Skip to main content

B.M. in Music Composition

The music composition degree at Biola's Conservatory of Music will give you opportunities to compose concert and film music, learn valuable skills in music business and technology, and explore what it means to be a composer committed to Christ.

In addition to its strong curriculum, expert faculty members and biblical integration, Biola’s music composition program offers several key advantages:

  • Highly experienced and dedicated faculty
  • Strong academic preparation for graduate school
  • State of the art composition studio
  • Numerous opportunities for original works to be performed and recorded
  • Close proximity to Los Angeles
  • Competitions and National Conferences such as PERC, CFAMC
  • Opportunities to collaborate on student film projects with Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts, the #1 Christian film school
  • Special scholarship awards
  • Small, close-knit community of Christian believers

Show More


Concentrations


Yes! Tell Me More!

Courses

What will I study as a music composition major?

Each year you will write in a wide variety of styles while studying privately with some of the finest composers in the Los Angeles area. Annual concerts feature the works of Conservatory composition students while additional competitions provide feedback from Conservatory and guest judges. Composition students also partner with Biola's Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts, gaining valuable experience in scoring for film, video games and more. A large and talented studio of composition majors will give you a community to thrive in, and Biola's proximity to Los Angeles, one of the artistic centers of the world, puts you in just the right location to experience the music industry firsthand.

Some of your courses include:

A study of orchestral instruments with emphasis on a working knowledge of ranges and idiomatic qualities/capacities of each. Included are numerous scoring projects. Grade Mode: A.

Emphasis on MIDI, notation and sequencing software, score and part preparation, editing and mastering of recordings, electronic music history, and basic acoustics. Grade Mode: A.

An introductory study of the interrelationships between music and culture through the examination of the music of varying cultures. Basic elements of music as they are found in world cultures will be studied. Grade Mode: A.


Bible and Theology Coursework

As part of Biola’s commitment to a biblically centered education, most undergraduate students complete 30 credits of biblical and theological studies as a part of their degree program. Learn more about our Bible and theology core.

Career Outlook and Preparation

What can you do with a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition?

Whether it's writing music for the big screen, composing music for the world's great concert halls, or teaching composition and theory at the university level, our graduates are impacting the world for Jesus Christ in professions such as:

  • Composer
  • Copyist
  • Film score writer
  • Music arranger
  • Film music orchestrator
  • Principal accompanist
  • Professor of composition

In addition, many composition students pursue graduate studies, while others move directly into the music industry. Biola music composition graduates have become recognizable masters in their artistry. Highlights include:

  • Grammy Award Winning Performing Artist
  • Winner of The ASCAP Foundation Max Dreyfus Scholarship
  • Film Composer and Orchestrator for Warner Bros. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
  • ASCAP Composer to Watch
  • Nomination for the Best Original Score: Biola Film Festival and Southeastern 180 Film Festival
  • Featured Solo Violinist Seattle Pacific University Jazz Ensemble
  • Assistant to Academy & Emmy Award Winner, Todd Boekelheide
  • Graduate study at prestigious schools such as New York University, European American Musical Alliance in Paris, University of Southern California, Eastman School of Music, and Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

3% job growth

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for music directors and composers is projected to be as fast as average between 2023 and 2033.

BLS projections are not specific to Biola University students or graduates.


Lucas Floyd

My time at Biola prepared me for life as a young composer in more ways than one. My mentors gave me priceless guidance, both artistic and practical, in succeeding as a professional musician. I know I can approach any new project, commission, or collaboration with confidence because of what I learned at the Biola Conservatory.

Composer
Composition (Oboe), B.M. '11

Admissions

Learn about Biola’s admissions requirements, steps to apply, application deadlines and more at our Undergraduate Admissions page.

Students interested in majoring in B.M. in Music Composition are required to complete a Conservatory application and audition.

Explore the Conservatory Application Process

Explore the Audition Process

Learn more about this program by attending an upcoming event for prospective students and parents, or by scheduling a personalized visit.

Visit Biola

Tuition and Financial Aid

Attaining a degree from Biola is more affordable than you might think — dramatically lower than the “sticker price” in most cases — with 100% of incoming undergraduate students receiving some form of financial aid.

Faculty


You may also be interested in

B.A. in Music

School of Fine Arts and Communication

B.M. in Music Performance

School of Fine Arts and Communication

B.M. in Music Teacher Preparation

School of Fine Arts and Communication

B.M. in Music Therapy

School of Fine Arts and Communication

B.M. in Worship Arts

School of Fine Arts and Communication

Minor in Applied Music

School of Fine Arts and Communication

Minor in Contemporary Worship Music

School of Fine Arts and Communication

Minor in Music

School of Fine Arts and Communication

Format

You'll study in person at Biola University's campus in Southern California.

Total Credits

Total program credits include major-specific courses and Biola's core curriculum.

Standard Completion Time

This indicates the standard duration of this program. Completion time may vary depending on transferred coursework and preferred courseload.

Accreditation

Biola University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. Additional accreditations may apply to specific programs.