2018-2019 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

Entire Catalog Colleges Content & Navigation Course Filters Courses Degree Types Program Acronyms Program Descriptions Program Emphases Program Requirements Program Types Subjects Search Search Help
Search Descriptions

Bachelor of Arts in Music

• Requirements for a Major in Music
• Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Music

The B.A. degree provides a course of study for students interested in a liberal arts degree with a major in music. This degree, with its foreign language component, offers an appropriate background for prospective advanced-degree candidates who are preparing for careers in composition, technology, music history, music theory, jazz studies, library science, or independent studio teaching. It also works well for students who want to study music but are aiming at careers in other fields, and for students with double majors. There is sufficient flexibility within the B.A. to provide an opportunity for acquisition of those skills that are necessary in the current technological environment. The culmination event of the B.A. is a senior project planned and carried out with the help of a faculty advisor. Students electing a B.A. in music must complete a minimum of 41 credit hours in music, planned with the approval of a faculty advisor in the department.

MUS Credit Requirement: 40 to 41

Requirements for a Major in Music

Major Ensembles (credits: 4)

Choose from the following. Each can be taken more than once for credit.

• MUS 101 - University Singers (1 credit)
• MUS 102 - Concert Band (1 credit)
• MUS 103 - Grand Valley Symphony Orchestra (1 credit)
• MUS 104 - Chamber Music Ensembles Credits: .5
• MUS 105 - Grand Valley Jazz Ensemble (1 credit)
• MUS 107 - Grand Valley Marching Band (1 credit)
• MUS 108 - New Music Ensemble (1 credit)
• MUS 109 - Select Women's Ensemble (1 credit)
• MUS 110 - Early Music Ensemble (1 credit)
• MUS 112 - Symphonic Band (1 credit)
• MUS 117 - Grand Valley University Arts Chorale (1 credit)
• MUS 118 - Varsity Men (1 credit)

Applied Music (credits: 4)

• MUS 141 - Private Instruction in Voice and Instruments - Freshman (1 credit)
• MUS 142 - Private Instruction in Voice and Instruments - Freshman (1 credit)
• MUS 241 - Private Instruction in Voice and Instruments - Sophomore (1 credit)
• MUS 242 - Private Instruction in Voice and Instruments - Sophomore (1 credit)

Music Theory (credits: 15)

• MUS 130 - Music Theory I (3 credits)
• MUS 131 - Music Theory II (3 credits)
• MUS 230 - Music Theory III (3 credits)
• MUS 231 - Music Theory IV (3 credits)
• MUS 495 - Analytical Techniques (Capstone) (3 credits)

Keyboard Musicianship (credits: 2)

• MUS 263 - Keyboard Musicianship I (1 credit)
• MUS 264 - Keyboard Musicianship II (1 credit)

Aural Perception and Sight Singing (credits: 2)

• MUS 133 - Aural Perception and Sight-Singing I (1 credit)
• MUS 134 - Aural Perception and Sight-Singing II (1 credit)

Music Literature (credits: 6)

• MUS 119 - Survey of Music Literature I (3 credits)
• MUS 120 - Survey of Music Literature II (3 credits)

Music Electives (credits: 6)

Choose from the following:

• MUS 218 - World Music (3 credits)
• MUS 219 - Jazz History (3 credits)
• MUS 300 - Exploring American Music (3 credits)
• MUS 302 - Music: Medieval and Renaissance Eras (3 credits)
• MUS 303 - Music: Baroque Era (3 credits)
• MUS 304 - Music: Classical Era (3 credits)
• MUS 305 - Music: 19th Century (3 credits)
• MUS 306 - Music from 1900-1960 (3 credits)
• MUS 307 - Music Since 1960 (3 credits)
• MUS 308 - Music History Seminar (3 credits)
• MUS 310 - Piano Literature (2 credits)
• MUS 320 - Introduction to Conducting (2 credits)
• MUS 330 - Instrumentation/Orchestration (3 credits)
• MUS 333 - Form and Analysis in Western Music (3 credits)
• MUS 337 - Jazz Theory (2 credits)
• MUS 380 - Special Topics in Music (1 to 4 credits)

Final Project

• MUS 479 - B.A. Senior Project (1 to 2 credits)

Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Music

Freshman Year - Fall

• Major ensemble Credits: 1
• MUS 141 - Private Instruction in Voice and Instruments - Freshman (1 credit)
• MUS 263 - Keyboard Musicianship I (1 credit)

Freshman Year - Winter

• Major ensemble Credits: 1
• MUS 142 - Private Instruction in Voice and Instruments - Freshman (1 credit)
• MUS 264 - Keyboard Musicianship II (1 credit)

Sophomore Year - Fall

• Major ensemble Credits: 1
• MUS 119 - Survey of Music Literature I (3 credits)
• MUS 130 - Music Theory I (3 credits)
• MUS 133 - Aural Perception and Sight-Singing I (1 credit)
• MUS 241 - Private Instruction in Voice and Instruments - Sophomore (1 credit)

Sophomore Year - Winter

• Major ensemble Credits: 1
• MUS 120 - Survey of Music Literature II (3 credits)
• MUS 131 - Music Theory II (3 credits)
• MUS 134 - Aural Perception and Sight-Singing II (1 credit)
• MUS 242 - Private Instruction in Voice and Instruments - Sophomore (1 credit)

Junior Year - Fall

• MUS 230 - Music Theory III (3 credits)

Junior Year - Winter

• Music electives Credits: 3
• MUS 231 - Music Theory IV (3 credits)

Senior Year - Fall

• Music electives Credits: 3

Senior Year - Winter

• MUS 479 - B.A. Senior Project (1 to 2 credits)
• MUS 495 - Analytical Techniques (Capstone) (3 credits)

Music Program Description

Click here for the program description.