The Commercial Music major will prepare students for careers in the commercial, jazz and popular music industries as a performer, composer or arranger, while developing skills in entrepreneurship and music business and law. This curriculum will allow the student to excel in commercial aspects of the music industry while attaining musicianship and artistry.

  - General Education Course

  - 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 Requirements

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
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
Core II Humanities
Core II Social Science
Core II Fine Arts
Additional University Requirements
Writing Intensive		3
Writing Intensive		3
Multicultural/International
MUS 497	Capstone Project in Music	1-2
Core Requirements - Music
MUS 100	Applied Music Laboratory (8 semesters)	0
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 217	Jazz Theory	4
MUS 227	History of Popular Music	3
MUS 231	Jazz Improvisation I	2
MUS 232	Jazz Improvisation II	2
MUS 250	Survey of Jazz	3
MUS 315	Basic Conducting	2
MUS 323	Jazz Arranging/Composing	3
MUS 361	Music History Since 1900	3
MUS 412	Jazz Pedagogy and Conducting	3
Major-Specific Requirements
MUS 218	Intro to Music Technology	3
MUS 219	Digital Recording Techniques	2
MUS 310	Perf Arts Entrepreneurship	1
MUS 326	Music Industry Law	3
MUS 327	Intro to Music Business	2
MUS 427	Commerical Music Business	2
MUS 432	Electronic Music Comp	2
Piano 1
MUS 179A	Class Piano (hours do not count toward degree)	1
MUS 179B	Class Piano (hours do not count toward degree)	1
MUS 279C	Jazz Piano Class (hours do not count toward degree)	1
MUS 279D	Jazz Piano Class (hours do not count toward degree)	1
Applied Study
8 credits of applied lessons on primary instrument. One credit per semester of study.
Major Ensemble		8
The jazz ensemble or jazz combo serve as the major ensemble for instrumentalists, while the a cappella ensemble serves as the major ensemble for vocalists. A jazz combo section to serve as an ensemble to students whose interests/skill sets are more aligned with commercial music genres (including vocalists). Students also have the opportunity to perform in several secondary ensembles each semester. One credit per semester of study.
MUS 259	Jazz Ensemble
MUS 459	Jazz Ensemble
MUS 460	Jazz Improv Ensemble
MUS 405	A Cappella Ensemble
Restricted Electives
Select one of the following:		3
MUS 200	Introduction to World Music
MUS 360	Music History 1730 - 1900
Electives 2		1-13
Recommended Electives from the College of Business:
MKT 340	MKT Concepts and Applications
LE 366	Entrep Law & Ethics
ENT 320	Marketing for Entrepreneurs

¹

Or successful completion of piano proficiency.

²

Up to 6 credits of music coursework (upper division courses only) may be allowed as elective credit. Music ensembles do not count towards elective credit.

Semester Plan

Plan of Study Grid

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
Applied Lessons, 100 Level		1
Major Ensemble		1
MUS 179A	Class Piano	1
UNI 100	Freshman First Class	1
FYS 100	First Yr Sem Critical Thinking	3
Core II Fine Arts		3
MTH 121	Concepts and Applications (CT)	3
	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
Applied Lessons, 100 level		1
Major Ensemble		1
MUS 179B	Class Piano	1
CMM 103	Fund Speech-Communication	3
ENG 101	Beginning Composition	3
	Credit Hours	14
Second Year
First Semester
MUS 100	Applied Music Laboratory	0
MUS 211	Advanced Music Theory I	2
MUS 213	Adv Aural Skills I	2
MUS 218	Intro to Music Technology	3
MUS 231	Jazz Improvisation I	2
MUS 279C	Jazz Piano Class	1
Applied Lessons, 100 level		1
Major Ensemble		1
ENG 201	Advanced Composition	3
	Credit Hours	15
Second Semester
MUS 100	Applied Music Laboratory	0
MUS 217	Jazz Theory	4
MUS 219	Digital Recording Techniques	2
MUS 227	History of Popular Music	3
MUS 232	Jazz Improvisation II	2
MUS 279B	Jazz Piano Class	1
Applied Lessons, 100 level		1
Major Ensemble		1
Elective		1-2
	Credit Hours	15-16
Third Year
First Semester
MUS 100	Applied Music Laboratory	0
MUS 315	Basic Conducting	2
MUS 323	Jazz Arranging/Composing	3
MUS 326	Music Industry Law	3
MUS 327	Intro to Music Business (corequisite with MUS 326)	2
Applied Lessons, 300 level		1
Major Ensemble		1
Elective		3
	Credit Hours	15
Second Semester
MUS 100	Applied Music Laboratory	0
MUS 250	Survey of Jazz	3
MUS 310	Perf Arts Entrepreneurship	1
MUS 427	Commerical Music Business	2
Applied Lessons, 300 level		1
Major Ensemble
MUS 200  or MUS 360	Introduction to World Music (Restricted Elective) or Music History 1730 - 1900	3
Elective		4
	Credit Hours	14
Fourth Year
First Semester
MUS 100	Applied Music Laboratory	0
MUS 412	Jazz Pedagogy and Conducting	3
MUS 432	Electronic Music Comp	2
Applied Lessons, 300 level		1
Major Ensemble		1
Core II Natural/Physical Science		4
Elective		3
	Credit Hours	14
Second Semester
MUS 100	Applied Music Laboratory	0
MUS 497	Capstone Project in Music	2
Applied Lessons, 300 level		1
Major Ensemble		1
MUS 361	Music History Since 1900	3
Core II Social Science (MC/I, WI)		3
Core II Humanities (CT, WI)		3
Elective		3
	Credit Hours	16
	Total Credit Hours	120-121