Music Major

Requirements

The base major requires 52 credits of MUS courses; students who elect an option will add from 12 to 16 additional credits to that number (26 for teaching). Students not electing an option will have 12 free electives. The degree program remains at 120 total credits except for those doing teaching.

Total credits: 120

Distribution/Gen Ed Requirements

Music majors are subject to the General Education requirements of the University and to the following distribution requirements:

Six credit hours in a foreign language (two semesters in the same language).

Six credits in World Civilizations (HST 103, 104).

Students majoring in Music will meet their departmentally-determined General Education requirements as follows:

Music Education Licensure

The Music Department is approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to offer courses for Initial Licensure in Music Education (K-12). Reciprocal agreements allow this certification to be valid in many states in addition to Massachusetts. This program is open to all qualified baccalaureate music majors. It is also available to individuals with degrees who wish to gain certification in music education. Requirements to enter and remain active in the student teaching preparation curriculum:

• Grades of B- or above in all music courses
• Three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the Director of the Music Education program, and at least one other from a member of the Music faculty.
• An interview with the Department Chairperson and  Music Education Coordinator.
• Pass the Communication and Literacy Skills Test (CLST) of the Massachusetts Test of Educator Licensure (MTEL) and the Music Content Area test of the MTEL as a prerequisite to student teaching.

 Program requirements will be revised to reflect on-going developments in state regulations and educational reform.
 

• Core Requirements:

• MUS 209 - Music Skills III 2 credits
• MUS 210 - Music Skills IV 2 credits
• MUS 265 - Class Piano III 1 credits
• MUS 266 - Class Piano IV 1 credits
• MUS 271 - Music Theory III 3 credits
• MUS 272 - Music Theory IV 3 credits
• MUS 313 - Orchestration 3 credits
• MUS 316 - Teaching Children Music, Grades K-9 3 credits
• MUS 317 - Teaching Music in Secondary Schools 3 credits
• MUS 340 - Principles of Conducting 2 credits
• MUS 414 - Practicum in Music Education 3 credits

• Choose four credits from:

• MUS 214 - Vocal Methods 1 credits
• MUS 215 - String Methods 1 credits
• MUS 216 - Percussion Methods 1 credits
• MUS 217 - Woodwind Methods 1 credits
• MUS 218 - Brass Methods 1 credits

• Choose six credits from:

• MUS 394 - Seminar in Advanced Topics in Electro Acoustic Music 3 credits
• MUS 395 - Seminar in Music History 3 credits
• MUS 397 - Seminar in Music Theory 3 credits
• MUS 398 - Seminar in World Music: Topics in World Music Performance 3 credits
• MUS 318 - Jazz Arranging and Composition 3 credits