Apr 03, 2025  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Music, B.A.
This degree program is designed to provide the opportunity for a scholarly study of music to meet the needs of those who wish to obtain a liberal arts education with an emphasis on music and those who plan to do graduate work in music. The program aims to instill a thorough understanding of music and its relationship to contemporary society. The study of music history and theory is central in this curriculum. Sufficient flexibility is built into the program to allow the individual student to establish areas of emphasis both in music and in the arts and sciences.

Program Requirements

The minimum number of credits required for the degree is 120.

Bachelor of Arts students must achieve first-year proficiency in one foreign language. This may be achieved by examination for no academic credit.

Music CORE (29 credits)

Music Theory and Aural Skills (16 credits)

Music History (12 credits)

Functional Piano (4 credits)

Applied Music (7-10 credits)

  • Private Lessons Credits: 4
    4 credits of private lessons required up to 12 additional credits may be taken as electives
  • Credits: 0 (8 semesters)
  • Credits: 3

  • The University will subsidize up to a total of 16 credit hours of applied music lessons for the B.A. student. Bachelor of Arts students must pass a juried proficiency examination in their applied area; this exam will be graded pass/fail.

  • Credits: 0.5 (6 semesters)  Vocal majors only

  • All voice students who are taking applied voice lessons as their primary instrument must take 6 semesters of MUS 440 Studio Class while studying applied voice.

Ensembles (4 credits)

  • 8 semesters of ensemble; may include chamber music. Additional credits may be taken as electives.

Additional Music Classes (18 credits)

Additional Non-music Electives, including language study (30 Credits)

Bachelor of Arts students must achieve first-year proficiency in one foreign language. This may be achieved by examination for no academic credit.

Admission Information

Admission is based on the following criteria: 

  1. Performance audition on the applicant’s major instrument.
  2. Tests of aural comprehension, rhythmic recitation, and sight singing administered individually by a member of the staff.
  3. A diagnostic written test of music fundamentals, including intervals, scales, chords, and key signatures.

 

USM Core Requirements

The USM Core Curriculum is a coherent, integrative, and rigorous liberal education that enables our graduates to be world-minded, intentional, life-long learners and captures your general education degree requirements. 

Please Note: Core requirements may be part of your major and/or minor, and Core may have been fulfilled with transfer credit. Please consult your MaineStreet Degree Progress Report (DPR) and review your degree progress with your Advisor.  For additional information, access the USM Core webpage.