音乐系的课程哲学基于学院内音乐学院的理想。在历史，美学和理论探究的最高标准下，教师关注音乐的表演和创作。该学院包括作曲家，音乐学家和音乐理论家，指挥和表演者。学院的所有成员在出版学者，音乐会和唱片艺术家以及著名的作曲家中都非常活跃。许多乐器讲师都是从洛杉矶爱乐乐团，洛杉矶室内乐团，太平洋交响乐团和南加州其他乐团的队伍中选拔出来的。该部门还经常邀请著名的来宾艺术家表演和大师班，并设有数个最先进的音乐技术设施。
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program enables students to study music history, music theory, composition, or performance within a curriculum that is flexible enough to allow for a second major, study abroad, and other curricular options. The curricular philosophy of the Department of Music is based on the ideals of the conservatory within the academy. The faculty are concerned with the performance and creation of music within the context of the highest standards of historical, aesthetic, and theoretical inquiry. The faculty includes composers, musicologists and music theorists, conductors, and performers. All members of the faculty are highly active in their fields as publishing scholars, concert and recording artists, and well-known composers. Many of the instrumental instructors are drawn from the ranks of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, and other orchestras in Southern California. The department also presents frequent performances and master classes by renowned guest artists, and houses several state of the art music technology facilities.