Student-at-Piano

Bachelor of Music

The bachelor of music is a professional degree, earned through concentrated study in one of three tracks: performance, church music, or composition. This degree program is designed for students who want to become professional church musicians, studio music teachers, composers, music professors, or professional performers. The degree is also excellent preparation for graduate-level study of music.

Foundations

The general education requirements of the bachelor of music are listed in the University Catalog. To be eligible for the bachelor of music, students must complete the required curriculum as well as requirements for concert attendance, keyboard proficiency, and more, as outlined in the Music Student Handbook.

Required Courses

MUSIC CORE46 credits
MUS 109Musicianship I2 credits
MUS 110Musicianship II2 credits
MUS 163Music Theory I3 credits
MUS 164Music Theory II3 credits
MUS 201Development of Western Music2 credits
MUS 209Musicianship III2 credits
MUS 210Musicianship IV2 credits
MUS 213Basic Conducting2 credits
MUS 263Music Theory III3 credits
MUS 264Music Theory IV3 credits
MUS 318Music of the Baroque, Classical and Early Romantic Eras3 credits
MUS 319Music of the Late Romantic and Modern Eras3 credits
MUS 401Early Music Seminar2 credits
MUS 463 Post-tonal Music Theory3 credits
MUS 464Advanced Musical Analysis3 credits
MUS 499Music Colloquium (eight semesters)0 credits
MUS 300Keyboard Proficiency0 credits
MUS 400Concert Attendance (90 events)0 credits
Eight credits of ensemble participation8 credits
One concentration (see below)varies
TOTAL128 – 136 credits

Concentrations

REQUIREMENT Organ Piano Voice Instrument
MUEN 358 Chamber Music 2 credits 2 credits
MUS 220-223 Diction for Singers — English, Italian, German and French 3 credits
MUS 313 Intermediate Conducting 2 credits 2 credits
MUS 404 Recital (half-recital in the third year) 1 credit 1 credit 1 credit 1 credit
MUS 404 Recital (full recital in the fourth year) 2 credits 2 credits 2 credits 2 credits
MUS 423 Pro-Seminar in the Pedagogy of Music 3 credits 3 credits 3 credits
MUS 454 Teaching of Performance Music 1 credit
Piano 4 credits 4 credits
Principal Instrument 20 credits* 20 credits* 20 credits** 20 credits*
TOTAL CREDITS FOR CONCENTRATION 30 credits 28 credits 32 credits 30 credits
Electives 9-11 credits
11-13 credits
6-8 credits 9-11 credits
TOTAL REQUIRED FOR DEGREE 128 credits 128 credits 128 credits 128 credits

* Must complete MUAP 453/475
** Must complete MUAP 453/475; total may include MUS 239

Students in the church music program have two options of principal performing medium: organ and voice. Each student is expected, however, to acquire sufficient skill in organ performance and choral directing to assume a position as a qualified parish musician.

REQUIREMENT Organ Voice
MUS 313 Intermediate Conducting 2 credits 2 credits
MUS 404 Recital (half-recital in the third year) 1 credit 1 credit
MUS 404 Recital (full-recital in the fourth year) 2 credits 2 credits
MUS 415 Liturgical Organ Playing 2 credits 2 credits
MUS 454 Teaching of Performance Music 1 credit 1 credit
MUS 473 Church Music 3 credits 3 credits
Piano or Harpsichord 4 credits
Organ 20 credits* 8 credits
Voice 4 credits 20 credits*
TOTAL CREDITS FOR CONCENTRATION 39 credits 39 credits
Electives 6-8 credits 6-8 credits
TOTAL REQUIRED FOR DEGREE 136 credits 136 credits

* Must complete MUAP 453/475

MUS 312 Scoring and Arranging 2 credits
MUS 313 Intermediate Conducting 2 credits
MUS 404 (recital of composed works) 1 credit
Composition 12 credits
Performance Study* 12 credits
TOTAL CREDITS FOR CONCENTRATION 29 credits
Electives  10-12 credits
TOTAL REQUIRED FOR DEGREE 128 credits

* Performance study requires completion of level 203 (MUAP 275) in a primary performing area and completion of level 103 (MUAP 175) in piano or organ if the primary performing area is not one of these. Up to five credits of performance study may be fulfilled with instructional methods courses (at one credit).