Mission Statement
(Approved May 28, 2008)

The UO School of Music and Dance at a Glance

The UO School of Music and Dance is nationally recognized for its dedication to the highest levels of excellence in teaching, performance, and research.   Located in Eugene, Oregon nestled between the Pacific coast and the Cascade Mountain range, and noted for its natural beauty it is the only comprehensive School of Music and Dance in the state of Oregon authorized to grant master's degrees in dance and doctoral degrees in music.

Location:  Eugene, Oregon

Enrollment: More than 500 music and dance majors with 150 graduate students

SOMD Demographics: Oregon residents 63%, Non-Oregon U.S. residents 30%, International students 7%, Students of color 11%

Degrees offered: B.A., B.S., B.M., M.A., M.S., M.M., M.F.A, D.M.A., and Ph.D.

Student/Faculty ratio for music and dance majors:  8.3:1

Number of annual performances by UO students and faculty: More than 200 programs in Eugene; more than 500 in the United States and abroad

Number of UO students taught annually by our faculty: 20-25% of the UO student body

Key dates in history:  Founded in 1900, the UO Music Department is a charter member (1928) of the National Association of Schools of Music.  Joined in 1991 by the Dance faculty ・which had been offering classes at the UO since 1911, and which established a dance major in 1959 ・we changed our name in 2005 to the "School of Music and Dance."  The UO Music and Dance departments are among the oldest west of the Mississippi. 

The University of Oregon School of Music and Dance has a threefold mission:
• To prepare students to lead lives enriched by the arts of music and dance;
• To provide comprehensive programs for those pursuing professional careers in music and dance, and a broad range of courses for those seeking a liberal arts education;
• To serve as an educational and cultural resource for the University of Oregon, the local community, and the state of Oregon.