2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Bachelor of Arts in Music

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

The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree provides a course of study for students interested in a liberal arts degree with a major in music. The B.A. degree requires third-semester proficiency (201) in a classical or modern language. 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 40 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 (4 credits)

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 (0.5 credits)
• 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 - Anima Vocal Ensemble (1 credit)
• MUS 110 - Early Music Ensemble (1 credit)
• MUS 112 - Wind Symphony (1 credit)
• MUS 117 - Grand Valley University Arts Chorale (1 credit)
• MUS 118 - Varsity Glee Club (1 credit)

Applied Music (4 credits)

• 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 (15 credits)

• 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 - Musical Synthesis and Comparison (3 credits)

Keyboard Musicianship (2 credits)

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

Aural Perception and Sight-Singing (2 credits)

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

Music Literature (6 credits)

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

Music Electives (6 credits)

Choose from the following:

• MUS 218 - World Music (3 credits)
• MUS 219 - Jazz History (3 credits)
• MUS 300 - From Rag to Rock - Exploring American Music (3 credits)
• MUS 302 - Music: Medieval and Renaissance Eras (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 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 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

Year One

Fall Semester

• Major ensemble (1 credit)
• MUS 130 - Music Theory I (3 credits)
• MUS 133 - Aural Perception and Sight-Singing I (1 credit)
• MUS 141 - Private Instruction in Voice and Instruments - Freshman (1 credit)
• MUS 263 - Keyboard Musicianship I (1 credit)

Winter Semester

• Major ensemble (1 credit)
• MUS 131 - Music Theory II (3 credits)
• MUS 134 - Aural Perception and Sight-Singing II (1 credit)
• MUS 142 - Private Instruction in Voice and Instruments - Freshman (1 credit)
• MUS 264 - Keyboard Musicianship II (1 credit)

Year Two

Fall Semester

• Major ensemble (1 credit)
• MUS 119 - Survey of Music Literature I (3 credits)
• MUS 230 - Music Theory III (3 credits)
• MUS 241 - Private Instruction in Voice and Instruments - Sophomore (1 credit)
• Foreign Language 101 (4 credits)

Winter Semester

• Major ensemble (1 credit)
• MUS 120 - Survey of Music Literature II (3 credits)
• MUS 231 - Music Theory IV (3 credits)
• MUS 242 - Private Instruction in Voice and Instruments - Sophomore (1 credit)
• Foreign Language 102 (4 credits)

Year Three

Fall Semester

• Foreign Language 201 (4 credits)
• Music electives (3 credits)

Winter Semester

• Music electives (3 credits)

Year Four

Fall Semester

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

Winter Semester

• MUS 495 - Musical Synthesis and Comparison (3 credits)

Music Program Description

Click here for the program description.