Music, B.A.

Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Music

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts with a major in music prepare for numerous careers in the music field. Students combine courses supporting a fundamental knowledge of music content with minor and/or elective courses in fields other than music. Students in the Bachelor of Arts program in Music select an emphasis area from the following: General Music, Music History, Pedagogy, or Vocal Jazz.

The curricular structure is designed with enough flexibility that students so desiring could expand a minor into a second major.

Admissions Requirements

Prospective students who wish to apply for admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Music program must meet the general admission requirements for Marshall University.

Students must complete an entrance audition on their principal instrument and apply to the School of Music. The application may be found here: https://www.marshall.edu/music/apply/.

Graduation Requirements

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program are required to complete all coursework in the respective majors with a minimum grade of C. Course grades of D and F are not counted toward graduation requirements and must be replaced with a grade of C or better before graduation or before using that course as a prerequisite for another required course.

Candidates for graduation must have a Grade Point Average of 2.0 or higher in all work attempted at Marshall University.

Thirty-nine (39) credit hours must be earned in courses numbered 300-499.

No courses in the college and major requirements for graduation in the College of Arts and Media may be taken Credit/Non-Credit unless the course is otherwise specified.

Students pursuing the B.A. will complete a capstone project appropriate to their emphasis area and outside field. Projects must be approved by the student’s school director and capstone advisor.

Internship

Students may also complete an internship appropriate to their emphasis and outside field.

Course Requirements

Bison image - General Education Course

Cap graduation image - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Curriculum
Core 1: Critical Thinking
FYS 100	First Yr Sem Critical Thinking	3
MTH 121	Concepts and Applications (CT)	3
Critical Thinking		3
Core 2
ENG 101	Beginning Composition	3
ENG 201	Advanced Composition	3
CMM 103	Fund Speech-Communication	3
MTH 121	Concepts and Applications (CT)	3
Core II Natural/Physical Science		4
Core II Humanities		3
Core II Social Science		3
Core II Fine Arts		3
Additional University Requirements
Writing Intensive		3
Writing Intensive		3
Multicultural/International		3
MUS 497	Capstone Project in Music	1-2
Major Requirements
Applied 100		1
Applied 100		1
Applied 100		1
Applied 100		1
MUSP 110	The Professional Musician	1
MUSP 111	Elementary Music Theory I	2
MUSP 112	Elementary Music Theory II	2
MUSP 113	Elem Aural Skills I	2
MUSP 114	Elem Aural Skills II	2
MUS 211	Advanced Music Theory I	2
MUS 213	Adv Aural Skills I	2
MUS 218	Intro to Music Technology	3
MUSP 325	Music Entrepreneurship	3
MUS 497	Capstone Project in Music	1-2
MUS 212	Advanced Music Theory II	2
MUS 214	Adv Aural Skills II	2-4
or MUS 217	Jazz Theory
MUSA 276	Sophomore Hearing	0
MUS 290	Music History to 1750	3
or MUS 250	History of Jazz
MUS 360	Music History 1730 - 1900	3
or MUS 361	Music History Since 1900
Principal Ensemble		4
Music Emphasis Area Courses		3
Music Emphasis Area Courses		3
Music Emphasis Area Courses		3
Music Emphasis Area Courses		3
Music Emphasis Area Courses		3
MUSP 121	Class Piano I	1
MUSP 122	Class Piano II	1
MUSP 123	Class Piano III	1
MUSP 124	Class Piano IV	1
Elective ¹		3
Elective ¹		4
Elective ¹		4
Elective ¹		4
Elective ¹		4
Minor Elective		3
Minor Elective		3
Minor Elective		3
Minor Elective		3
Minor Elective		3
MUS 100	Applied Music Laboratory (6 semesters)	0

¹: Electives should account for 17-29 hours, and up to 12 MUS credit hours may be used as these electives. Credit hours per class may vary.

Major Information

All students desiring entry into the B.A or the music minor must be formally admitted to the music program. This admittance is based upon an audition in the student’s major performance area (instrument or voice) and an interview with the area faculty. Students desiring to enter the theory and composition area of emphasis should be prepared to show evidence of music theory study and/or compositions. Students should contact the music office to arrange for an audition and interview.
Candidates for the B.A. in Music must complete 51 credit hours of study in music.
Forty (40) credit hours must be earned in courses numbered 300-499.
All coursework in the music major must be completed with a grade of C or above. A course with a grade of D or F must be repeated with at least a grade of C to count for graduation or be used as a prerequisite for another required course.
Upon completion of the fourth semester of 100 level applied music study in the principal performance medium, students must pass a sophomore hearing (MUSA 276 Sophomore Hearing) to demonstrate achievement of the appropriate applied music level and for admittance to upper division (300-level) applied music study in the principal performance medium. Students are permitted a maximum of two attempts to pass the sophomore hearing.
Demonstration of piano proficiency is a graduation requirement in all music and music education degree programs. Completing MUSP 124 Class Piano IV with a minimum grade of C satisfies this requirement.

Four-Year Plan