Sep 25, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Music, B.A.


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Music 
(615) 898-5984
Joshua Bedford, program coordinator
Joshua.Bedford@mtsu.edu

The Bachelor of Arts music major provides students with a broad foundation for studying, performing, and communicating about music. Bachelor of Arts music majors have a great degree of flexibility in their coursework compared to other music majors and may be able to complete a second major in many disciplines. Students should consult with their advisors about options.

The major includes core classes in music theory and history, applied instruction and ensemble involvement within a Liberal Arts context. Students have a great deal of flexibility in determining their possible minors, or may choose to double major in a number of other disciplines. A semester of study abroad may be included in the degree.

A senior capstone project is presented with direction from a faculty mentor. This may be research driven, performance related, or a combination of both. Students are encouraged to develop independent work that may combine various disciplines. The B.A. in music is an excellent choice for many transfer students as well as students who wish to consider future graduate study.

Auditions


A formal audition is optional to enter the Music, B.A., program. Students who audition successfully on their primary instrument/voice will be eligible to take lessons as part of their Performance Requirement. Students who do not audition, or who are not admitted via audition, may take an alternative set of performance-related courses to satisfy their Performance Requirement.

Jury Examinations


Jury examinations are performance exams held at the conclusion of each semester to measure the student’s progress. All students enrolled in private instruction perform juries at the discretion of the private instructor.

B.A. students planning a senior capstone project in performance (a recital or lecture-recital) are expected to continue taking private instruction and have the private instructor act as the capstone advisor.

Undergraduate Music majors must pass the Upper Division jury to qualify for applied music study at the MUAP 3000 or 4000 level. B.A. students do not need to pass the Upper Division jury unless required by the capstone advisor. This would apply if the student’s capstone project is performance related.

Class Piano/Theory and Aural Skills


All undergraduate music majors (except keyboard principals) must take class piano every semester as indicated on the advising check sheets until the required piano proficiency exam is successfully completed. Concurrent enrollment in Class Piano I and Theory and Aural Skills I is required, with the following exceptions: (1) The student successfully passed either Class Piano I or Theory and Aural Skills I, but not both, or (2) the student successfully passed one or more levels of Class Piano by examination. Students should see their advisors for details.

Students wishing to continue piano after successfully completing the required class piano sequence may audition for piano applied lessons.

Keyboard principals must take MUS 2550, Keyboard Skills for Pianists I, and MUS 2560, Keyboard Skills for Pianists II, in lieu of class piano.

Academic Map


Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Music, B.A., Academic Map  

Degree Requirements


True Blue Core (TBC) 41 hours
Major Requirements 51 hours*
     Major Core    27 hours
     Music Performance/Area of Emphasis    24 hours
Minor 15 hours
Foreign Language 6-12 hours
Electives 1-7 hours
TOTAL 120 hours

*This program requires courses that can also fulfill requirements for the True Blue Core curriculum. If program requirements are also used to fulfill True Blue Core requirements, the number of elective hours may increase.

True Blue Core (41 hours)


True Blue Core (TBC)  requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in the Foundational Skills areas of Written Communication (WC), Information Literacy (Info Lit), Non-Written Communication (NWC), and Quantitative Literacy (Quant Lit). Knowledge Domains include Human Society and Social Relationships (HSSR), Scientific Literacy (Sci Lit), Creativity and Cultural Expression (CCE), and History and Civic Learning (HCL), which include Discovery and Explorations categories. Students must choose at least one course from each Discovery category.

The following course required by the program meet True Blue Core requirements:

  • MUHL 1610  (CCE)
  • 3 credit hours from foreign language 1010, 1020, 2010, or 2020 (NWC)

Major Requirements (51 hours)


Music Core (27 hours)


All music majors must take class piano or private piano instruction until they pass the piano proficiency examination prescribed by their degree programs. Students should see their advisors for details.

Students must earn a grade of C- or higher in MUTH 1110 , MUTH 1120 , MUTH 2110 , MUTH 2120  (music theory sequence) and MUHL 1610 , MUHL 3010 , MUHL 3020  (music history sequence).

Music Performance (12 hours)


Area of Emphasis and Upper-Division Electives (12 Hours)


  • 3 credit hours
  • UD Emphasis Electives (approved by advisor and may include the following) 9 credit hours

    • MUHL 3000-4999
    • MUED 3000-4999
    • MUAP 4000-4999
    • MUPD 3000-4999
    • MUS 3000-4999
    • MUTH 3000-4999

Minor (15 hours)


  • Approved minor taken outside School of Music

Foreign Language (6-12 hours)


Electives (1-7 hours)


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