Music - BA

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Caine College of the Arts

Department of Music

About This Degree

The bachelor of music degree is offered through USU’s Music Department, which fosters a small, close-knit environment and provides students with the opportunity to receive private instruction, where they work one-on-one with professors to improve their performance skills.

All music majors must pass an audition to be admitted, making the program competitive and challenging which produces the highest quality musicians and music teachers. Students can also take advantage of scholarship funding exclusive to the Music Department.

There are many performance opportunities available for students, including concerts, operas, recitals, and numerous music ensembles. Students benefit from performances and master classes, which are small workshops in a private classroom setting given by visiting professional musicians from around the world.

The Music Department is home to the Fry Street Quartet, the region’s only professional string quartet in residence. The group works as faculty and mentors in the department in addition to regular performances on campus and international tours. USU’s Music Department boasts 100% job placement in public, private, and charter schools for its music education majors after graduation. Students in all emphases are also qualified to teach private lessons.

For more information about the Music BA, see the department website.
Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
The highest math requirement for this degree is the Quantitative Literacy (QL) of the student’s choice.

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken through USU: 30
Total major required credits taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

New freshmen: Admitted to USU in Good Standing. MUST PASS ENTRANCE AUDITION ON PRIMARY INSTRUMENT.
Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU: 2.75 GPA. MUST PASS ENTRANCE AUDITION ON PRIMARY INSTRUMENT
Department of Music website: https://cca.usu.edu/music/

Major Requirements (68 credits)

Notes: All individual instruction courses must be passed with a grade of B- or better. All other music courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. Major requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Music requires 3.0 GPA in music classes and 2.75 GPA overall for admission as transfer student, scholarship eligibility, and to graduate.

Musicianship

Musicianship courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. Minimum GPA for all required program courses is 3.0.

MUSC 1105 - Fundamentals for Music Majors (BCA) 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1110 - Music Theory I (BCA) 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1120 - Music Theory II 3 credit(s)
MUSC 2110 - Music Theory III 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1130 - Aural Skills I 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1140 - Aural Skills II 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1170 - Keyboard Harmony I 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1180 - Keyboard Harmony II 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1190 - World Music 3 credit(s)
MUSC 2180 - Computer Applications in Music Proficiency Exam 1 credit(s)
Choose two from the following music history courses:
MUSC 3110 - Music History I: Antiquity through the Renaissance 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3120 - Music History II: The Baroque and Classical Periods 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3190 - Music History III: Romanticism through the 21st Century (CI) 3 credit(s)
Choose one from the following two courses:
MUSC 3020 - History of Jazz (DHA) 3 credit(s) or
MUSC 3030 - Rock and Roll-Catalyst for Social Change (DSS) 3 credit(s)

Specialization

Individual instruction courses on major instrument must be passed with a grade of B- or higher. All other music concentration courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. Major requirements may not be taken for a pass/fail grade. Minimum GPA for all required program courses is 3.0 and an overall GPA of at least 2.75 is required.

MUSC 1/2/3/4XXX Individual Instruction (4 credits)

- must be on same instrument/voice; must include 1 credit past barrier jury
- up to 4 additional credits of major instrument instruction may be applied to the upper-division music elective requirement

MUSC 2/3/4XXX Large Ensemble (4 credits)

- upper-division large ensembles are recommended for fulfillment of 40 upper-division credit requirement
- up to 4 additional credits of ensemble may be applied to the upper-division music elective requirement

MUSC 4920 - Senior Recital 1-2 credit(s) or
MUSC 4935 - Music BA Capstone Project 2-3 credit(s)
(Capstone project proposal to be submitted to the program director by week 12, two semesters prior to registering for MUSC 4935 .)
Arts Elective (3 credits)

- One class from ART or THEA department

Foreign Language Proficiency (16 credits)

- See the BA Foreign Language Requirements on the Undergraduate Academic Credential Requirements page

General Electives (14 credits)

Upper-Division Music Electives (12 credits)

Additional courses at the 3000-level or higher or from the approved list below. Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

Private Instruction (up to 4 credits in addition to the 4 required)
Large Ensemble (up to 4 credits in addition to the 4 required)
Students should consult with the program’s academic advisor before selecting music electives to ensure that the university’s graduation requirement of 40 upper-division credits is fulfilled.

These lower-division courses have been approved to satisfy the upper-division music elective requirement:
MUSC 2130 - Aural Skills III 1 credit(s)
MUSC 2350 - Conducting 2 credit(s)
MUSC 2570 - Fingerboard Theory I 2 credit(s) and
MUSC 2580 - Fingerboard Theory II 2 credit(s)
MUSC 2660 - Italian Diction for Singers 2 credit(s)
MUSC 2670 - German Diction for Singers 2 credit(s)
MUSC 2680 - French Diction for Singers 2 credit(s)

Recital and Concert Attendance Requirement

To graduate, students are required to attend a minimum of 80 concerts or recitals. Recital and concert attendance is monitored and recorded in the Music Student Services office. Students should turn in programs after attending concerts and recitals for documentation of attendance.

Open Electives (14 credits)

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your  Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 122

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