The Department of Fine Arts offers programs leading to baccalaureate degrees and minors in music and visual art that are discipline-centered and performance based. Students gain advanced theoretical, perfor­mance, and production competencies for careers in fine arts and graduate study. In addition, students may seek alternative curricular offerings through the Division of Education that lead to comprehensive (K-12) teacher certification in music and art.

Upon the completion of a major in Studio Art, a student will:

FRESHMAN YEAR

SOPHOMORE YEAR

JUNIOR YEAR

SENIOR YEAR

THE BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN MUSIC

Students in the Bachelor of Arts degree program in music enroll for studio instruction in one major or principal applied instrument (piano, voice, brass, woodwinds, percussion). Students are required to enroll in piano class as a secondary instrument to remedy any deficiencies in keyboard skills. For all studio instruction, there is a required performance for a faculty jury at the end of each semester. These jury examinations are graded according to the amount of repertory acquired and to improvement in the general level of performance. An audition or permission from the applied instructor is required prior to enrolling in applied study. Music majors must enroll in principal applied study, ensemble participation, and student recital (MUS 001) in every semester of their undergraduate experience to a minimum of eight semesters towards the degree.

Sight-reading skills are taught in all performance areas. Additionally, an aural skills laboratory is included with all courses in music theory. Music majors enroll in 12 hours of music theory courses. Ear training, sight-singing, dictation, and keyboard skills are practiced throughout the sequence. A required sequence of two music history courses (MUS 335, 336) provides a basic knowledge of music history through the present time. The course in conducting (MUS 436) is required of all music majors.

SOPHOMORE QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

The Sophomore Qualifying Examination is to be successfully completed at the end of the fourth semester of principal applied study (or the equivalent), and must be passed in order to proceed to 300-level applied study. Grading will be Pass, Fail, or Postpone (the exam may be rescheduled one time). The Sophomore Qualifying examination may only be taken once per semester.

JUNIOR AND SENIOR RECITALS

A junior recital (25-30 minutes) and a senior recital (45-55 minutes) are required of all music majors. Each recital is preceded by a pre-hearing for a faculty jury. The jury may pass, postpone, or cancel the recital. A student must be enrolled for appropriate applied study the semester of any recital.

COMPETENCIES

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in music will:

Students in the music program must satisfy the college’s general education requirements and the following required courses:

MUSIC MINORS

Music minors must complete four hours of ensembles, four hours of Principal Applied Music, six hours of Music Theory, and six hours of Music History and Literature. Music minors are also required to enroll in piano class for two to four semesters to remedy deficiencies in keyboard skills.

FRESHMAN YEAR

SOPHOMORE YEAR

JUNIOR YEAR

SENIOR YEAR