Music Production

Degree Overview

Learn to Make Music, Not Just Study It

Batten's online Bachelor of Arts in Music Production is built around doing. From your first semester you'll be developing real musicianship — theory, ear training, piano skills — alongside hands-on work in digital production. The program uses Ableton Live throughout, one of the industry's most widely used tools for composing, recording, arranging, mixing, and mastering. Rather than sitting exams, you'll complete project-based work that puts your skills into practice from day one. By the time you reach the capstone, you'll have a portfolio that reflects what you can actually do. Graduates go on to careers in music production, the entertainment industry, education, and audio engineering.

Course Information

All Batten students complete a shared general education curriculum designed to build critical thinking, communication, and a broad academic foundation alongside your major coursework. The four components are:

  • English Composition — ENG 105: The Art of Writing (must be passed with a C or higher)
  • Foreign Language Proficiency — demonstrate competency through coursework, AP/CLEP credit, or prior study. Transfer students entering with 60+ credits have a simplified pathway.
  • Batten Seminars — three seminar-style courses (Seminars I, II, and III) that develop scholarly inquiry, writing, and oral communication skills
  • Breadth Requirement — 24 credit hours spanning arts and humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences, drawn from at least six different departments outside your major

View full General Education requirements on the Batten University website →

Piano Skills & Musicianship

Course Credits
APMU 243 Keyboard Harmony I
3
APMU 244 Keyboard Harmony II
3
MUS 101 Basic Musicianship I
3
MUS 102 Basic Musicianship II
3
MUS 225 Intermediate Musicianship I
3
MUS 226 Intermediate Musicianship II
3
MUS 325 Advanced Musicianship I
3
Hours 21

Music History & Digital Production

Course Credits
MUS 318 Great Works: Classical Music
3
MUS 318 Great Works: Popular Music
3
MUS 254 Introduction to Music Production
3
MUS 355 Intermediate Music Production
3
MUS 356 Advanced Music Production
3
Hours 15

Capstone

Course Credits
MUS 456 Music Production Capstone
3
Total Major Hours Required 39

Career Outcomes

The modern music industry extends far beyond traditional recording studios. Today's graduates need both technical production skills and musical fluency to compete across recording, live sound, media production, education, and independent creative work. The portfolio developed throughout this program helps demonstrate those capabilities to employers and collaborators alike.

Music Production and Recording

Coursework in recording, arranging, mixing, and mastering prepares graduates for roles in studio production, audio engineering, live sound, and independent recording environments.

Content and Media Production

Audio professionals are increasingly needed across podcasting, streaming, film, television, gaming, and digital media. Graduates can apply their sound design and production skills in post-production, media editing, and audio content creation roles.

Music Education and Instruction

With training in musicianship, theory, and production technology, graduates are well positioned for instructional roles in private music education, studio coaching, and music technology training environments.

Independent Artist and Entrepreneur

Graduates who can produce, record, and refine their own work gain a significant advantage as independent creators. The project-based structure of the program helps students build both technical self-sufficiency and a professional portfolio.

Why Batten Online

92%

Successful Graduates

Of our graduates receive job offers or go on to graduate school within one year of graduation.

Free & Rolling

Apply Anytime

Rolling admissions means you can start when you're ready. Our application is free — no fee standing between you and your degree.

90%

Highly Qualified Faculty

Of our professors have attained the highest degree in their fields. You learn from people who've lived the work, not just read about it.

Green Colleges

Environmentally Responsible

Selected by The Princeton Review as one of the most environmentally responsible colleges, profiled in the Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition.

How to Apply

Admission Requirements

  1. Complete our online application.
  2. Applicants who have not yet completed 12 semester hours of college work must submit an official high school transcript and an official college transcript from all colleges and universities previously attended. Applicants who have not taken an SAT or ACT may be admitted on the basis of an evaluation of high school coursework. Applicants who are not high school graduates may be admitted on the basis of GED test results.
  3. Applicants who have successfully completed 12 or more semester hours of college work must submit official college transcripts from all institutions previously attended. Generally, individuals transferring to Batten University must present a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Financial Aid

There may be financial aid options available to you when you apply for an online program at Batten University.

Explore Financial Aid Options

Ready to Get Started?

Flexible schedules. Qualified faculty. Real results. Let's go.