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Bachelor of Arts in Music

MUSIC COMPOSITION • MUSIC & HEALTH • MUSIC & MEDIA  • MUSICOLOGY-ETHNOMUSICOLOGY • SELF-DIRECTED STUDY

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Music is an undergraduate interdisciplinary degree in which students pursue a twelve-hour concentration or emphasis in music and twelve hours in a secondary field of study outside of music. Additional general education credits may also be required. In many cases, coursework from a second major, minor or certificate can be used to satisfy the secondary field of study requirement.

Emphases and Concentrations

B.A. in Music, Concentration in Musicology-Ethnomusicology

B.A. in Music, Concentration in Music and Media

B.A. in Music, Concentration in Music and Health

B.A. in Music, Concentration in Self-Directed Study

B.A. in Music, Emphasis in Music Composition

Selecting an Emphasis or Concentration

B.A. in Music students are required select an emphasis or concentration in one of the areas listed above. Students interested in pursuing an emphasis in music composition or concentration in musicology-ethnomusicology, music and media, or music and health must be officially accepted into these areas. Students who do not intend to pursue study in one of these areas should read the guidelines below for the Emphasis in Music, Concentration in Self-Directed Study. 

Prospective students may apply to the Bachelor of Arts in Music – Emphasis in Music degree or the Bachelor of Arts in Music – Emphasis in Music Composition degree through the admissions application. It is not possible to apply directly to the Musicology-Ethnomusicology, Music & Media, Music & Health, or Self-Directed Study concentrations. Students admitted to the B.A. in Music – Emphasis in Music degree will work with the B.A. Program Coordinator to select a concentration in one of the areas listed above once they are enrolled.

Current students interested in the B.A. should meet with Dr. Sonia Seeman, BA Program Coordinator, to discuss concentrations first. Once a concentration is chosen, students should meet with undergraduate academic advisor Joseph Reese. 

Concentration in
Musicology-Ethnomusicology

For students interested in pursuing in-depth work on music literature, historiography, canonical and/or early Western European musical traditions, and issues of notation and transcription, as well as for those interested in exploring world music traditions, ethnographic approaches, and/or local musical traditions. This concentration is also recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate study in these fields.

Suggested Concentration Coursework

Twelve hours of approved coursework chosen from:

  • MUS 303M Introduction to Music in World Cultures
  • MUS 321J Twentieth Century Musical Analysis
  • MUS 325L/MUS 325M Counterpoint
  • MUS 331J Advanced Studies in Music Theory (various topics)
  • MUS 334 The Music of the Americas (various topics)
  • MUS 337 Music and Film Sound
  • MUS 342 Area Studies in Ethnomusicology (various topics up to 6 credits)
  • MUS 343J History of Jazz
  • MUS 378G Independent Study in Music Literature/Ethnomusicology (II flag)
  • MUS 379G Capstone in Music (II flag)
  • MUS 379K Advanced Studies in Music Literature (various topics)
  • ENS 106x Up to three credit hours in one or more of the following ensembles: Early Music Ensemble; African American Vocal Ensemble; World Music Ensemble coursework (e.g., Conjunto, Hispanic Caribbean, Javanese Gamelan, North Indian, Middle Eastern, Mariachi)

Any course substitutions must be approved by the student’s faculty mentor.

Secondary Field of Study

Twelve hours of approved coursework chosen from courses in language, literature, area studies, history, radio-television-film, or other coursework that supports the student’s intended concentration area.

Concentration in Music and Media

For students interested in exploring the relationship between music and media, including digital, visual/audio recordings, film music, music journalism, social media, and music production. This concentration is also recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate study in these fields.

Suggested Concentration Coursework

Twelve hours of approved coursework chosen from:

  • MUS 307 History of Film Music
  • MUS 319D Foundations of Digital Sound and Music
  • MUS 329E Introduction to Electronic Music
  • MUS 329G Intermediate Electronic Composition
  • MUS 329J Introduction to Computer Music
  • MUS 329M Intermediate Computer Music
  • MUS 329F Projects in Electronic Media (only offered as an individual instruction course, such as independent study)
  • MUS 342 American Music
  • MUS 342 Music Copyright
  • MUS 376J Audio Processing
  • MUS 376J Virtual Instruments
  • MUS 379G Capstone in Music/Independent Study Project (II flag)
  • ENS Up to three credit hours of ensemble participation

Any course substitutions must be approved by the student’s faculty mentor.

Secondary Field of Study

Twelve hours of approved coursework chosen from courses in radio-television-film, the College of Communication, and/or arts and entertainment technologies that supports the student’s intended concentration area.

Concentration in Music and Health

For students who are interested in pursuing careers, certifications, or graduate degrees in health-related services, special education, or music therapy. Students who intend to pursue a certification or graduate degree in these fields should consult an advisor in those programs to determine the most appropriate prerequisite courses to take. Please note that the extent to which the suggested courses below will satisfy prerequisites for acceptance into a certification or graduate program will depend upon individual university requirements.

Suggested Concentration Coursework

Twelve hours of approved coursework chosen from:

  • MUS 115G Guitar Fundamentals
  • PER 201 Lower-Division Percussion: Secondary (hand drumming study recommended)
  • VOI 201 Lower-division Voice: Secondary
  • MUS 210J Beginning Music Performance: 3rd Semester Class Piano
  • MUS 210K Beginning Music Performance: 4th Semester Class Piano
  • MUS 218J Beginning Jazz Improvisation
  • MUS 222x Up to 4 hours in the following courses: MUS 222J or MUS 222K Instrumental Conducting or MUS 223J or MUS 223K Choral Conducting
  • PRF 260 Applied lessons on primary instrument, up to 4 hours
  • MUS 303M Introduction to Music in World Cultures
  • MUS 379G Capstone in Music/Independent Study Project (II flag)

Any course substitutions must be approved by the student’s faculty mentor.

Secondary Field of Study

Twelve hours of approved coursework chosen from:

  • PSY 301 and SOC 317L or EDP 371 (must take two as prerequisite for PSY 352P)
  • PSY 352P Psychopathology, required
  • Special Education (e.g., ALD 322 Individual Differences; SED 376 Foundations & Issues in Special Education; SLH 306K Introduction to Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences)
  • Educational Psychology and Human Development (e.g., HDF 313 Child Development; EDP 350G Adolescent Development; HDF 342 Developmental Psychopathology Infancy through Adolescence; EDP 350E Intro: Life Span Development)
  • Health, Public Health, Social Work, and Nursing (e.g., HS 301 Introduction to Health & Society; SW 310 Introduction to Social Work & Social Welfare; SW 325 Foundations of Social Justice; PBH 317 Introduction to Public Health; N 309 Global Health; N 310 Communication in Health Care Settings)
  • Other relevant interdisciplinary coursework that is prerequisite to the student’s future program of study (as described above) and is approved by the student’s faculty mentor

Concentration in Self-Directed Study

For students who have career and musical interests that do not fit the above options.

Suggested Coursework

Concentration (twelve hours of approved coursework) and secondary field of study (twelve hours of approved coursework) are to be planned with the student’s faculty mentor, and are subject to the approval of the B.A. Program Coordinator and the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students may select the self-directed study concentration to accompany a minor (e.g., Minor in Arts Management).

The self-directed study concentration must comprise courses from music that facilitate their projected career goals. MUS 379G Capstone in Music/Independent Study Project (II flag).

Emphasis in Music Composition

For students interested in composing for a wide variety of media, including film, video game, and concert music (orchestra, band, chamber, and electronic). Students receive individual instruction from the composition faculty of their choice and attend weekly Composition Forum. Emphasis coursework depends on the student’s personal goals and is chosen in coordination with the faculty mentor. This concentration is also recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate study in these fields.

Suggested Emphasis Coursework

Twelve credit hours of approved coursework chosen from:

  • MUS 160C Senior Composition Recital
  • MUS 164L Advanced Ear Training
  • MUS 222J Instrumental Conducting
  • MUS 223J Choral Conducting
  • MUS 226J/MUS 226K Orchestration and Instrumentation
  • MUS 319D Foundations of Digital Sound and Music
  • MUS 321J 20th Century Analysis
  • MUS 325L/MUS 325M Counterpoint
  • MUS 329E Introduction to Electronic Media
  • MUS 329F Projects in Electronic Media (only offered as an individual instruction course, such as independent study)
  • MUS 329G Intermediate Electronic Composition
  • MUS 329J Introduction to Computer Music
  • MUS 329M Intermediate Computer Music
  • MUS 331J Jazz Harmony and Practice
  • MUS 376J Special Topics in Music Theory; Film/Game Scoring

Any course substitutions must be approved by the student’s faculty mentor​.

Secondary Field of Study

Twelve hours of approved coursework chosen from courses in business/management, radio-television-film, area studies, history and/or language study, arts management, or another field of interest to the student that supports the student’s future plans.