Chris McGovern thinks HM is a waste of time...

Let�s take a wild guess on how much heavy metal Chris McGovern has listened to in his life...... there are quite a few bands out there (Dream Theater definitely one of them) where a degree would certainly be of great use to understand and further dig into their music (Meshuggah also comes to mind). Not all heavy metal is simple and easy to understand.

i think that a degree in heavy metal is a huge waste of time. 1. because you can learn an instrument such as a guitar on your own with lessons of even with just YouTube and 2. how many bands that you can think of actually have a degree in heavy metal? well tell me some because i can come up with none.

Ive never heard of him. But yeah. Heavy Metal good. Ludicrous degree bad.    

I'd have to say I agree with the article as well.  I think that music education should be used to broaden your overall taste and appreciation of music. I could see an elective in metal history drawing significant interest (and definitely has enough cultural relevance to qualify for credit), but bands that try to push boundaries will often incorporate elements and theories famously used in other genres (jazz, classical, various types of world music, etc.)  to dial in a sound of their own.  

I don't think you need or can justify a college degree for any type of music.  Even for jazz or classical or other theory-intensive music, going to college to learn it just makes up for lacking the motivation to learn on your own accord.  There are more than enough resources available so that's obviously not an issue, especially in the internet age.

Lots of great commentary here. I agree with the majority here. A degree in metal is a bit silly. But the point regarding whether or not it's necessary for jazz and other forms of music is totally valid. The intricacy of music depends on the composer not the genre. There's tons of minimalist stuff in classical, and there are hundreds of jazz standards that are pretty darn simple harmonically (as in, the biggest difference being the use of 7th chords). But I digress...

Now, that's not to say that it would be a waste of time to have a "focus" in a certain genre or two. Like a degree in music (usually focusing on composition, performance, or theory) and a focus in a few styles. In that case, a rigorous schedule of honing metal chops would translate to other genres, as would the ability to improv, if you were in a jazz focus.

In any case, it's all about money. The article said it was created due to student demand. On the surface it sounds like they want to make their students happy. But, in reality, they saw a chance to make money. Simple as that.