Music - Major (BA)

The Bachelor of Arts degree is a unique program in the School of Music. Its content is designed to provide a strong academic foundation in both music and the liberal arts. Its course of study allows students to experience music performance, music theory, music history, and other areas of their choice.

The Bachelor of Arts in music degree requires a minimum of 122 credits; 90 credits must be in liberal arts courses.

Core Curriculum Requirements

All Nazareth students complete Core Curriculum coursework as part of their degree requirements. The Core provides a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences while guiding students to pose and explore their own intellectual questions. See Academic Policies and Procedures for specific core curriculum requirements.

Music Core (B.A.)

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music must take the following:

MUX 019 Concert Attendance Credits: 0 (4 semesters)
MUX 099 School of Music Orientation Credits: 0
MUP 1__ Weekly, one hour private lessons (8 semesters)
ENS 0__ Major Ensemble (8 semesters)
Senior Recital/Project; students choose one of the following courses:

In addition to the above listed courses, students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music must take the following:

MUS.Q 104 - Introduction to World Music Credits: 3
MUS 123 - Music Theory I Credits: 3
MUS 124 - Music Theory II Credits: 3
MUS 125 - Aural Skills I Credits: 1
MUS 126 - Aural Skills II Credits: 1
MUS 211 - The History of Western Music I: Antiquity to the Baroque Period Credits: 3
MUS 212 - The History of Western Music II: The Baroque Period to the Late Nineteenth Century Credits: 3
MUS 223 - Music Theory III Credits: 3
MUS 224 - Music Theory IV Credits: 3
MUS 225 - Aural Skills III Credits: 1
MUS 226 - Aural Skills IV Credits: 1
MUS 317 - The History of Western Music III: Music Since 1900 Credits: 3
Music Theory or Music History course (300 or 400 level) Credits: 3

Upper Division Music Electives

Elective Requirements by Program

Bachelor of Arts in Music - complete one upper division music elective from either Music Theory or Music History
Bachelor of Music in Composition - complete three upper division music electives
Bachelor of Music in Music Education - complete one upper division music elective from either Music Theory or Music History
Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy - complete one upper division music elective (three credits)
Bachelor of Music in Music Performance (Voice) - complete one upper division music electives in Music Theory and one upper division elective in Music History
Bachelor of Music in Music Performance (Piano, Instrumental) - complete four upper division music electives; at least one must be in Music Theory and one must be in Music History

Upper Division Music Theory Electives
MUS 310 - Jazz Composition and Arranging Credits: 3
MUS 321 - Orchestration and Arranging Credits: 3
MUS 322 - Jazz Theory Credits: 3
MUS 323 - Modal and Tonal Counterpoint Credits: 3
MUS 417 - Special Topics in Music Theory Credits: 3
MUS 423 - Form and Analysis I Credits: 3
MUS 424 - Form and Analysis II Credits: 3
MUS 485 - Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3
MUS 486 - Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3
Upper Division Music History Electives
MUS 303 - Jazz History Credits: 3
MUS 333 - Music and Gender Credits: 3
MUS 375 - The Liberal Art of Music Credits: 3
MUS 401 - Music Research and Writing Credits: 3
MUS 411 - Topics in Medieval/Renaissance Music History Credits: 3
MUS 412 - Topics in Baroque Music History Credits: 3
MUS 413 - Topics in Classical Era Music History Credits: 3
MUS 414 - Topics in Romantic Era Music History Credits: 3
MUS 415 - Topics in Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Music History Credits: 3
MUS 416 - Special Topics in Music History Credits: 3
MUS 418 - Special Topics in Jazz Credits: 3
MUS 450 - Musical Styles and Expression Credits: 3
MUS 460 - Evolution of Film Music Credits: 3
MUS 470 - Musical Borrowing Credits: 3
MUS 471 - Music and Magic in Western Culture Credits: 3
MUS 477 - Music and Culture in Austria and Germany Credits: 3
MUS 485 Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3
MUS 486 Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3

Music Senior Experience

The culminating senior course for the BA in Music is the Senior Recital/Project, an experiential learning course engaging students in demonstrating the practical application of knowledge and skills acquired in the study of applied music, music history, music theory and the liberal arts. Students choose one course from the following options:

MUX 491 - Music History / Music Theory Senior Project Credits: 0
MUX 495 - Senior Recital Keyboard Guitar Credits: 0
MUX 496 - Senior Recital Honors Keyboard Guitar Credits: 0
MUX 497 - Senior Recital Voice Band Orchestra Credits: 0
MUX 498 - Senior Recital Honors Voice Band Orchestra Credits: 0

Sample Program for the Music Major (Bachelor of Arts Degree)

FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
MUX 099 School of Music Orientation	0	ENGW 102 Argument and Research	3
ENGW 101 Exposition	3	MUS 124 Music Theory II	3
ACS 101 Academic and College Success	1	MUS 126 Aural Skills II	1
FYS - PEQ (1)	3	Foreign Language with Lab	4
Foreign Language with Lab	4	PEQ (2)	3
MUS 123 Music Theory I	3	ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5-1
MUS 125 Aural Skills I	1	MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons	1
ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5-1	MUX 019 Concert Attendance	0
MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons	1
MUX 019 Concert Attendance	0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	16.5	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15.5

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
PEQ (3)	3	PEQ (6) Science with Lab	4
PEQ (4)	3	MUS.Q 104 Introduction to World Music PEQ (7)	3
PEQ (5)	3	MUS 212 The History of Western Music II: The Baroque Period to the Late Nineteenth Century	3
Health & Wellness	0	MUS 224 Music Theory IV	3
MUS 211 The History of Western Music I: Antiquity to the Baroque Period	3	MUS 226 Aural Skills IV	1
MUS 223 Music Theory III	3	ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5-1
MUS 225 Aural Skills III	1	MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons	1
ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5-1	MUX 019 Concert Attendance	0
MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons	1
MUX 019 Concert Attendance	0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	17.5	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15.5

JUNIOR YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
PEQ (8)	3	Integrative Studies (IS) - 2	3
Integrative Studies (IS) - 1	3	Liberal Arts Electives	6
Liberal Arts Electives	6	MUS 3/4_ Upper Division Music Liberal Arts Elective	3
MUS 317 The History of Western Music III: Music Since 1900	3	MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons	1
MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons	1	ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5-1
ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5-1	DEIB-Designated Course	3
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	16.5	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	16.5

SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
Liberal Arts Electives	9	Integrative Studies (IS) - 3	3
Electives*	3	Liberal Arts Electives	3
MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons	1	Electives*	6
ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5-1	MUX 49_ Senior Recital/Project (Experiential Learning)	0
		ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5-1
		MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons	1
		CME 050 Core Milestone Experience	0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	13.5	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	13.5

* 9 credits from the 3 unspecified electives and/or 3 IS courses must be in Liberal Arts (course code of R)