What Music and Dance Degree Programs Does SDSU Offer?

SDSU's School of Music and Dance offers 16 graduate and undergraduate degrees and emphases, spanning music performance, music education, dance, and related areas. The school also runs a music minor and a dance program with pathways for non-majors. If you want the exact degree titles, concentrations, and admission requirements, the school's own program pages are the authoritative source — the homepage only summarizes the count and the general areas.

What the School Covers

The School of Music and Dance at San Diego State University describes itself as providing specialized instruction and career development through a dynamic artistic environment built on its faculty's strengths. Its stated emphasis is on:

• High-quality performance experiences
• Professional engagement
• Applied practical training in music and dance

The school reports 250+ annual events and 45+ performance classes and ensembles each semester, which gives a sense of how much of the curriculum is built around active performance rather than classroom work alone.

Degree and Emphasis Areas

The homepage confirms 16 graduate and undergraduate degrees and emphases but does not list them individually. Based on the performance areas the school names, the music side of the curriculum includes:

The dance side has its own degree offerings and a separate program page. The school also offers a music minor degree, which is a distinct credential from the major.

Because the site does not publish the full degree list on the homepage, treat the 16 figure as a total across both music and dance, undergraduate and graduate, degrees and emphases combined — not as 16 separate majors.

Performance Opportunities Alongside the Degree

A degree program at SDSU is paired with ensemble participation, and the school is explicit that ensembles are open at different levels:

• Auditioned ensembles for students seeking a higher-intensity performance environment
• Non-auditioned ensembles so that all levels of musicians can find an outlet

Ensembles are guided by faculty who, in the school's words, "promote excellence and professionalism in the performance environment." The site gives examples of the range: a clarinetist wanting symphonic experience, a singer drawn to choir or opera, or a mariachi violinist.

Dance Pathways

The dance program is presented with its own degrees and its own audition process. The school frames dance as open to everyone, with three entry points named on the page:

1. Dance auditions — for students pursuing the dance degree path
2. Dance opportunities for non-majors — for students who want to keep dancing without majoring in it
3. Fulfilling a GE requirement — dance coursework that counts toward general education

If you have danced your whole life or have always wanted to but never started, the school states there are opportunities for "every body."

How to Get the Specific Requirements

The homepage does not list per-degree course requirements, audition dates, or application deadlines. To get those:

• Go to the school's degree and program pages for the specific emphasis you're considering
• Check the dance audition page if you're applying on the dance side
• Check the performing groups page if your main question is which ensemble fits your instrument or voice type
• Use the events calendar to attend a recital, concert, or festival before applying — the school lists upcoming performances with dates and times

One practical note: the site distinguishes between majors and non-majors throughout, so if you are not planning to declare a music or dance major, look specifically for the non-major ensemble and dance options rather than the degree pages.