Music (BA)

Catalog Year 2025-2026

Evidence of Music can be traced back to the earliest records of human existence and it is more than a career, it is a passion. Whether seeking a career on the stage, in the box office, or in entertainment law, the Bachelor of Arts allows students to customize an experience that fits their current and future goals.  While students will learn all of the fundamentals and be fluent in the musical world, they will also have enough flexibility to add a minor in any field, study languages, or pursue electives in complimentary areas. 

Program Requirements

Major Common Core

Part 1 of a three-course sequence focusing on music theory, sight-singing, ear training, and piano skills.

Prerequisites:
none

Part 2 of a three-course sequence focusing on music theory, sight-singing, ear training, and piano skills.

Prerequisites:
none

Part 3 of a three-course sequence focusing on music theory, sight-singing, ear training, and piano skills.

Prerequisites:
none

Demonstrate mastery of musicianship skills through performance, conducting, arranging, collaboration and/or other creative activities, considering multiple musical genres. Demonstration of an awareness of social/historical context of music through a written/an or oral presentation. Demonstrate entrepreneurial skills.

Prerequisites:
none

Major Restricted Electives

Music History 1 - Choose 3 Credit(s).

This writing-intensive course focuses on the repertory of Western Music from prehistory through 1800. It examines the ways that culture and patronage impacted music developments, and focuses on techniques appropriate to research, including finding, evaluating, and using sources.

Prerequisites:
ENG 101, MUSC 131

Musical styles of western culture prior to 1800. There is a particular focus on developing the skills for teaching the content in K-12 teaching.

Prerequisites:
MUS 231, MUS 232, ENG 101

Music History 2 - Choose 3 Credit(s).

This writing-intensive course focuses on the repertory of Western Music from 1800 to the present. It examines the ways that culture and patronage impacted music developments, and focuses on techniques appropriate to research, including finding, evaluating, and using sources.

Prerequisites:
ENG 101, MUS 131

Musical styles of western culture after 1800. There is a particular focus on developing the skills for teaching the content in K-12 teaching.

Prerequisites:
MUS 231, MUS 232, ENG 101

Applied Lessons - Choose 4 - 14 Credit(s).

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Introducing fundamental healthy vocal technique, practice techniques, performance practices, collaborative musicianship, stage deportment, basic solfege, and elements of critical listening. Learning skills that are applied to private study for all music majors and minors. May be repeated.

Prerequisites:
none

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required. May be repeated.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Private lessons on a secondary instrument. This course is designed for music teachers who wish to gain basic proficiency on instruments other than their primary instrument of study.

Prerequisites:
none

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor required.

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required. May be repeated.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Upper Level Jury, and consent, permission of instructor.

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor.

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor.

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor.

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor.

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor.

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
Permission of Instructor required.

Ensembles - Choose 4 - 12 Credit(s). Additional ensembles count toward unrestricted electives

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-11

No audition required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-11

A select group of approximately 20 singers who perform works for small ensemble. The group tours regularly in the state and in the region. Prereq: audition required

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-11

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-11

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-11

A select group of wind and percussion players. Open to all students who play a band instrument. Concerts on and off campus. Prereq: audition required

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-11

No audition required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-11

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-11

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-11

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-11

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-11

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-11

The Chamber String Ensemble provides chamber music and ensemble opportunities for string players. The ensemble is open to all students following an audition. Regular performances are offered each semester. The ensemble programs musical works from all periods.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-11

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
MUS 299

No audition required.

Prerequisites:
MUS 299. Permission

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none

Audition required

Prerequisites:
none

Experience in accompanying. Advanced pianists may participate in chamber ensembles. May be repeated.

Prerequisites:
none

Directing and accompanying large vocal ensembles from the keyboard.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Working collaboratively with smaller vocal ensembles and vocal soloists at the keyboard in different styles and genres.

Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none

No audition required.

Prerequisites:
none

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none

Audition required.

Prerequisites:
none

Audition required

Prerequisites:
none

Lower Level Courses - Choose 6 - 18 Credit(s).

A general course in music appreciation. This course includes a study of styles at different periods, musical forms, and information about composers with emphasis on the elements of music and how these elements have evolved through history.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06

Popular music is a multi-billion dollar industry today. What is it, and where did it come from? Learn about the origins of jazz in the music of African-Americans, its growth from Dixieland through the Big Band era (with the contributions of performers like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington) to its influences on musical styles in the present day.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-7A
Diverse Cultures:
Purple

Rock music has fans in every country and in every culture. It really is a universal language, but it didn't start that way. It began as black Rhythm and Blues in the 40's, and through to the present, minority groups have had a major influence on the music.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-7A
Diverse Cultures:
Purple

This course is a survey of music education in the United States, and it will introduce the field of music education to prospective music teachers. Students will explore the development of music in schools, skills needed for successful careers in education, as well as trends and issues in the field.

Prerequisites:
none

Instrumental music education majors only. Emphasis on pedagogical methods and techniques of individual instruments.

Prerequisites:
none

A study of techniques, styles and trends with an emphasis on show design (music arranging, drill writing, and administration) as it relates to the contemporary marching ensemble. A combination of lecture and laboratory instruction will be utilized. Prereq: Consent of instructor.

Prerequisites:
none

Upper Level Courses - Choose 15 - 27 Credit(s).

This course is part of the instrumental music education degree program. It focuses on the pedagogy of teaching individual or groups of instruments.

Prerequisites:
none

Explore the musics of the world and the cultures that they came from. Participation in off-campus musical events (concert/celebration/festival) required.

Prerequisites:
none
Goal Areas:
GE-06, GE-08
Diverse Cultures:
Gold

This course explores the role of women composers, performers, educators and administrators in Western art music.

Prerequisites:
none
Diverse Cultures:
Purple

Prepare for, and participate in, a musical tour. Destinations will vary with each offering, and may include international experiences. Prior to travel, class sessions will deal with the music and culture of the destination. There will be additional travel expenses associated with the class.

Prerequisites:
ENG 101

Part 1 of a three-course sequence in instrumental music education methods.

Prerequisites:
none

Part 1 of a three-course sequence in choral music education methods.

Prerequisites:
none

This pedagogical ensemble is part of the music education sequence, and this course allows students to focus on the skills needed for successful conducting in school music settings.

Prerequisites:
none

This pedagogical ensemble is part of the music education sequence, and this course allows students to focus on the skills needed for successful conducting in school music settings.

Prerequisites:
none

Kindergarten and elementary grades. For elementary education majors only.

Prerequisites:
none

Required of all music education majors. Techniques and methods leading to licensure to teach General Music K-12. Music majors only.

Prerequisites:
none

This pedagogical ensemble is part of the music education sequence, and this course allows students to focus on the skills needed for successful teaching in school music settings.

Prerequisites:
none

Applying the International Phonetic Alphabet to song texts in English, French, Italian, Spanish and German.

Prerequisites:
none

Significant musical forms, past and present.

Prerequisites:
none

A survey of solo and small ensemble vocal literature through classical art song, musical theater and contemporary styles.

Prerequisites:
none

Principles of applied voice instruction and application of healthy vocal techniques.

Prerequisites:
none

Technical problems in relationship to different styles.

Prerequisites:
none

A survey of literature for the keyboard from the early baroque to the present.

Prerequisites:
none

Part 2 of a three-course sequence in instrumental music education methods.

Prerequisites:
none

Part 3 of a three-course sequence in choral music methods.

Prerequisites:
none

Topics to be discussed are methods, literature, and teaching techniques for specific wind, percussion, and stringed instruments.

Prerequisites:
none

The second of a three-semester sequence focusing on conducting and administrating school instrumental programs.

Prerequisites:
none

Part 3 of a three-course sequence in instrumental music education methods.

Prerequisites:
none

Selected Topics.

Prerequisites:
none

Demonstrate mastery of musicianship skills through performance, conducting, arranging, collaboration and/or other creative activities, considering multiple musical genres. Demonstration of an awareness of social/historical context of music through a written/an or oral presentation. Demonstrate entrepreneurial skills.

Prerequisites:
none

.

Prerequisites:
none

Other Graduation Requirements

Choose 8 credit(s): take one series Language

4-Year Plan

The 4-Year Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual 4-Year plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan.
* Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.

First Year

Fall - 16 Credits

Part 1 of a three-course sequence focusing on music theory, sight-singing, ear training, and piano skills.

Prerequisites:
none

Musical styles of western culture prior to 1800. There is a particular focus on developing the skills for teaching the content in K-12 teaching.

Prerequisites:
MUS 231, MUS 232, ENG 101
Elective Course in Major * 2 credits
General Education Course * 7 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

Part 2 of a three-course sequence focusing on music theory, sight-singing, ear training, and piano skills.

Prerequisites:
none

This writing-intensive course focuses on the repertory of Western Music from 1800 to the present. It examines the ways that culture and patronage impacted music developments, and focuses on techniques appropriate to research, including finding, evaluating, and using sources.

Prerequisites:
ENG 101, MUS 131
Elective Course in Major * 5 credits
General Education Course * 3 credits

Second Year

Fall - 15 Credits

Part 3 of a three-course sequence focusing on music theory, sight-singing, ear training, and piano skills.

Prerequisites:
none
Elective Course in Major * 5 credits
General Education Course * 3 credits
General Elective Course * 3 credits

Spring - 14 Credits

Elective Course in Major * 8 credits
General Education Course * 6 credits

Third Year

Fall - 17 Credits

Elective Course in Major * 8 credits
General Education Course * 6 credits
General Elective Course * 3 credits

Spring - 14 Credits

Elective Course in Major * 8 credits
General Education Course * 6 credits

Fourth Year

Fall - 15 Credits

General Education Course * 6 credits
Elective Course in Major * 9 credits

Spring - 14 Credits

Demonstrate mastery of musicianship skills through performance, conducting, arranging, collaboration and/or other creative activities, considering multiple musical genres. Demonstration of an awareness of social/historical context of music through a written/an or oral presentation. Demonstrate entrepreneurial skills.

Prerequisites:
none
Elective Course in Major * 7 credits
General Education Course * 6 credits

Degree
Bachelor of Arts

Major Credits
55

Total Credits
120

Locations
Mankato

Career Cluster
Arts, Audio

Accreditation
NASM
National Association of Schools of Music