Music, B.A.
Admission and Performance Standards
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: Commercial Music, General Music, Music History, Pedagogy, or Vocal Jazz.
Prospective students who wish to apply for admission to the Bachelor of Arts program must meet the general admission requirements for Marshall University. Students wishing to enroll in the music major must complete an entrance audition.
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.
Forty (40) 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.
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 Requirements
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/.
| 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 | |
| MUS 110 | The Professional Musician | 1 |
| MUS 111 | Elementary Music Theory I | 2 |
| MUS 112 | Elementary Music Theory II | 2 |
| MUS 113 | Elem Aural Skills I | 2 |
| MUS 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 |
| MUS 310 | Perf Arts Entrepreneurship | 1 |
| 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 | |
| MUS 290 | Music History to 1750 | 3 |
| or MUS 250 | Survey 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 | |
| MUS 179A | Class Piano | 1 |
| MUS 179B | Class Piano | 1 |
| MUS 179C | Class Piano | 1 |
| MUS 179D | Class Piano | 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 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 MUS 179D Class Piano with a minimum grade of C satisfies this requirement.
Semester Plan
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 must select an emphasis area from the following: Commercial Music, General Music, Music History, Pedagogy, or Vocal Jazz.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| MUS 100 | Applied Music Laboratory | 0 |
| MUS 111 | Elementary Music Theory I | 2 |
| MUS 113 | Elem Aural Skills I | 2 |
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| MUS 179A | Class Piano | 1 |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Applied 100 | 1 | |
| Principal Ensemble | 1 | |
| UNI 100 | Freshman First Class | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MUS 100 | Applied Music Laboratory | 0 |
| MUS 110 | The Professional Musician | 1 |
| MUS 112 | Elementary Music Theory II | 2 |
| MUS 114 | Elem Aural Skills II | 2 |
| MUS 179B | Class Piano | 1 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| Principal Ensemble | 1 | |
| Applied 100 | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MUS 100 | Applied Music Laboratory | 0 |
| MUS 179C | Class Piano | 1 |
| MUS 211 | Advanced Music Theory I | 2 |
| MUS 213 | Adv Aural Skills I | 2 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| Core II Humanities (CT, WI) | 3 | |
| Minor Elective | 3 | |
| Principal Ensemble | 1 | |
| Applied 100 | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MUS 100 | Applied Music Laboratory | 0 |
| MUS 179D | Class Piano | 1 |
| MUS 212 | Advanced Music Theory II | 2 |
| MUS 214 | Adv Aural Skills II | 2 |
| MUS 290 or MUS 250 | Music History to 1750 or Survey of Jazz | 3 |
| Non-Music Elective | 3 | |
| Principal Ensemble | 1 | |
| Applied 100 | 1 | |
| Music Emphasis Area Courses | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MUS 100 | Applied Music Laboratory | 0 |
| MUS 218 | Intro to Music Technology | 3 |
| MUS 360 or MUS 361 | Music History 1730 - 1900 or Music History Since 1900 | 3 |
| Music Emphasis Area Courses | 3 | |
| Minor Elective | 3 | |
| Non-Music Elective | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MUS 100 | Applied Music Laboratory | 0 |
| MUS 310 | Perf Arts Entrepreneurship | 1 |
| Music Emphasis Area Courses | 3 | |
| Minor Elective | 4 | |
| Non-Music Elective | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Core II Natural/Physical Science | 4 | |
| Music Emphasis Area Courses | 3 | |
| Minor Elective | 4 | |
| Non-Music Elective | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Core II Social Science (MC/I, WI) | 3 | |
| MUS 497 | Capstone Project in Music | 1-2 |
| Music Emphasis Area Courses | 3 | |
| Minor Elective | 3 | |
| Non-Music Elective | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 14-15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-121 | |