Music BA
Degree Requirements
Admission to Music Degree Programs
Admission to all Music degree programs is by audition to demonstrate musical aptitude and potential, technical proficiency, and seriousness in selecting music as a four-year course of study. In addition to the applied music audition, placement examinations in music theory and music history may be required to confirm students’ prior experience in these areas. Auditions can be scheduled at any time for the upcoming semester, and several pre-scheduled audition dates are also available in fall and early spring (contact the Music Department for more details).
Applied Music and Recitals
Music majors are required to study one applied area progressively each semester of the degree program. Music Education majors are exempt from this requirement during the student teaching semester. For all music majors, the applied lesson requirement consists of a weekly, individual lesson with your instructor, as well as a weekly enrichment activity in pedagogy and literature, which may take the form of a studio class, master class, performances by and for our students, or other experience identified by the department.
Students in Applied Music (private lessons) must pass a junior-standing advancement jury to confirm their level of performance skills for enrollment in AP MUS 3440 – AP MUS 3459 or AP MUS 4440 – AP MUS 4459. This advancement jury is usually taken at the same time as the applied music jury at the end of the fourth semester of enrollment in AP MUS 1440 - AP MUS 1459.
Evidence of sound musicianship, a close acquaintance with an appropriate portion of musical literature, and the ability to bring it to actual performance are required for graduation in all Music degree programs. Students in the B.M., Performance Emphasis fulfill this requirement with junior and senior recitals. Students in all other degree programs and emphasis areas fulfill this requirement with a senior recital. In some cases, upon the recommendation of the student's applied teacher, the senior recital (for non-performance majors only) may be replaced by participating in three regularly scheduled student recitals during the last two semesters of applied music study, or by performing for a special panel of faculty members.
Ensembles
Music majors are required to enroll in an approved ensemble (University Wind Ensemble, University Singers, or University Orchestra) each semester. Music Education majors are exempt from this requirement during the student teaching semester. For all music majors, the applied lesson requirement consists of a weekly, individual lesson with your instructor, as well as a weekly enrichment activity in pedagogy and literature, which may take the form of a studio class, master class, performances by and for our students, or other experience identified by the department. The following specific ensemble enrollments, depending upon the applied music area, are required:
- Wind and Percussion students—University Wind Ensemble;
- String students--University Orchestra;
- Voice students--University Singers;
- Keyboard and Guitar students--any approved ensemble, but those in the B.M. Music Education emphasis program must successfully audition for and enroll in an ensemble compatible with the teaching certification they are pursuing;
- Instrumental students may be required to participate in additional ensembles to enhance their musical development.
General Education Requirements
UMSL's General Education requirements apply to all majors.
Non-Music majors are encouraged to take music courses (EN PER and MHLT) at the 1000- or 2000-level toward UMSL’s Humanities and Fine Arts general education requirement. Non-Music majors wishing to perform with ensembles (EN PER 1410, University Singers; EN PER 1500, University Orchestra; EN PER 1530, University Wind Ensemble; EN PER 1550, Jazz Orchestra) should contact the ensemble’s director for information about auditions. M H L T 1150, Drumming Cultures of the World; M H L T 1160, Musical Journey through Latin America; M H L T 1170, Musical Journey through the Far East; or M H L T 1180, Musical Journey through Africa will meet the University's Cultural Diversity study requirement.
Other Requirements
Courses required for degree programs may not be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Students must receive at least a C in each music course and maintain a GPA of 2.5 (3.0 for Music Education majors) in all music courses to meet degree requirements.
Majors are required to appear in performances at the department's discretion and to attend a prescribed number of departmental recitals. All music majors whose primary applied area is not piano or organ are required to pass an exam in piano proficiency before graduation. Music Education majors must pass this piano proficiency exam prior to student teaching.
The Music Department may require students to pass a placement test to enroll in the next level course, provided this or an equivalent test is administered to all students seeking to enroll in that course.
Core Curriculum
The following core courses are required for all Music majors:
| Music Theory | ||
| THRY COM 1300 | Introduction to Aural Training | 1 |
| THRY COM 1301 | Theory of Music I | 3 |
| THRY COM 1302 | Aural Training I | 2 |
| THRY COM 1311 | Theory of Music II | 3 |
| THRY COM 1312 | Aural Training II | 2 |
| THRY COM 2301 | Theory of Music III | 3 |
| THRY COM 2302 | Aural Training III | 2 |
| THRY COM 2311 | Theory of Music IV | 3 |
| THRY COM 2312 | Aural Training IV | 2 |
| Piano Proficiency | ||
| PRACTM 1140 | Piano Proficiency I | 1 |
| PRACTM 1150 | Piano Proficiency II | 1 |
| PRACTM 2160 | Piano Proficiency III | 1 |
| PRACTM 2180 | Piano Proficiency IV | 1 |
| Conducting | ||
| PRACTM 2510 | Conducting I | 2 |
| Music History and Literature | ||
| M H L T 2010 | History of Western Music I (MOTR MUSC 103) | 3 |
| M H L T 2020 | History of Western Music II (MOTR MUSC 104) | 3 |
| Choose one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Drumming Cultures of the World (MOTR MUSC 102) | ||
| Musical Journey through Latin America | ||
| Musical Journey through the Far East | ||
| Musical Journey Through Africa | ||
| Recital | ||
| AP MUS 3510 | Senior Recital | 0 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Specific Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree
| PRACTM 1250 | Singer's Diction: English, Italian And German (voice majors only) | 1 |
| PRACTM 1260 | Singer's Diction: Latin, French, And Spanish (voice majors only) | 1 |
| PRACTM 3920 | Senior Research | 2-4 |
| Applied Music (AP MUS) | ||
| One hour every semester in progress toward degree with a minimum of 8 credit hours | 8 | |
| Ensemble (EN PER) | ||
| Must be enrolled every semester in progress toward degree with a minimum of 4 credit hours | 4 | |
| Foreign Language | ||
| Candidates for the B.A. degree in Music are required to complete 13 credit hours or the equivalent in proficiency in one foreign language. 1 | 13 | |
| Music History and Literature | ||
| M H L T 2030 | Special Topics in Musicology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 32-34 | |
- 1
Please see the College of Arts and Sciences Baccalaureate Degree Requirements for additional information about the foreign language requirement.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, graduates will:
- Have the technical skills requisite for artistic self-expression (Performance)
- Understand the common elements and organizational patters of music and their interaction (Musicianship Skills and Analysis)
- Have a Rudimentary capacity to create original or derivative music (Composition/Improvisation)
- Have a basic knowledge of music history and repertories through the present time (History and Repertory)
- Have the ability to work on musical problems by combining their capabilities in performance, aural, verbal and visual analysis; composition/improvisation; history and repertory (Synthesis)
Sample Four Year Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| INTDSC 10031 | 1 | THRY COM 1311 | 3 |
| PRACTM 1140 | 1 | THRY COM 1312 | 2 |
| THRY COM 1300 | 1 | PRACTM 1150 | 1 |
| THRY COM 1301 | 3 | AP MUS 14XX | 1 |
| THRY COM 1302 | 2 | EN PER XXXX | 1 |
| AP MUS 14XX | 1 | FGN LANG 1002 | 5 |
| EN PER XXXX | 1 | ENGL 1100 | 3 |
| FGN LANG 1001 | 5 | ||
| CORE - Mathematics Proficiency | 3 | ||
| 18 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| THRY COM 2301 | 3 | THRY COM 2312 | 2 |
| THRY COM 2302 | 2 | THRY COM 2311 | 3 |
| M H L T 2010 | 3 | M H L T 2020 | 3 |
| PRACTM 2160 | 1 | PRACTM 2180 | 1 |
| AP MUS 14XX | 1 | PRACTM 2510 | 2 |
| EN PER XXXX | 1 | AP MUS 14XX | 1 |
| FGN LANG 2101 | 3 | EN PER XXXX | 1 |
| PRACTM 1250 or 1260 (voice students) | 1 | EXPLORE - Social Sciences | 3 |
| Elective (Instrumental Students) | 1 | ||
| Elective or minor | 1 | ||
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRACTM 1250 & PRACTM 1260 | 1 | M H L T 1150, 1160, 1170, or 1180 | 3 |
| AP MUS 34XX | 1 | AP MUS 34XX | 1 |
| EN PER XXXX | 1 | EN PER XXXX | 1 |
| CORE - US History and Government | 3 | ENGL 3100 | 3 |
| CORE - Communication Proficiency | 3 | CORE – Information Literacy | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Social Sciences | 3 | EXPLORE – Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences | 3 |
| 12 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRACTM 3920 | 3 | AP MUS 34XX | 1 |
| M H L T 42XX+ Music Theory Elective | AP MUS 3510 | 0 | |
| AP MUS 34XX | 3 | EN PER XXXX | 1 |
| EN PER XXXX | 3 | EXPLORE – Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 | EXPLORE – Social Sciences | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 4 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours: 123 | |||
- 1
INTDSC 1003 is required only for first-time freshmen and transfer students with less than 24 college credits.
PLEASE NOTE: This plan is an example of what a four year plan could look like for a typical student. Placement exam scores in math as well as the completion of coursework may change the plan. It should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester. All requirements are subject to change.