FAQs
Can I get a music scholarship even if
I don't want to major in Music?
Yes. The SU Music Department offers up to $2500 per academic year
to qualified students who wish to sing or play in one of Southwestern's
large ensembles but who do not plan to major in music. These Music
Performance Awards, as they are called, are awarded by competitive
audition. They are not available in all performance areas. Check
the scholarship page on the Fine Arts website for further details.
What's the largest music scholarship I can get
from Southwestern?
The Sarofim School of Fine Arts can make a recommendation that
a talented student receive up to $10,000 per year as long as he
or she is committed to
majoring in music. However, such a student must still meet Southwestern's
regular admission requirements. Also, rules set by the Office of
Financial
Aid allow a student to receive only one merit scholarship worth
more than $5000; thus, a student who qualifies for an academic
scholarship worth more than that amount will be limited to an additional
$5000 in aid from the Music Department. Students applying for need-based
financial aid also may be limited in the amount of gift aid they
can receive.
Can I play in an ensemble and/or take lessons in
college even if I don't want to major in Music?
Yes. Taking music lessons and playing in music ensembles are both
academic courses at SU and earn academic credit. They also count
toward General Education requirements, which require a certain
number of credit hours in each
division and in the School of Fine Arts, no matter what major you're
pursuing. At Southwestern non-majors can study with full faculty
members just as majors do, unlike many large music schools where
they are frequently placed with teaching assistants.
Can I major in Music and another subject at Southwestern?
Yes. Generally speaking if a student is serious about pursuing
a double major he or she should choose to pursue a Bachelor of
Arts with a major in Music, a degree plan that requires fewer
credit hours in music than the pre professional Bachelor of Music
degree programs. Double majors are possible for Bachelor of Music
students but can take longer than eight semesters. However, even
for
Bachelor of Arts students the catalog states that "certain
majors cannot be completed in eight semesters." Any student
who wishes to pursue a double major should plan his/her study carefully
and map out well in advance exactly how each major will be completed.
I want to go to medical school after I graduate.
Doesn't that mean I can't major in Music?
Not necessarily. Texas medical schools have a prescribed undergraduate
curriculum with a required number of courses in subject areas such
as Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, et al., but an actual major
in a Natural Science subject is NOT a pre-requisite for admission
to medical school. Consult with
the Southwestern University pre-medical advisor for details.
Why should I major in music, when I can't get a
real job as a musician?
While no music school can guarantee employment as a musician after
graduation, there are many opportunities available to music majors.
Music education majors
can generally find teaching positions in Texas public schools with
no difficulty, while qualified Southwestern music graduates have
pursued advanced degrees at top graduate schools in performance,
conducting, and sacred music.
Moreover, a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music is a legitimate
liberal arts degree, which can qualify the student who holds it
for advanced study in other professions, such as law or medical
school (see Question 5 above). When so many people change careers
these days, there is no reason to suppose that a music degree means
you're locked into being a "starving musician!" |
