Bachelor of Music (Musical Communication)

Learn to speak the languages of music by exploring musical cultures and engaging in relevant theoretical concepts with the Bachelor of Music (Musical Communication). 

1. demonstrate proficiency in practical and theoretical musical processes within popular and contemporary genres through an emerging professional identity as a musician
2. leverage the skills and knowledge of a professional musician to gain employment in a wide range of occupations within the music profession, working both independently and collaboratively in a broad range of musical contexts with other professionals, in industry, and in education or community
3. communicate effectively with cultural intelligence to a variety of stakeholders across diverse contexts
4. use technology to analyse, manipulate, create and disseminate musical artefacts
5. evaluate and apply methods, concepts, techniques and theories in the creation of musical and hybrid creative arts projects in a broad range of contexts
6. research and analyse historical, ideological, critical and ethical perspectives in the creative arts, in both traditional and contemporary cultural and social contexts to explore the role music plays in everyday life.

Today’s musician is no longer reliant on old structures of production and distribution, and continually evolving technologies provide opportunity for artists to develop and distribute products and services in a more viable and immediate way. From digital artistic collaborations through to teaching music lessons via Skype, UniSQ’s Bachelor of Music acknowledges that today’s musician will be globally connected.

Within the Musical Communication major you will develop your skills as a creative and independent musician. You'll learn to speak the languages of music by exploring musical cultures and engaging in relevant theoretical concepts. Benefit from the opportunity to develop your own specialised skill set by combining minors, electives or a second major.

Note: The Bachelor of Music is available on-campus at UniSQ Springfield. All music courses are also available online.

Recommended study pattern

Year 1 - Semester 1

SCA1001 Persuasive Communication: Presenting Yourself and Your Ideas

MUI1010 Guitar Skills

MUI1013 Decoding Music

Second Major/Minor

Year 1 - Semester 2

SCA1002 Introduction to Creative and Critical Thinking

MUI1011 Digital Composition

MUI1006 Musical Contexts: Popular Music

Second Major/Minor

Year 2 - Semester 1

SCA2001 Cultural Responsibilities and Creative Communities

MUI2002 Popular Songwriting

Second Major/Minor

Second Major/Minor

Year 2 - Semester 2

SCA2002 Arts Business: Making and Managing Your Arts Career

MUI2009 Recording and Music Production

Second Major/Minor/Elective

Second Major/Minor

Year 3 - Semester 1

MUI3016 Music Project 1

MUI3014 The Globally Connected Musician

MUI3013 Musical Craft

Second Major/Minor/Elective

Year 3 - Semester 2

MUI3017 Music Project 2

MUI3015 Leadership Development for Musicians

MUI3012 Musical Contexts: Critical Perspectives

Second Major/Minor/Elective

Award requirements

Completion of 24 units as outlined in the Recommended Study Pattern section.

Choose your subjects

Majors

• Musical Communication
• Music Practice

Electives

You may select courses from the available minors to make up your electives in this program.

Exit points

Students may exit with the Diploma of Creative Arts (DCRA) if they have completed 8 courses as follows:

• A minimum of 2 School of Creative Arts-coded Core courses from the Bachelor of Music and
• 6 other courses from the Bachelor of Music.

Students may exit with the Associate Degree of Creative Arts (ADCA) if they have completed 16 courses as follows:

• A minimum of 4 School of Creative Arts-coded Core courses from the Bachelor of Music and
• 12 other courses from the Bachelor of Music, with no more than ten Level 1 courses.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $24,063

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

As Australia’s #1 university for graduate starting salary (Good Universities Guide, 2022), University of Southern Queensland is the right place to make real progress. Regardless of your education history, your age or your aspirations, at UniSQ you’ll be inspired by quality learning experiences matched with top resources and research. Having delivered distance and online learning for over 40+ years, UniSQ supports you to learn at your own pace—exactly how it suits you.

Learn more about USQ.

Explore USQ courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

24

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

25

Have achieved a minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 60, or equivalent qualification.

Attend an audition/interview.

Audition/interview information:

Applicants for Music must attend an audition and interview and must bring with them:

• a school exit statement or evidence of previous education standard achieved
• Applicants are not required to have undertaken high school music or AMEB practical/theory or musicianship exams.
• On-campus applicants must attend an audition and interview and perform two contrasting pieces. Applicants for online study will submit a video recording of their performances and attend a phone/skype interview.
• Applicants will need to provide their own accompanying tracks on MP3 or an iPod if required.
• All applicants are to present a written statement (500 words) addressing the following: a musical experience which has inspired, motivated or moved you. It might be a performance or concert you attended, or participated in, or it might be music of a particular artist or work. The submission should be typed and signed by you, with a statement which certifies that the work is your own. Please present your submission at interview.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements. For entry to the Bachelor of Music (Musical Communication) program, applicants are required to meet the Category 2 English Language Proficiency requirements.

Credit will normally only be granted on the basis of formal studies of equivalent material undertaken at a college of TAFE, college of advanced education or university. Studies successfully completed within the last five years are automatically eligible to be used as a basis for a claim for credit. Studies completed more than five years ago will be considered, but should be accompanied by evidence that the knowledge and skills acquired from those studies have been maintained.

Students who have been granted credit have a responsibility to ensure that their knowledge and skills are kept up to date in these areas. This is particularly important when they have been granted credit from a course which is a pre-requisite for another course.

Students who have completed a Diploma or Advanced Diploma in an area specifically related to one of the majors in this program within the last five years, will normally be eligible for up to 8 credits and up to 12 credits respectively.