Major-Field Requirements
Two degree programs are offered: the Bachelor of Music, for the student who seeks primarily professional training, and the Bachelor of Arts with a major in music, for the student who seeks to study music in its wider cultural context.
Acceptance into the B.A. program in Music requires an interview with the program adviser and written confirmation from the program adviser of the student’s acceptance as a candidate for the B.A. in Music. A successful entrance audition before a faculty committee is required of students whose focus in the B.A. program is to be performance. An entrance audition will also be required of applicants who have less than one year of private applied lessons at a recognized institution of higher education.
All music students are urged to consult the Music Department Student Handbook online for further clarification of the degree requirements listed below. The handbook contains full details and explanations of departmental and degree requirements.
1. Common Experience Courses (43 hours)
Note
In addition, students must complete 8 semester hours of ensembles or lessons.
2. Electives (18 hours)
Students must complete 18 elective credits in music, at least 15 of which must be at the 300/400 level (see list of Music electives below).
Although a student is free to complete the major requirements with any combination of Music electives, the department believes that the major program is greatly strengthened and better organized when there is judicious selection of electives. The department makes available to every student who declares a major in Music an Undergradaute Advisor. The student is expected to plan a total academic program with the assistance of the department advisor.
Honors Program Requirements
Students who have been admitted to the University Honors Program with a major in music must earn the following eleven credits in addition to the Honors Program core requirements in order to graduate with honors in Music:
- MUS 113H Honors Writing About Music 3
- MUS 411H Honors Music History I 3
- MUS 412H Honors Music History II 3
- MUS 482H Honors Lecture/ Recital 2
Or
- MUS 485H Honors Composition Lecture/Recital 2
The honors designation for each of the above courses involves additional requirements as follows:
MUS 113H Honors students will be assigned additional writing projects. These projects may be a longer research paper using advanced sources of information, or shorter essays beyond those assigned to the rest of the class. Each student will meet individually with the instructor for extra guidance in the writing process.
MUS 411H and 412 H: Honors students will meet one extra hour per week in small groups to discuss additional readings that complement the regular course syllabus. These would include primary source readings, short articles, music criticism, concert reviews, writings by composers. A student may also opt to write “applied” music history that would provide program notes for university ensemble concerts, or reviews of performances that could be submitted for publication in campus newspapers.
MUS 482H or MUS 485 H. In addition to the regular required senior recital, honors students will present to the public a lecture pertaining to the repertory that will be performed. These presentations can be guided listening presentations, short historical or analytical perspectives or explanations of technical problems that were confronted in learning a particular piece.
University Scholars Requirements
Students who have been admitted to the University Scholars Program with a major in music must earn the following nine credits in addition to earn Scholars Distinction in Music::
- MUS 113H Honors Writing About Music 3
- MUS 411H Honors Music History I 3
- MUS 412H Honors Music History II 3
AND
Music Therapy majors will attend an AMTA regional/national conference.
Composition majors will present an original composition on a Thursday Series program.
Performance majors will present two additional Thursday Series performances.
Music Education majors will either attend a state OMEA Conference and assist at the CSU exhibit or assist the directors of the String Project or Cleveland Winds.
The Scholars designation for each of the above courses involves additional requirements as follows:
MUS 1 33H: Scholars students will be assigned additional writing projects. These projects may be a longer research paper using advanced sources of information, or shorter essays beyond those assigned to the rest of the class. Each student will meet individually with the instructor for extra guidance in the writing process.
MUS 411H and 412 H: Scholars students will meet one extra hour per week in small groups to discuss additional readings that complement the regular course syllabus. These would include primary source readings, short articles, music criticism, concert reviews, writings by composers. A student may also opt to write “applied” music history that would provide program notes for university ensemble concerts, or reviews of performances that could be submitted for publication in campus newspapers.
MUS 482H or MUS 485 H. In addition to the regular required senior recital, Scholars students will present to the public a lecture pertaining to the repertory that will be performed. These presentations can be guided listening presentations, short historical or analytical perspectives or explanations of technical problems that were confronted in learning a particular piece.