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Bachelor's Degree in Composition

Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music

Degree: Bachelor of Music
Major: Music
Concentration: Composition
Hours: 128

Fine Arts Comm Degree Name

Delivery Options:

Degree Description

The Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music at Â鶹ÊÓƵ offers a Bachelor of Music Degree which you may tailor to suit your talents and professional goals by choosing a concentration in performance, composition or music education through applied studies of your chosen instrument, ensemble performance, music theory, history, literature and current trends.

Do you spend your free time writing music? Then you should pursue the Bachelor of Music Degree Composition Concentration. You can choose from tracks in piano and band, piano and choral, vocal, and winds or percussion. The courses in this program will teach you how to compose music for an array of performances, from symphonies to operas!

Why Study Composition at Lamar?

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, your Bachelor of Music Degree Composition Concentration in the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music fully immerses you in the cultural study of music, composition, performance techniques, education, history and more. Here, you can sing in a chorus, go to a live performance, compose an original piece, enjoy music of various genres and play your instruments, all while refining your natural gifts and talents. Surrounded by artistic institutions throughout our area, we strongly encourage you to participate in Southeast Texas’ cultural life.

Some of our regional ensembles include the Symphony of Southeast Texas, Beaumont Interfaith Choral Society, Beaumont Community Players, Beaumont Ballet Theatre and the Beaumont Civic Ballet. Other opportunities lie in our rich variety of religious institutions, live music venues and community theatre companies, to name a few, that are always willing to have Â鶹ÊÓƵ music students as performers – and some of those pay scholarships or stipends. Southeast Texas is an ideal place to study music in all its forms. 

Watch the faculty interview with Department Chair Brian Shook to learn more about the Department of Music.

Courses You May Take 

Composition: This is an applied music course, which means you'll be learning how to compose firsthand. 

Piano: This course will consist of lessons in piano to hone your musical skills and talents.

Voice: In this class, you'll study the fundamental skills of singing.

Choral: You'll benefit from a detailed study of choral music. Areas of study include history, repertoire and performance.

Opera: This is a laboratory class for advanced voice students providing study of complete operatic roles, scenes and excerpts for presentation in the opera theatre. You'll put on an annual full-scale opera production. Auditions are open to all qualified students.

Career Paths

As a composition major, you have many options open to you upon graduation, depending on the areas in which you network and perform during your studies. We highly recommend further graduate and even postgraduate study to take you to the heights of your career as a professional composer.  

Primary Careers

Composer, songwriter, music manager

Career Areas

  • Music composition
  • Songwriting
  • Education
  • Entertainment

Median Salary

$58,030
info at

Types of Employers

  • Religious organizations
  • Civic and professional organizations
  • Self-employed
  • Schools
  • Performing arts companies
Dr. Andrew McMahanDr. Andrew McMahan
Interim Department Chair
Director of Bands
Dr. James HanDr. James Han
Associate Professor
Director of Choral Activities
Dr. Bryan ProkshDr. Bryan Proksch
Professor of Music Literature & Musicology