Music (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Admission and audition requirements

Music degrees are designed to develop the student’s abilities for performance, public school certification for teaching, private teaching, or composition. These degrees also prepare students for graduate study in music.

Students desiring to pursue a BA, BMus, BME, or BS music major or minor must first audition for a committee of applied faculty in that student’s desired performance area.* This audition should take place during the semester prior to the first semester of enrollment in applied lessons. All students will be required to demonstrate, through successful completion of a Music Theory Entrance Exam, a rudimentary ability to relate musical sound to notation and terminology before beginning the theory and ear-training sequence.

All music majors must apply for formal admission to the degree program. This typically will occur at the end of the sophomore year, and must be completed before the student has finished 75 hours. In order to be admitted to the degree program, students must pass MUS 298 , the piano proficiency exam, and have a combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of at least 2.75 and a combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of at least 3.00 in Music courses. Students who have not been formally admitted to the degree program will be unable to enroll in 300-level and above applied study.

*Students pursuing the minor in either Composition or Recording Arts are not required to audition in a performance area.

Major requirements

Note: A grade of “C” or better is required in all Music courses counted toward the major.

Basic Theory (9 hours):

Music History/Literature (9 hours):

Applied Music (6 hours):

to be selected from class and/or private instruction. At least four hours must be in private instruction in the major performance area.

Performing Ensemble electives (4 hours)

Additional electives (10 hours):

selected in consultation with the advisor. Must include at least 7 hours of upper division courses.

Recital Attendance:

Pass Piano Proficiency Examination.

Upper Division Applied Status:

MUS 298 - Upper Division Applied Status

Public Affairs Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by completion of:

MUS 346 - Music in Western Culture and Society II

GPA Graduation Requirement:

A grade of “C” or better is required in all Music courses counted toward the major.

Minor required (or second major).

Total Credit Hours: 38

University level requirements:

Applied music courses

Amount of credit for each course is determined by the Music Department at registration. All applied music courses may be repeated for credit.