For students in Class of 2024, 2025 and 2026

Major

The music department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in liturgical music, music composition, music education (choral and/or instrumental for both elementary and secondary), music studies and performance.

Basic Requirements (24 credits)

Required courses:
111, 112, 121, 122, 211, 212, 221, 222, 335, 336.

Special requirements:
All music majors are required to demonstrate basic musicianship, performance ability on a major instrument and piano proficiency (MUSC XXXB), unless the major instrument is organ. Some concentrations require additional proficiencies and/or secondary instrument study (see below).

Participation in a choral and/or instrumental ensemble is required of majors in all concentrations. All seniors successfully complete a final project as their concentration requires (MUSC 391-394). All music majors are required to take a Major Field Test in music at the end of the junior or senior year (MUSC XXXE).

Concentration in Liturgical Music (46-53 additional credits)

Required courses:
323, 324, 327, seven semesters in applied music in one of the following: organ or voice (227, 337); supporting courses: EDUC 390; THEO 111, 300, 350, 351

Special requirements:
Demonstration of organ and voice proficiencies are required (XXXC and XXXD, respectively); guitar proficiency is recommended. Organ majors must satisfy a proficiency in service playing (342).
Participation in a choral and/or instrumental ensemble for seven semesters.

Concentration in Music Composition (30-36 additional credits)

Required courses:
260, 340, 345, 346, two semesters of 357, seven semesters in the major instrument (227, 337), if major instrument is not piano, continued piano study is recommended even after successful completion of the piano proficiency examination.

Special requirements:
Participation in a choral and/or instrumental ensemble for seven semesters.

Concentration in Music Education

(Choral Education:  24-29 additional credits; Instrumental Education:  25-30 additional credits)

Sequences are offered for teacher candidates of Choral Music K-12 license and for Instrumental Music K-12 license.

Required courses:
323, 324 (for choral education) or 316, 317, 318, 319, 325, 326 (for instrumental education), seven semesters are required in the major instrument(227, 337).

Special requirements:
Students in music education are required to have a secondary instrument (114). Those pursuing the choral education sequence who do not have voice as their primary area of study must fulfill two levels of voice competencies; levels of competence in major areas of performance are distributed by the instructor.
Participation in a choral and/or instrumental ensemble for seven semesters.
For instrumental education: seven semesters of large ensemble experience (from 231, 233 or 238) and a minimum of two additional semesters of small ensemble experience (from 237, 240 instrumental ensembles, or 241-243). Note: Students desiring a K-12 teaching license in vocal or instrumental music must be accepted into the education department to complete a minor in education.
See education department listing for the supporting minor in education requirements.
Students in music education may receive special credit towards some core requirements. However, they are advised that a program in music fulfilling Minnesota state licensure requirements may require a ninth semester, course overloads and/or attendance at summer school. Students are urged to contact the education department regarding requirements.

Concentration in Music Studies (24-28 additional credits)

Required courses:
Eight semesters in the major instrument (227, 337); 8 credits from 260, 261, 327, 340-354 (credits from 316-326 are also accepted).

Special requirements:
Participation in a choral and/or instrumental ensemble for seven semesters.

Concentration in Performance (24-32 additional credits)

Required courses:
Eight semesters in the major instrument (227, 337); 8 credits from 260, 261, 327, 340-357 (credits from 316-326 are also accepted). Pedagogical courses under the special studies division are recommended for this degree concentration.

Special requirements:
Solo recital in the junior and senior years (391-392).
Participation in a choral and/or instrumental ensemble for eight semesters.
Voice performance majors must meet proficiency in one language (French, German, Italian or Spanish).

Minor (24 credits)

Required courses:
111, 112, 121, 122, (211 and 221 if placed out of 111 and 121), four semesters of 228, 335, or 336. Four credits of electives chosen from 151-159, 211, 221, (211 and 221 not applicable as electives if placed out of 111 and 121), 227 (2 credits max.), 260, 261, 271-274, 325, 327, 342-02A, 358 (major role).

Special requirements
Participation in a choral and/or instrumental ensemble for four semesters.