Music Major, B.M.

General Degree Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements. 

• Degree and Certificate Requirements  
• General Studies Requirements  
• Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement  
• Senior Experience Graduation Requirements  

Program Requirements

• A total of 120 semester hours are required for graduation. 
• A grade of C- or better is required for each course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.

General Studies Requirements: 33 credits

Students should consult the General Studies Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.  

• Written Communication (6 credits) 
• Oral Communication (3 credits) 
  • Strongly Recommended for the Voice Concentration: FRE 1010 - Elementary French I , GER 1010 - Elementary German I , or ITA 1010 - Elementary Italian I . These courses serve as prerequisites to degree requirements.    
• Quantitative Literacy (3 credits) 
• Arts and Humanities (6 credits) 
• Historical (3 credits) 
• Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits) 
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits) 
• Global Diversity (0 or 3 credits**)

** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences. 

Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Requirement: 0 or 3 credits

• Students should consult the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement  for a list of courses that fulfill the ESSJ Requirement for degree completion.  
• Many programs include courses that meet this requirement. Students should consult with their advisor to determine what program courses may fulfill this requirement.  
  • Recommended for the Jazz and American Improvised Music Performance Concentration: MUS 3020 - History of Jazz  which is a requirement for this concentration.

Core Requirements: 32 credits

The following courses are required for all music majors:

• MUS 0020 - Recital Attendance Credits: 0 *
• MUS 1110 - Music Theory I Credits: 3
• MUS 1120 - Music Theory Lab I Credits: 1
• MUS 1130 - Music Theory II Credits: 3
• MUS 1140 - Music Theory Lab II Credits: 1
• MUS 161B - Class Piano I Credits: 1 **
• MUS 162B - Class Piano II Credits: 1 **
• MUS 1710 - Private Instruction I Credits: 2 (primary performance area)
• MUS 1720 - Private Instruction II Credits: 2 (primary performance area)
• MUS 2110 - Music Theory III Credits: 3
• MUS 2120 - Music Theory Lab III Credits: 1
• MUS 2130 - Music Theory IV Credits: 3
• MUS 2140 - Music Theory Lab IV Credits: 1
• MUS 3050 - Musics of the World Credits: 3
• MUS 3210 - Western Music History I Credits: 3
• MUS 3220 - Western Music History II Credits: 3

•  

  Select one credit hour from the following options:

   

• MUS 3818 - Mariachi Ensemble Credits: 1
• MUS 3834 - Gamelan Ensemble Credits: 1
• MUS 3835 - African Drum and Dance Ensemble Credits: 1

•  

  *Students must enroll during each semester of individual instruction, and complete the requirement with a “Satisfactory” grade in order to be eligible to continue to enroll in individual instruction.

  **Students whose primary instrument is piano must substitute MUS 261B and MUS 262B, Class Piano III and IV, for MUS 161B and MUS 162B, Class Piano I and II, in the core requirements listed above.

Woodwinds, Brass, Strings, and Percussion Performance Concentrations

For admission to the performance concentration, students must pass the music performance audition upon completion of  MUS 1720 - Private Instruction II .

Student Outcomes

• Be able to hear, identify, and work conceptually with the elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, and structure, and to be able to sight read music with fluency. 
• Understand compositional processes, aesthetic properties of style, and the ways these shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural forces 
• Have experienced a wide selection of musical styles, traditions, and compositions from a variety of sources through study, participation, and exposure through live performances.  
• Have the technical and artistic ability to perform in areas appropriate to the student’s needs and interests, and to work independently and creatively.  
• The ability to perform a cross-section of musical styles from the complete repertory of the particular performance medium including music of their own time. 

Piano, Organ, and Guitar Performance Concentration

For admission to the performance concentration, students must pass the music performance audition upon completion of  MUS 1720 - Private Instruction II .

Student Outcomes

• Be able to hear, identify, and work conceptually with the elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, and structure, and to be able to sight read music with fluency. 
• Understand compositional processes, aesthetic properties of style, and the ways these shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural forces 
• Have experienced a wide selection of musical styles, traditions, and compositions from a variety of sources through study, participation, and exposure through live performances.  
• Have the technical and artistic ability to perform in areas appropriate to the student’s needs and interests, and to work independently and creatively.  
• The ability to perform a cross-section of musical styles from the complete repertory of the particular performance medium including music of their own time.

Voice Performance Concentration

For admission to the performance concentration, students must pass the music performance audition upon completion of  MUS 1720 - Private Instruction II .

Student Outcomes

• Be able to hear, identify, and work conceptually with the elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, and structure, and to be able to sight read music with fluency. 
• Understand compositional processes, aesthetic properties of style, and the ways these shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural forces.
• Have experienced a wide selection of musical styles, traditions, and compositions from a variety of sources through study, participation, and exposure through live performances.  
• Have the technical and artistic ability to perform in areas appropriate to the student’s needs and interests, and to work independently and creatively.  
• The ability to perform a cross-section of musical styles from the complete repertory of the particular performance medium including music of their own time.

Jazz and American Improvised Music Performance Concentration

For admission to the performance concentration, students must pass the music performance audition upon completion of  MUS 1720 - Private Instruction II .

Student Outcomes

• Be able to hear, identify, and work conceptually with the elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, and structure, and to be able to sight read music with fluency. 
• Understand compositional processes, aesthetic properties of style, and the ways these shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural forces 
• Have experienced a wide selection of musical styles, traditions, and compositions from a variety of sources through study, participation, and exposure through live performances.  
• Have the technical and artistic ability to perform in areas appropriate to the student’s needs and interests, and to work independently and creatively.  
• The ability to perform a cross-section of musical styles from the complete repertory of the particular performance medium including music of their own time.

Composition Concentration

For admission to the composition concentration, students must pass a review of their composition portfolio upon completion of  MUS 3650 - Basic Techniques of Composition .

Student Outcomes

• Be able to hear, identify, and work conceptually with the elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, and structure, and to be able to sight read music with fluency. 
• Understand compositional processes, aesthetic properties of style, and the ways these shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural forces 
• Have experienced a wide selection of musical styles, traditions, and compositions from a variety of sources through study, participation, and exposure through live performances.  
• Have the technical and artistic ability to perform in areas appropriate to the student’s needs and interests, and to work independently and creatively.  
• Use of basic concepts, tools, techniques, and procedures to develop a composition from concept to finished product.