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Music Undergraduate Curricular Requirements

General Requirements for all B.A., B.F.A., B.S., and B.Mus. Degrees

Minimum Grade Requirement. A music student, either major or minor, must achieve a minimum grade of C in each music course, either resident or transfer, which is applicable to a degree program in music before the student will be eligible for graduation. BFA musical theatre majors must achieve a minimum grade of C in each music, theatre and dance course which is applicable to the musical theatre major before the student will be eligible for graduation.

MusH 101 and 111. Music majors may NOT use MusH 111 to satisfy UI core curriculum requirements. MusH 111 is part of the professional course work--12 credits in music history--required for the major.

If a music major takes MusH 101, he or she must have 14 credits of courses other than MusH 101 in order to satisfy the humanities/social sciences core requirement.

If a transfer student has taken a 100-level survey of music course prior to enrollment as a music major in the School of Music, the student may use this course in lieu of MusH 111. If world music was not addressed in the transfer course, students will have to meet a level of competency in world music.

Ensemble Participation. An undergraduate music major must: (1) earn a minimum of eight credits in ensemble participation to be eligible for graduation and (2) enroll in an ensemble during each semester of full-time study. Various requirements are contained in the specific curricula. For curricular purposes, "major ensemble" is defined to mean MusA 116/316 Concert Choir - Vandaleers, 117/317 University Chorus, 119/319 Marching Band, 121/321 Concert Band, 122/322 Orchestra, or 320 Wind Ensemble. Other ensembles (listed in some curricula under "Chamber Music") consist of MusA 118/318 Jazz Choir, 315 Accompanying, 323 Jazz Ensemble, 365 Chamber Ensemble, and 380 Opera/Musical Theatre Studio. For students in the B.A. or B.S. in Applied Music or the B.Mus. in Music: Business, the following minimum requirements apply depending on the primary applied area of the student:

Orchestral Instrument: six credits in instrumental major ensemble and two additional credits in any instrumental ensemble.

Voice: six credits in vocal major ensemble and two additional credits in any vocal ensemble.

Keyboard: two credits in any major ensemble, four credits in MusA 315 Accompanying, and two credits in MusA 365 Chamber Ensemble.

Guitar: four credits in any major ensemble and four credits in MusA 365-02 Chamber Ensemble: Guitar Ensemble.

Transfer students must have a minimum of four semesters of ensemble participation at UI, at least two of which must be in a major ensemble.

Convocation-Recital Attendance. Because listening experiences constitute an area of major importance in the study of music, all music majors (excluding BFA musical theatre majors) and music minors are required to register for MusX 140, Convocation; music majors must attend 10 recitals per semester for seven semesters and music minors must attend 10 recitals per semester for two semesters. Students must attend a full concert or program in order for it to be counted toward convocation-recital requirements. Recital credit will not be granted for those performances in which a student participates. In addition, music majors must attend the weekly convocation series (studio class, area recital, and convocation). Transfer students are expected to enroll in MusX 140 during their first registration, and to receive a passing grade in a specific number of semesters (to be determined when the student's program is set up). Transfer students must have a minimum of two semesters of convocation at UI.

Upper-Division Standing (UDS). For a B.Mus., B.A. and B.S. music major to enroll in MusA 324 or MusA 334, the student must have been granted upper-division standing (UDS). Except for double majors where one major is not in music, students applying for UDS must:

  1. have completed with a "C" or better, or be currently enrolled in, MusC 242 Music Theory IV, MusH 111 Introduction to Music Literature and the courses listed in one of the following scenarios: (A). MusA 246 Class Piano and MusC 240 Aural Skills IV; (B). MusA 146 Class Piano and MusC 240 Aural Skills IV; or (C). MusA 246 Class Piano and MusC 140 Aural Skills II
  2. have passed a special jury examination demonstrating the of mastery of the fundamentals of the student's major area of performance/composition and the potential to continue improving in a manner that will lead to the successful completion of performance/composition requirements of the degree and major emphasis (the jury examination requirement must be met, regardless of double majors, before a student can enroll in MusA 324 or MusA 334).

Transfer students with at least two years of college study as a music major may apply for UDS if they have at least one year of music theory, aural skills and piano, one semester of music history, four semesters of studio instruction at the music major level and the approval of the studio instructor or area coordinator in the case of voice and keyboard. An Upper Division Standing jury examination presented after the third week will not count towards the semester in which it was presented. Students who fail to pass the UDS requirements within three tries are ineligible to continue to pursue a music major.

In order to register for upper-division music education courses (not including instrumental techniques courses), an undergraduate music education major must: (1) make application to upper-division music education courses by completing and submitting an application form (available in the music office) to the chair of the Music Education Committee--this should be done in the semester in which the student applies for upper division standing (UDS). If the student does not pass UDS, he/she must resubmit a music education application form; (2) successfully complete EDCI 201 and the necessary core courses to meet the requirements of the application to Teacher Education in the College of Education; (3) obtain a "C" or better in music courses and at least a 2.5 overall GPA; and (4) pass the studio instruction upper-division standing jury.

Application for Candidacy in the B.F.A. Musical Theatre Program. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre is a rigorous training program for students wishing to pursue a career in musical theatre. In order for a B.F.A. candidate to enroll in MusA 324 Studio Instruction and The 425 Acting Studio, the student must be admitted to the B.F.A. Musical Theatre program. Students applying for candidacy in the B.F.A. Musical Theatre program must: (1) have completed MusC141 Music Theory, MusC 139 Aural Skills, one semester of MusA 115 and two semesters of MusA 124 Studio Instruction, MusA 145 Class Piano and The 105 Basics of Performance, with a grade of "C" or better in all completed courses; (2) have completed or be currently enrolled in MusC 142 Music Theory, MusC 140 Aural Skills, MusH 101 Survey of Music or MusH 111 Introduction to Music Literature, a third semester of MusA 124 Studio Instruction, MusA 146 Class Piano, The 101 Intro to the Theatre, The 106 Basics of Performance and The 305 Intermediate Acting, with a grade of "C" or better in all completed courses; (3) have a minimum 3.0 overall gpa or better;(4) submit a portfolio; (5) have passed the B.F.A. audition demonstrating the mastery of the fundamentals of voice and acting and the potential to continue improving in a manner that will lead to the successful completion of the requirements of the degree and (6) have faculty approval. Transfer students with at least two years of college study as a musical theatre major, may apply for candidacy in the B.F.A. Musical Theatre program if they have at least one year of music theory, aural skills and piano, one semester of music history, four semesters of studio instruction at the music major level, and The 101 Intro to the Theatre, The 105/106 Basics of Performance and The 305 Intermediate Acting. Students who fail to pass the BFA audition within three tries are ineligible to continue to pursue a Musical Theatre major.

Diagnostic Exam in Theory and Aural Skills. The goal of this exam is to advise transfer students regarding deficiencies in their prior theory training; this exam is not available to freshmen. A study guide is available on the web. The exam is given during the first week of classes each semester, as needed. . The exam will not be used for "advanced placement" or "credit by examination," as the regulations regarding these procedures are covered in regulation D-4. Written evaluation of each student's achievement will be placed in his or her advising file, and the student will be counseled appropriately.

Transfer Credits. Transfer credits will be accepted at the upper-division level only if taken at the upper-division level from the original institution (i.e., a 100- or 200-level course will not transfer as a 300- or 400-level course requirement). The applicability of these credits to the student's program of study is determined by the Lionel Hampton School of Music.