpoint exercises, ear training) with original composition work — typically a portfolio of original compositions across different ensembles or media, plus performance of student work in concerts or recordings.
What jobs do graduates land — and at what pay?
Named destinations include music directors and composers ($63,670, -0.3% growth, bachelor’s typical) and art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary ($80,190, 1.7% growth, master’s typical). Realistic destinations include film, television, and game composer; concert composer (typically supplemented with teaching or commissions); music director at community ensembles or schools; arranger and orchestrator for performing groups; and private composition or theory teaching. Bachelor’s graduates earn $43,972 in five-year tracked wages — modest, reflecting the field’s reliance on portfolio careers and project-based income.
Is composition a viable primary career?
Demanding. The named music director and composer destination shows -0.3% projected growth — flat — and the field is overwhelmingly portfolio-driven and competitive. Most working composers combine commissioned work, film/TV/game scoring, teaching at the conservatory or college level, and church or community-ensemble directing into a mixed-income career. The bachelor’s wage of $43,972 reflects that mixed reality. The path requires sustained portfolio building, network development through performing-ensemble collaborations, and often a master’s (MFA or MM) for serious traction.
Do I need a graduate degree to teach composition or theory?
Yes for postsecondary teaching. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary ($80,190, 1.7% growth) require a master’s degree as typical entry — typically an MFA in composition or an MM in composition or theory. Tenure-track posts are scarce and competitive. Adjunct and lecturer positions are more common but pay substantially less. K-12 music teaching uses a different credential — Music Teacher Education (CIP 13.1312) — with state-licensure preparation rather than this composition-focused major.
Why are LA Film School and Berklee dominant?
Los Angeles Film School (219 graduates, 26% of national output) and Berklee College of Music (205, 24%) together produce half of national completions in this CIP, both through contemporary, commercial, and screen-music-focused composition programs. The pattern reflects the modern reality of composition careers — film, television, game, and commercial scoring are the largest paying markets, and these programs train explicitly for that work. Traditional university music schools (NYU, SUNY Purchase, CalArts, University of Miami, Western Connecticut State) round out the top with more classical-and-contemporary-concert focus.
How does this compare to Music Performance or Music Technology?
Music Performance, General (CIP 50.0903, 3,958 completions) is the named performance-focused track — playing instruments or singing as the primary focus. Music Technology (50.0913, 1,542 completions) is the production-and-engineering track focused on recording, mixing, and electronic-music tools. Music Theory and Composition (50.0904) is the writing-and-arranging track. Most working composers combine elements of all three, but the credential signals where you’ve concentrated. Choose Music Theory and Composition if writing original music is your primary identity; choose Performance if performing is primary; choose Music Technology if production and engineering are primary.