The USA Music Department is a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music. Degree programs are offered for those students pursuing careers in music performance, music education, Elective Studies in Business, and for those who wish to combine studies in music with other academic disciplines.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN MUSIC

A minimum of 26 semester hours in music, including the following: MUT 112 and 113; MUL 235, MUL 236, Applied Music (six hrs. at 200 level), MUO 111/117 (four hrs.) six hours of electives in music at 300 level or above.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR OF MUSIC DEGREE (B.M.)

A total of 128 semester hours is required for the BM degree. All students are required to complete the Music Core and General Requirements. In addition, the student must complete the requirements in his/her chosen Concentration: Music Education, Elective Studies in Business, Performance, or Elective Studies in Specific Outside Fields. An audition is required for acceptance into all music degree programs. Contact the Department (251-460-6136) for audition requirements.

University residency requirements stipulate that at least 32 semester hours, including 15 hours in the major, must be completed in residence at the 300 and/or 400 level. An overall GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation as well as a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the major.

MUSIC CORE (54 hours)
Music Theory - 16 hours
MUT 112, MUT 113, MUT 212, MUT 213, MUT 312, MUT 313
Conducting - 3 hours, MUT 361
Music Literature - 10 hours, MUL 235, MUL 236, MUL 335, MUL 336
Major Ensemble - 7 hours
Concert Choir, (MUO 111) University Chorale (MUO 117) or Symphony Band
Applied Music (MUA or MUB) - 14 hours
200 level - 8 hours, 300 or 400 level - 6 hours
Piano - 4 hours
MUE 102 or 212, MUE 103 or 213, MUE 202 or 312, MUE 203 or 313
Recital Class
MUA 100 (repeat six times with grade of 'S'), Senior Recital, MUA 400

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (35 hours)

Written and Oral Communication (9 hrs), EH 101, EH 102, CA 110

Humanities (3 hrs)
One literature course required, select from EH 215, EH 216, EH 225, EH 226, EH 235, EH 236

History, Social & Behavioral Sciences (12 hrs)
Select from at least two disciplines, a minimum of three hours history required. AN 100, AN 101, GEO 114, GEO 115, HY 101, HY 102, HY 235, PSC 130, PSY 120, PSY 250, ECO 215, ECO 216, SY 109, SY 112, SS 199, SS 299

Sequence Requirement
Select a six hour sequence in literature or history:
EH 215 and EH 216, EH 225 and EH 226, EH 235, and EH 236, HY 101 and HY 102, HY 235 and HY 236

Mathematics (3 hrs), MA 110 or higher

Natural Sciences (8 hrs)
Select two: BLY 101/BLY 121, BLY 102/BLY 122, CH 101, CH 103, CH 131, CH 132/CH 141, GEO 101, GEO 102, GY 111, GY 112, PH 101, PH 104, PH 114/PH 201, PH 115/PH 202, NS 199, NS 299

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Music Education - Instrumental (35 hrs.)
MUE 120, MUE 141, MUE 241, MUE 341, MUE 345, MUE 346, MUE 444, MUE 455, MUS 201 or 490, MUT 362, EDF 211, EDF 315, EPY 251, SPE 400, SED 470 Electives (4 hrs.)

Music Education - Vocal (35 hrs)
MUA 181 (repeat for two semesters), MUE 444, MUE 448, MUE 455, MUS 201 OR 490, MUS 202, MUS 203, MUT 364, EDF 211, EDF 315, EPY 251, SPE 400, SED 470 Electives (4 hrs.)

Completion of a Music Education concentration (which includes teacher certification) requires a grade point average of at least 2.5 on all course work attempted, no grade below a “C” in professional teacher education, and at least a 2.5 grade-point average on all work attempted in the teaching specialization (music).

Elective Studies in Business (35 hrs.)
MUS 204, MUS 304, MUS 305, MUS 404, MUS 470, ACC 211, ACC 212, ECO 215, ECO 216, MKT 320 Electives (4 hrs.)

Performance - Instrumental (23 hrs.)
MUA 300, Applied Music 400 level (6 hours), MUE 4** Pedagogy, MUL4** Literature, MUO 411/417, 4 semesters of small ensemble, 9 hours of electives in music at 300 level or above Electives (16 hrs.)

Performance - Vocal (25 hrs.)
MUA 300, MUA 423, (6 hours), MUE 448, MUO 411, MUO 416, (4 semesters), MUS 202, MUS 203, LG 111, LG 151, 3 hours of electives in music at 300 level or above Electives (14 hrs.)

Elective Studies in Specific Outside Fields (24-36 hrs.)
MUA/MUB 300 level (2 hrs.), MUO 411/417, 3 hours of electives in music at 300 level or above. Additional Major or Minor specific requirements determined by academic area (18-30 hrs.)
Electives - variable to complete 128 hr. degree total.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR MUSIC MAJORS

Piano Proficiency
The piano proficiency is attained by successfully completing the class piano sequence (MUE 102, 103, 202, 203) and achieving a passing score on the final exam of MUE 203.

Students with piano as their principal instrument, or others who have sufficient piano background, may be placed in the Advanced Keyboard Musicianship Sequence (MUE 212, 213, 312, 313) after an audition for the piano faculty.

Excess hours in piano required to complete the piano proficiency examination may not be counted toward graduation in music. Additional hours in piano beyond the proficiency may be counted toward graduation.

The piano proficiency must be completed before a student may enroll in Senior Recital or Student Teaching. Piano Proficiency Exam Requirements

PLACEMENT IN MUSIC THEORY

Students intending to take music theory must first take a Theory Placement Examination. This applies to transfer students as well as students who begin basic theory at the University of South Alabama. Contact the Music Office for details.

PLACEMENT IN APPLIED MUSIC CLASSES

All students not previously enrolled in private music study at the University of South Alabama must audition prior to enrolling. Contact the Music Office for audition requirements and scheduling.

All students enrolled in private music study must fill out a Teacher Preference card for each Applied Music course in which they are enrolled. These forms must be filed in the Music Office LPAC by 5:00 p.m. on the first day of classes. Students not complying with this requirement may not be assigned a private teacher.

Applied music is an integral and vital part of the total education in the field of music. In addition to performing in recitals, full-time music students are also required to attend concerts and recital class (MUA 100) for six semesters and take part in various programs given during their course of study.

Students choosing a minor in music must include applied music courses at the 200 level.

Credit for applied music is based on the minimum practice time per week, not on the length of the lesson period. Courses that show one hour's credit require one 30-minute lesson per week with a minimum practice period of 30 minutes per day. A two-hour course requires 60 minutes of lesson time a week and at least 60 minutes of practice time per day. Those that show three hours' credit require 60 minutes of lesson time per week with a minimum of two hours per day for practice. Satisfactory achievement and development are best achieved by practicing twice the above minimum requirements.

A student may take no more than two applied music courses in any given semester unless permission is obtained from the student’s advisor, major applied teacher, and department chair.

SENIOR RECITAL REQUIREMENTS

A public senior recital (MUA 400) is required for the BM degree. Specific requirements vary according to the chosen concentration. See the Department of Music Student Handbook for details.

APPLIED MUSIC LEVELS

Students must audition in order to enroll in Applied Music courses. Contact the Department of Music for information

100 Level (Elective) is designated for students majoring in other academic disciplines or music majors who wish to study in a secondary applied area.

200 Level (Major/Lower Division) is designated for the first four semesters of study as a music major. A student must pass an examination at the end of the fourth semester in order to enroll at the 300 or 400 level. Music minors will also enroll at the 200 level.

300 Level (Major/Upper Division) is designated for the junior and senior music major in all concentrations except Performance.

400 Level (Major/Performance) is designated for the junior and senior music major with a concentration in performance.

ACADEMIC MINORS

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Music Degree are not required to have an academic minor.

MUSIC ORGANIZATIONS

The Department of Music sponsors performing organizations open to all students enrolled at the University of South Alabama, providing satisfactory audition requirements have been met. Ensemble participation is recognized as an essential literature class in music and music education. The appropriate MAJOR ensemble (Symphony Band or Concert Choir) must be elected each semester that a student is enrolled as a full-time student in music. Lower-division credit is for 1st and 2nd year students. Upper-division credit is for 3rd and 4th year students and reflects increased responsibility and leadership within the section and/or ensemble as assigned by the conductor/director. Graduate credit requires assisting the conductor/director with logistics, rehearsals, and presentation of concerts. Each course number is to be repeated four times for a two-year sequence of the course. All Bachelor of Music degree majors in guitar and piano must satisfactorily complete a minimum of six semester hours in a major ensemble, to be taken for three consecutive years and one semester hour in another ensemble in which they will play their principal performing instrument. Students are, in addition, encouraged to elect additional hours in both major and small ensembles. Consult the appropriate curriculum in the section entitled Music Organizations for the requirements. The organizations include Concert Choir; University Chorale; University Symphony Band; Jazz Band; Woodwind, Brass, Guitar, Percussion, and Piano Ensembles; and South Alabama Opera Theatre.

No more than twelve credits in this area may be applied toward a degree.