Program Description
The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree offers students the benefits of both first-rate artistic training and the flexibility to explore the offerings of a comprehensive university experience. In addition to a rigorous core music experience, students in this degree program take several courses outside of music, with the option to add one or more minors or a second major.
The B.A. in Music offers two concentrations (music studies and music industry), both of which consist of a music core of 34 credit hours in addition to the general education program. As part of this music core, students enroll in MUS 195 , attending a minimum of 10 recitals per semester for four semesters (totaling 40 concerts) until the requirement is fulfilled. The remaining hours are specified under each concentration below. To be admitted to the program, B.A. in Music students submit an application and complete an interview. Those applying for music industry also submit a portfolio. Students can opt to audition to study voice or an instrument with our faculty if they wish.
Special Admission and Retention Requirements
Admission Requirements
To be considered for undergraduate admission to the music program, all entering first year students, transfer students and previously enrolled students seeking re-admission must complete the following:
Those wishing to audition to study an instrument or voice will find guidelines on the music website.
Students are encouraged to contact the applied faculty on their area of performance expertise with specific questions about auditions. General questions about the music degree programs may be answered by an admissions assistant at (540) 568-3851 or by sending a message to music_admit@jmu.edu.
Audition, Exam and Placement Test
No student will be accepted into the music degree programs until an audition or interview is successfully completed.
Bachelor of Arts in Music candidates must complete an interview on one of the scheduled interview dates. The school does not encourage special appointments and will arrange them only when applicants have serious conflicts with the scheduled interviews.
The interview should reveal the student’s interest and aptitude for music.
In addition to meeting the interview requirement above, all students who intend to major in the Bachelor of Arts in Music, emphasis in music industry or the music industry minor are required to first complete MUI 221 and then enroll in MUI 230 and MUI 231 . To successfully complete MUI 230 , prospective majors and minors must submit a portfolio for review, showing evidence of their interest and potential for success in the music industry. The portfolio should represent work completed in the above classes with assistance in resume preparation from University Career Center. Portfolios will be reviewed once each fall and once each spring semester. Following the portfolio review, students who are recommended for the major or minor will be eligible to register for upper level music industry classes. Students who are not recommended for admission to the major or minor may reapply the following semester. To obtain the schedule of portfolio review sessions, as well as other specific information about the admission process, contact the School of Music , music industry area.
Students who score a 4 or 5 on the Music Theory – Aural Subscore Advanced Placement exam may earn credit for MUS 143 .
Retention Policy
Students admitted as music majors must meet school standards published in the School of Music Student Handbook to continue.
Music majors must earn a minimum grade of “C-” in all music courses required for their degree. In situations where courses are sequential, with prerequisites (for example, MUS 143 -MUS 144 or MUS 243 -MUS 244 ), if a grade lower than “C-” is earned, it does not constitute fulfillment of the prerequisite.
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