Music - Bachelor of Arts in Music (BAMus)

The Bachelor of Arts in Music program provides a broad education in music within a liberal arts context. Although students may elect to pursue special interests, the primary emphasis is on the development of basic musicianship, an ability to perform music and a broad knowledge of the foundations and principles of music as an art. The BA in music may be completed with an emphasis in jazz, music production, musicology and world music, or music technology and media studies. The BA in music degree is ideal for students who desire working on a second major outside of the College of Music.

Requirements

General Requirements

A minimum of 120 credit hours with an overall GPA of 2.00 must be earned for the BA in music degree. Of these credit hours, at least 68 (66 for musicology or music technology emphases) must be in non-music courses. Thirty must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. A minimum of 44 credit hours (51 for musicology or music technology emphases) is required in music courses.

In addition to the general requirements listed above, the following specific general education requirements must be met:

• Six credit hours of Written Communication
• Three credit hours of Quantitative Reasoning
• Twelve credit hours of Social Sciences (to include United States Perspective and Global Perspective)
• Twelve credit hours of Natural Sciences
• Basic proficiency in one foreign language equal to three semesters at the university level. This requirement also may be fulfilled by three years of study in high school in one language or by passing a university proficiency examination.
• Non-music requirements to fulfill the minimum requirement of credit hours outside of music.

The normal pattern for private applied instruction in this degree is one 25-minute lesson per week for 2 credit hours. Not more than 16 credit hours (9 for musicology emphasis, 11 for music technology emphasis) in private instruction may be used toward the degree.

Students registered for applied music must participate in an ensemble as recommended by their applied faculty. A maximum of 4 credit hours (6 for musicology emphasis) in ensemble can apply to the BA in music degree.

Recommended Four-Year Plans of Study

General Program (No Emphasis)

Emphasis in Jazz

Emphasis in Music Production

Emphasis in Music Technology and Media Studies

Emphasis in Musicology and World Musics

Learning Outcomes 

By the completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Develop basic musicianship.
• Analyze and think critically about music.
• Broaden knowledge of the foundations and principles of music as an art.
• Demonstrate an understanding of theoretical studies, including sight-reading and ear training.
• Demonstrate an understanding of historical studies including the analysis of stylistic periods and music of non-Western cultures.