The Bachelor of Music in Popular Music and Technology at UNC Greensboro prepares students to create, perform, produce, and share music in today’s evolving music industry. Known as PopTech, the concentration brings together performance, composition, and music technology for students working across a wide range of popular music styles, including rock, hip-hop, gospel, country, folk, electronic dance music, rap, salsa, and more.
Popular Music and Technology Program Distinctions
Students in the Popular Music and Technology Concentration study in one of North Carolina’s most established music programs. UNCG’s School of Music offers the only comprehensive music education and music performance degrees in the state, from undergraduate study through the doctoral level, and has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music since 1938. The program is designed for performers, singer-songwriters, instrumentalists, rappers, DJs, producers, sound engineers, and other creative musicians who want to develop both their artistry and their technical abilities.
- The UNCG School of Music ranked #1 in the U.S. by Best Value Schools in 2025.
- Access to electronic music studio spaces and technology used for music creation, recording, and production.
- Opportunities to work with faculty and student ensembles connected to popular music, digital music, commercial voice, guitar, songwriting, and music production.
- A curriculum designed for musicians whose work may cross performance, recording, production, composition, and media.
The Bachelor’s in Popular Music and Technology Student Experience
The Bachelor’s in Popular Music and Technology student experience includes individual instruction, collaborative music-making, technology-based coursework, and creative projects that help students refine their own musical identity. Students may study topics such as making music with computers, audio recording, digital composition, songwriting, arranging, improvisation, and media-related music practices.
- Build performance skills through private instruction and ensemble participation.
- Create original music and develop a personal artistic voice.
- Learn how music technology supports performance, recording, production, and distribution.
- Work with faculty whose expertise includes commercial voice, singer-songwriting, commercial guitar, music production, digital music, and related areas.
- Prepare audition and portfolio materials that reflect their goals as performers, producers, composers, or multidisciplinary musicians.
Songwriting, Music Production, and Collaboration in PopTech
Poptech graduate Vesa Basha’s experience reflects the collaborative nature of the Popular Music and Technology concentration. Students have opportunities to perform in ensembles, develop original music in studio settings, work with peers on arrangements and mixes, and refine their creative work through feedback in rehearsals, critiques, and production-focused courses.
“I wanted to learn everything — not just how to sing, but how to write, produce, collaborate, and understand music as a whole. UNCG gave me that.”
–Vesa Basha, ’26, Performance, B.M., Popular Music and Technology
After Graduating with a Bachelor’s in Popular Music and Technology
Graduates of the Popular Music and Technology Concentration leave UNCG with a combination of performance training, creative experience, and technology-based music skills. This preparation can support a wide range of next steps in music, media, performance, production, and graduate study.
Potential career paths include:
- Performer
- Recording artist
- Singer-songwriter
- Music producer
- Composer
- DJ
- Sound engineer
- Audio/visual specialist
- Recording engineer
- Event producer
- Technical music assistant
- Tour manager
- Music creator for media, video, or games
How to Apply to the Popular Music and Technology Program
Students interested in the Popular Music and Technology concentration complete UNCG’s undergraduate admission process and the School of Music application/audition process. Applicants should be prepared to share materials that reflect their musical background, creative interests, and goals in performance, production, songwriting, or music technology.
FAQs About Popular Music and Technology Degree
Program Details
Degree Type: Bachelor's
College/School: College of Visual and Performing Arts
Program Type: Majors & Concentrations
Class Type: In Person
Catalog Name: Performance, B.M. Popular Music and Technology Concentration
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Contact Us
Mark Engebretson
Professor of Composition and Music Technology
m_engebr@uncg.edu