Major

The music department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a concentration in music education (choral and/or instrumental for both elementary and secondary).

Students interested in pursuing liturgical music should consider a music major (with a music studies concentration) paired with a theology minor. Lessons in both performance and composition are available for all students.

Basic Requirements (24 credits)

Music Theory Courses: 12 credits total

• MUSC 109 – Foundations of Music and Musicianship (4)
• MUSC 110 – Music Theory and Skills I (4)
• MUSC 210 – Music Theory and Skills II (4)

Music History Courses: 12 credits total

• 6 credits required:
  • MUSC 301: Classical Music Tradition: Music in Europe Until 1800 (2) 
  • MUSC 302: Romantic Spirt: Music from 1800-1900 (2)
  • MUSC 303: Music in the 20th and 21st Centuries: an Era of Experimentation and Cross-Currents (2)
• 6 credits – student choice from a rotation of courses that may include:
  • MUSC 305: Punks and Rockers: Alienation in Rock Music (2) 
  • MUSC 331: Music in Film, TV, and Gaming (2) 
  • MUSC 332: Gender Identity and Sexuality in Music (2) 
  • MUSC 333: Jazz History and Traditions (2) 
  • MUSC 374: Musics of the World in Social and Cultural Contexts (2) 

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).

Applied Lessons:
Lessons on the major instrument is required (see specific degree plan for number of semesters).

Ensemble Participation:
Participation in a choral and/or instrumental ensemble is required (see specific degree plan for number of semesters).

Senior Project:
All seniors successfully complete a final project as their degree requires (MUSC 392 or 394).

Major Field Test:
All music majors are required to take a Major Field Test in music at the end of the junior or senior year (MUSC XXXE).

Bachelor of Arts degree in Music

(16 additional credits)

Applied Lessons:
Eight semesters in the major instrument (227, 337);

Ensemble Participation:
Participation in a choral and/or instrumental ensemble for eight 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:
324, 325, 342C, 343 (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

Secondary Instrument:
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.

Ensemble Participation:

• For choral education: seven semesters of large ensemble experience (from 232, 234 or 235)
• 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 (240 or 242).

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.

Minor (20 credits)

Required courses:

Music Theory Courses: 8 credits total

• MUSC 109 – Foundations of Music and Musicianship (4)
• MUSC 110 – Music Theory and Skills I (4)
• MUSC 210 - Music Theory and Skills II (4) 

(MUSC 210 – Music Theory and Skills II (4) is taken if student places out of MUSC 1XXa)

Music History Courses: 4 credits total

Student choice from a rotation of courses that may include:

• MUSC 301:  Classical Music Tradition: Music in Europe Until 1800 (2)
• MUSC 302: Romantic Spirt: Music from 1800-1900 (2)
• MUSC 303: Music in the 20th and 21st Centuries:  an Era of Experimentation and Cross-Currents (2) 
• MUSC 305: Punks and Rockers: Alienation in Rock Music (2) 
• MUSC 331: Music in Film, TV, and Gaming (2) 
• MUSC 332: Gender Identity and Sexuality in Music (2) 
• MUSC 333: Jazz History and Traditions (2) 
• MUSC 374: Musics of the World in Social and Cultural Contexts (2)

Applied Lessons: 4 credits total
Four semesters of lessons in the major instrument (MUSC 228).

Ensemble Participation: 4 credits total
Participation in a choral and/or instrumental ensemble is required  

Curriculum (For students in Class of 2024, 2025 and 2026)