Bachelor of Arts in Music
Admission Requirements
Satisfy the Application and Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
Declaring a major in music assumes evidence of musicianship and performance ability. To demonstrate music skills, all incoming freshmen and transfer students are required to complete an audition/performance examination and music theory placement examination prior to their first semester. This assists faculty in determining each student’s readiness for entry into juried private lessons, ensembles and academic music classes. Students judged not ready for juried private lessons will be required to complete non-juried private lessons to build performance skills. To develop prerequisite understanding of music theory, those students not ready for theory and aural skills courses will be required to complete MUS A111. Upon completion of the performance evaluation, faculty advisors will assist students in planning a first year of study best suited to their needs.
Academic Requirements
At the end of the sophomore year, all music majors must demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency of performance on their applied instrument in order to advance to upper-division courses. A student may elect to continue private instruction at the 200 level in attempting to pass requirements for admission to upper-division study. Students must also have completed a music technical training workshop and must have demonstrated proficiency in all aspects of recital technical support.
MUS A154D and the piano proficiency examination by jury must be passed prior to completion of 60 credits in the program. Music majors may not enroll in certain upper-division music courses until this jury examination is passed. See music degree listings for specific requirements.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- Complete the major requirements below.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| MUS A131 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS A132 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS A133 | Aural Skills I | 2 |
| MUS A134 | Aural Skills II | 2 |
| MUS A154D | Functional Piano IV | 1 |
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| Music of Alaska Natives and Indigenous Peoples of Northern Regions | ||
| World Indigenous Music | ||
| MUS A221 | History of Western Art Music I | 3 |
| MUS A222 | History of Western Art Music II | 3 |
| MUS A231 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUS A232 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUS A233 | Aural Skills III | 2 |
| MUS A234 | Aural Skills IV | 2 |
| MUS A280 | Basic Conducting | 2 |
| MUS A331 | Form and Analysis | 3 |
| Total Credits | 35 | |
Music majors may not enroll in certain upper-division academic courses (MUS A331, MUS A421, MUS A422, MUS A423, MUS A424, MUS A431 or MUS A432, for example) or in upper-division private lessons (MUS A361) until they have passed the Piano Proficiency examination by jury.
Additional Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Private lessons on your major instrument | ||
| MUS A161 | Private Lessons | 2 |
| MUS A162 | Private Lessons | 2 |
| MUS A261 | Private Lessons | 2 |
| MUS A262 | Private Lessons | 2 |
| Total Credits | 8 | |
All music majors enrolled in juried private music lessons must, during each semester of enrollment:
- Perform in at least one student recital.
- Stand for jury finals.
- Participate in an appropriate ensemble (see the ensemble requirements below).
- Attend department-approved recitals and concerts which provide a variety of musical experiences and expand the curriculum. A minimum attendance requirement is set by the department each semester; failure to meet this number will lower by one letter the grade assigned for private lessons.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Ensemble | 10 | |
| Five semesters of ensembles are required. Select the class appropriate to your major instrument: | ||
| University Singers | ||
| Chamber Music and Accompanying | ||
| University Wind Ensemble | ||
| University Sinfonia | ||
| University Jazz Ensemble | ||
| University Guitar Ensemble | ||
| Master Class: | 4-8 | |
| Four semesters of master class are required. Select the class appropriate to your major instrument: | ||
| University Percussion Ensemble | ||
| String and Wind Master Class | ||
| Piano Master Class | ||
| Voice Master Class | ||
| Guitar Master Class | ||
| Total Credits | 14-18 | |
Students are also required to take a 3-credit elective.
A minimum of 121 credits is required for the degree, of which 42 credits must be upper division.
Honors in Music
The Department of Music recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional promise in their discipline by awarding them departmental honors upon graduation. To graduate with honors, the student must:
- Be a declared music major.
- Meet all requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Music or the Bachelor of Music degree.
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher in all music courses applicable to the degree.
- Meet the requirements for Graduation with Honors. These include:
- A cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher in all college work attempted at both UAA and at all other accredited institutions attended and for all courses used to fulfill the degree program.
- Completion of at least 30 academic credits at this institution.
- Complete MUS A462, which includes a senior recital, with a grade of B or above.
Bachelor of Arts Music majors may, upon successful completion of MUS A262 with a grade of A, offer an honors performance for faculty adjudicators selected by the department chair and the candidate. - Receive an honors score (based on criteria established by the department) on a comprehensive examination for majors.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Students completing a degree in Music will be able to:
- Demonstrate technical proficiency on a chosen instrument appropriate to the degree with an attendant functional proficiency on piano.
- Demonstrate and analyze through musical literacy the basic technical principles used in the construction of music and its basic forms.
- Communicate a knowledge of the various musical periods and representative forms from those periods in the social, artistic and political context of each.