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.
Note: This program is no longer enrolling new students. Please see the bachelor of arts in music for information about pursuing a full music curriculum or view our other available degree options.
Required Courses
| MUSIC CORE | 46 credits | |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 109 | Musicianship I | 2 credits |
| MUS 110 | Musicianship II | 2 credits |
| MUS 163 | Music Theory I | 3 credits |
| MUS 164 | Music Theory II | 3 credits |
| MUS 201 | Development of Western Music | 2 credits |
| MUS 209 | Musicianship III | 2 credits |
| MUS 210 | Musicianship IV | 2 credits |
| MUS 213 | Basic Conducting | 2 credits |
| MUS 263 | Music Theory III | 3 credits |
| MUS 264 | Music Theory IV | 3 credits |
| MUS 318 | Music of the Baroque, Classical and Early Romantic Eras | 3 credits |
| MUS 319 | Music of the Late Romantic and Modern Eras | 3 credits |
| MUS 401 | Early Music Seminar | 2 credits |
| MUS 463 | Post-tonal Music Theory | 3 credits |
| MUS 464 | Advanced Musical Analysis | 3 credits |
| MUS 499 | Music Colloquium (eight semesters) | 0 credits |
| MUS 300 | Keyboard Proficiency | 0 credits |
| MUS 400 | Concert Attendance (90 events) | 0 credits |
| Eight credits of ensemble participation | 8 credits | |
| One concentration (see below) | varies | |
| TOTAL | 128 – 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).