Oct 09, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Music, B.A.


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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.

Degree and Major Requirements


Degree Requirements Credit Hours
General Education  1 41
Foreign language courses (intermediate level required) 2  0-14
Philosophy course (in addition to General Education  courses) 3 3
Major Requirements 34
Concentration requirements  
  • Music Industry Concentration
30
  • Music Studies Concentration
18
University electives 4
Total
4-30
126

Footnotes


Some General Education  requirements can be fulfilled through required course(s) in the major.
The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232), or by placing out of that language through the Department of World Languages and Cultures’ placement test.
Any PHIL course except PHIL 120  or PHIL 150 . Consult the list of courses satisfying Bachelor of Arts degree requirements on the Registrar’s website.
4 For the Music Studies concentration, a maximum of 8 music credits may be taken as University electives.  

Major Requirements


Core Courses: 18 Credit Hours

Additional Requirement: 3 Credit Hours


Choose one course from the following:3

Assigned Ensembles: 4 Credit Hours


Students should enroll in 1 credit of MUAP 301  for 4 semesters.

Footnote


Students may substitute 1 credit of MUS 243  or MUS 244  for 1 credit of MUS 143  rather than repeating the course.
Students may substitute 1 credit of MUS 243  or MUS 244  for 1 credit of MUS 144  rather than repeating the course.
These courses may not double count for other categories. The course selected to fulfill the “Restricted Electives” category cannot also be used to fulfill the “Additional Requirement” category. 
MUS 257  may be repeated for elective credit, but only 3 credits (i.e. 1 instance of MUS 257 ) may count toward the ”Restricted Electives” category.

Capstone Requirement: 3 Credit Hours


Major Requirements Total: 34 Credit Hours


Concentrations


Music Industry Concentration


Music Industry Core: 12 Credit Hours

Music Industry Concentration Total: 30 Credit Hours

University Electives: 4-18 Credit Hours

Music Studies Concentration


Music Electives: 18 Credit Hours

Any courses with the prefix for Applied Music (MUAP), Music Industry (MUI), Music (MUS), or Music Education (MUED) can be selected. 

A maximum of four additional MUAP ensemble credits can be used to fulfill this category.

Music Studies Concentration Total: 18 Credit Hours

University Electives: 16-30 Credit Hours *

Footnote

* A maximum of 8 music credits may be taken as University electives, per accreditation compliance.

Recommended Schedule for Majors


First Year - Fall


First Year - Fall Total: 14 Credit Hours


First Year - Spring


First Year - Spring Total: 14 Credit Hours


Second Year – Fall


Second Year – Fall Total: 15 Credit Hours


Second Year – Spring


Second Year – Spring Total: 15 Credit Hours


Third Year – Fall


  • University Degree Requirement: Philosophy Course Credits: 3.00
  • The Natural World  Credits: 4.00
  • General Education  Credits: 3.00
  • Elective Credits: 4.00
  • Concentration Course Credits: 3.00

Third Year – Fall Total: 17 Credit Hours


Third Year – Spring


  • General Education  Credits: 3.00
  • Electives or Concentration courses Credits: 5.00
  • Concentration Courses Credits: 9.00

Third Year – Spring Total: 17 Credit Hours


Fourth Year – Fall


Fourth Year – Fall Total: 17 Credit Hours


Fourth Year – Spring


Fourth Year – Spring Total: 17 Credit Hours


Program Total: 126 Credit Hours


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