Music, B.A.

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. 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:

• Submit an application for admission to JMU's Office of Admission.
• Submit the Undergraduate Music Application through Slideroom.

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.

Application, Exam and Placement Test

No student will be accepted into the music degree programs until an application is successfully completed.

Bachelor of Arts in Music candidates must complete an application which should reveal the student's interest and aptitude for music.

In addition to submitting an application, all students who intend to major in the Bachelor of Arts in Music, emphasis in music industry 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 Requirements

¹

Some General Education requirements can be fulfilled through required course(s) in the major.

²

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.

³

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

¹

Students may substitute 1 credit of MUS 243 or MUS 244 for 1 credit of MUS 143 rather than repeating the course.

²

Students may substitute 1 credit of MUS 243 or MUS 244 for 1 credit of MUS 144 rather than repeating the course.

³

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.

⁴

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.

Concentrations

Music Industry Concentration

Music Studies Concentration

Recommended Schedule for Majors