Music Minors

The department's two music minors allow you to pursue your love of music in tandem with a major in any discipline.

Pep Band

Minor in Music

The Minor in Music is an incredibly flexible addition to your major in another discipline at Towson University. Requiring only 20 units, the Minor in Music offers you the freedom to choose how you would like to fulfill half of that total. A Minor in Music requires 2 units of lessons, 2 units of upper-level ensembles, one music theory course (MUSC 105 or MUSC 131), and one music history course (MUSC 201), but the remaining 10 units are open music electives (see below). Adding a Minor in Music will allow you to participate in a wide range of artistic opportunities and can prepare you for diverse array of possible career paths.

A separate application and performance audition are required for admission to the Minor in Music. You may audition for any type of lessons and ensembles offered by the Department of Music. Faculty members will help you through the various aspects of the audition process. Once accepted into the minor, a department adviser will assist you with building meaningful schedules. View complete degree requirements for the Minor in Music in the TU Catalog.

What could you do with a Minor in Music? The possibilities are as varied as your musical imagination. The following list outlines several ways in which the Minor of Music might align with your artistic interests and career goals. Click to expand each item below to see potential pathways towards fulfilling the minor's 10 elective units.

  • 2 additional units of lower-level lessons
  • Pass the upper-division jury
  • 2 additional units of upper-level ensembles
  • 5 additional units of upper-level lessons
  • In your final semester, 1 unit to perform a recital
  • One core MUSC history and culture course
  • MUSC 350 & 450 MUSIC INDUSTRY I & II
  • Enroll in music technology lessons throughout the minor
  • MUSC 114 MUSIC, TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE
  • MUSC 287 CREATIVE MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
  • MUSC 382 RECORDING TECHNIQUES I
  • MUSC 482 RECORDING TECHNIQUES II
  • Enroll in music composition lessons throughout the minor
  • MUSC 116 SONGWRITING
  • MUSC 287 CREATIVE MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
  • Persent a creative performance, portfolio, or project
  • Enroll in conducting lessons throughout the minor
  • MUSC 221 INTRODUCTION TO CONDUCTING
  • Participate in MUSA 160/360 MARCHING BAND
  • Enroll in piano and/or organ lessons throughout the minor
  • Participate in MUSC 286/486 POPULAR MUSIC ENSEMBLE
  • MUSC 221 INTRODUCTION TO CONDUCTING
  • Participate in MUSA 251/451 CHORALE or MUSA 150/350 CHORAL SOCIETY
  • Enroll in voice lessons and vocal ensembles throughout the minor
  • MUSA 190 PIANO CLASS I
  • Audition to perform in MUSA 253/453 or 254/454 MUSIC FOR THE STAGE
  • MUSC 303 HISTORY OF MUSIC IN THE EUROPEAN CLASSICAL TRADITION
  • Take another music history course like Symphonic Literature, Survey of Opera, etc.
  • Enroll for one semester in MUSA 268/468 ENSEMBLE: EARLY MUSIC ENSEMBLE
  • Research and write a senior thesis (MUSC 495)
  • MUSC 202 MUSIC CULTURES OF THE WORLD
  • MUSC 471 special topics course on global music
  • MUSA 170/370 WORLD MUSIC ENSEMBLE: sections include Cambodian ensemble, Steel Pan ensemble, Latin ensemble, etc.
  • Take additional MUSC core courses according to your interests
  • Take additional lessons on your instrument
  • Perform in MUSA 163 ENSEMBLE: CONCERT BAND

Minor in Music Industry

The music industry minor is open to any student, regardless of major, and no audition is required. A student who chooses to pursue the music industry minor should send an email to  so that a faculty advisor can be assigned to assist the student in registering for the classes, many of which require department consent. The student will also need to sign onto PeopleSoft and officially declare the minor.

A music industry minor provides a compelling introduction to this exciting field as viewed from both the traditional corporate and DIY vantages. The minor will study songwriting, publishing, copyright, licensing, management and agents, unions, music product manufacturing and sales, contracts, concert promotion and venues, arts administration, music in radio, television, advertising, theatre, videos and games and well as record production, labels, market research, promotion, and distribution.

Music majors are also eligible to complete the music industry minor, although courses cannot count for both the major and the minor. View degree requirements for the Minor in Music Industry in the TU Catalog.