Music Major (B.Mus.)
Degree Type: B.Mus. Minimum Credits Required: 120
University Degree Requirements
For complete details on these and other university degree requirements, refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section in the University Catalog.
- Minimum of 120 semester credits (some programs may exceed this minimum).
- Complete the University General Education requirements.
- Minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- Minimum of 30 credits in resident at NDSU.
- Minimum of 36 upper level credits (courses numbered 300 or higher).
- Students with transfer credit must meet the NDSU 30 credits in residence (#4). Of these 30 credits in residence, a minimum of 15 credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 credits must be in the student's declared major curricula.
University General Education Requirements
A list of university approved general education courses along with the administrative policies governing the requirement and the categories is available
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Category C: Communication | 12 | |
| Category R: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Category S: Science and Technology | 10 | |
| Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts | 6 | |
| Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 6 | |
| Category W: Wellness | 2 | |
| Category I: Intercultural Knowledge and Competence | ||
| Category L: Digital Literacy | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Music Requirements
A grade of ‘C’ or better is required in all MUSC prefix courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Music Core Requirements | ||
| MUSC 103 | Introduction to Music History | 3 |
| MUSC 130 | Theory and Analysis I | 3 |
| MUSC 131 | Theory and Analysis II | 3 |
| MUSC 132 | Ear Training & Sight Singing I | 1 |
| MUSC 133 | Ear Training & Sight Singing II | 1 |
| MUSC 189 | Skills for Academic Success 1 | 1 |
| MUSC 230 | Theory and Analysis III | 3 |
| MUSC 231 | Theory and Analysis IV | 3 |
| MUSC 232 | Ear Training & Sight Singing III | 1 |
| MUSC 233 | Ear Training & Sight Singing IV | 1 |
| MUSC 340 | Music History I | 3 |
| MUSC 341 | Music History II | 3 |
| MUSC 385 | Music Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| Program Option | ||
| Students must be admitted to and select one track of interest to complete the major. | 55-70 | |
| Total Credits | 84-99 | |
Composition Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Composition Support | ||
| MUSC 331 | Instrumental Arranging | 2 |
| MUSC 351 | Instrumental Conducting & Literature | 2 |
| or MUSC 352 | Choral Conducting & Literature | |
| MUSC 435 | Topics in Music Theory (Enroll twice) | 6 |
| Applied Composition | ||
| One semester of 100 level, 2 semesters each of 200 level, 300 level, and 400 level | ||
| MUSC 166 | Applied Composition | 1 |
| MUSC 266 & MUSC 273 | Applied Composition and Supplementary Applied Study (Enroll twice) | 4 |
| MUSC 366 & MUSC 373 | Applied Composition and Supplementary Applied Study (Enroll twice) | 4 |
| MUSC 466 & MUSC 473 | Applied Composition and Supplementary Applied Study (Enroll twice) | 4 |
| Applied Performance | ||
| Select 6 credits from one of the following applied music disciplines: | 6 | |
| Applied Piano | ||
| Applied Piano | ||
| Applied Piano | ||
| Applied Piano | ||
| Applied Voice | ||
| Applied Voice | ||
| Applied Voice | ||
| Applied Voice | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments | ||
| Applied Upper Strings | ||
| Applied Upper Strings | ||
| Applied Upper Strings | ||
| Applied Upper Strings | ||
| Applied Lower Strings | ||
| Applied Lower Strings | ||
| Applied Lower Strings | ||
| Applied Lower Strings | ||
| Applied Guitar | ||
| Applied Guitar | ||
| Applied Guitar | ||
| Applied Guitar | ||
| Major Ensembles | ||
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Marching Band | ||
| University Band | ||
| Cantemus | ||
| Statesmen of NDSU | ||
| University Chamber Singers | ||
| Wind Symphony | ||
| University Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Concert Choir | ||
| Minor Ensembles | ||
| Select 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Percussion Ensemble | ||
| Brass Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Woodwind Chamber Ensemble | ||
| String Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Madrigal Singers | ||
| Mixed Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Vocal Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Piano Chamber Music | ||
| Jazz Combo | ||
| Piano | ||
| MUSC 160 | Piano Class I | 1 |
| MUSC 161 | Piano Class II | 1 |
| MUSC 260 | Piano Class III | 1 |
| MUSC 261 | Piano Class IV | 1 |
| Major Electives | ||
| Selected in consultation with Advisor. 2 | 10 | |
| Capstone | ||
| The Composition track requires both a recital of original music (MUSC 480) and the creation of a substantial new work (MUSC 494) | ||
| MUSC 480 | Recital | 1 |
| MUSC 494 | Individual Study | 1 |
| Total Credits | 55 | |
Instrumental Performance Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Instrumental Performance Support | ||
| MUSC 331 | Instrumental Arranging | 2 |
| MUSC 344 | Wind Band Literature | 2 |
| or MUSC 441 | Symphonic Literature | |
| MUSC 351 | Instrumental Conducting & Literature | 2 |
| Advanced Music Theory | ||
| MUSC 435 | Topics in Music Theory (Enroll twice) | 6 |
| Pedagogy | ||
| Select 2 credits from the following: | 2 | |
| Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Music | ||
| Select 22 credits from the following: (2 semesters each of 100 level, 200 level, 300 level; 1 semester of 400 level) | 22 | |
| Wind Instruments | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Percussion | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Upper Strings | ||
| Applied Upper Strings and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Upper Strings and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Upper Strings and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Upper Strings and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Lower Strings | ||
| Applied Lower Strings and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Lower Strings and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Lower Strings and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Lower Strings and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Guitar: | ||
| Applied Guitar and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Guitar and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Guitar and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Guitar and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Piano | ||
| MUSC 160 | Piano Class I | 1 |
| MUSC 161 | Piano Class II | 1 |
| MUSC 260 | Piano Class III | 1 |
| MUSC 261 | Piano Class IV | 1 |
| Creative Studies | ||
| Select 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Applied Composition | ||
| Applied Composition | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Marching Band Methods and Techniques | ||
| Jazz Methods | ||
| Major Ensemble | ||
| Select 8 credits from the following (or as approved by advisor): 2 | 8 | |
| Wind Symphony | ||
| Students enrolled in applied instruction must participate in a major ensemble specific to applied area. | ||
| Minor Ensembles | ||
| Select 4 credits from the following (or as approved by advisor) 2 | 4 | |
| Marching Band | ||
| University Band | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Brass Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Woodwind Chamber Ensemble | ||
| String Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Mixed Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Jazz Combo | ||
| Capstone | ||
| MUSC 380 | Recital | 1 |
| MUSC 480 | Recital | 1 |
| Total Credits | 58 | |
Piano Performance Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Piano Performance Support | ||
| MUSC 351 | Instrumental Conducting & Literature | 2 |
| or MUSC 352 | Choral Conducting & Literature | |
| MUSC 443 | Keyboard Literature (Enroll twice) | 6 |
| MUSC 423 | Piano Pedagogy (Enroll twice) | 6 |
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Opera Workshop | ||
| Piano Chamber Music | ||
| Individual Study | ||
| Applied Composition | ||
| Advanced Music Theory | ||
| MUSC 435 | Topics in Music Theory (Enroll twice) | 6 |
| Additional Literature | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 2-3 | |
| Wind Band Literature | ||
| Symphonic Literature | ||
| Opera Literature | ||
| Topics in Song Literature | ||
| Applied Music | ||
| Select 22 credits from the following: | 22 | |
| Applied Piano | ||
| Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Piano | ||
| Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Piano | ||
| Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Piano | ||
| Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Major Ensembles | ||
| Select 2 credits from the following: | 2 | |
| Marching Band | ||
| University Band | ||
| Cantemus | ||
| Statesmen of NDSU | ||
| Wind Symphony | ||
| University Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Concert Choir | ||
| Minor Ensembles | ||
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Mixed Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Piano Chamber Music | ||
| Jazz Combo | ||
| Capstone | ||
| MUSC 380 | Recital | 1 |
| MUSC 480 | Recital | 1 |
| Total Credits | 57-58 | |
Vocal Performance Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Vocal Performance Support | ||
| MUSC 174 | Pronunciation for Singers I | 1 |
| MUSC 175 | Pronunciation for Singers II | 1 |
| MUSC 349 | Vocal Methods & Pedagogy I | 2 |
| MUSC 442 | Opera Literature | 3 |
| MUSC 446 | Topics in Song Literature | 3 |
| SPAN 101 | First-Year Spanish I | 4 |
| SPAN 102 | First-Year Spanish II | 4 |
| SPAN 201 | Second-Year Spanish I | 3 |
| SPAN 202 | Second-Year Spanish II | 3 |
| Advanced Music Theory | ||
| MUSC 435 | Topics in Music Theory (Enroll twice) | 6 |
| Applied Music | ||
| Select 22 credits from the following: | 22 | |
| Applied Voice and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Voice and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Voice and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Applied Voice and Supplementary Applied Study | ||
| Acting the Song I (may be taken once, substituting for 3 credits of MUSC *73) | ||
| Piano | ||
| MUSC 160 | Piano Class I | 1 |
| MUSC 161 | Piano Class II | 1 |
| MUSC 260 | Piano Class III | 1 |
| MUSC 261 | Piano Class IV | 1 |
| Major Ensembles | ||
| Select 8 credits from the following (or as approved by adviser): 2 | 8 | |
| Concert Choir | ||
| Students enrolled in applied instruction must participate in a major ensemble specific to applied area. | ||
| Minor Ensemble | ||
| Select 4 credits from the following or as approved by the advisor: 2 | 4 | |
| University Chamber Singers | ||
| Madrigal Singers | ||
| Opera Workshop | ||
| Capstone | ||
| MUSC 380 | Recital | 1 |
| MUSC 480 | Recital | 1 |
| Total Credits | 70 | |
- 1
MUSC 189 is only required for first-time, first-year students. A first-time, first-year student is defined as a student who has not yet completed a college course as a college student. Students that are not first-time, first-year students that either transfer into the university or change their major are not required to take MUSC 189.
- 2
Courses selected in consultation with an advisor will require a substitution form to be submitted to the Office of Registration and Records for degree progress inclusion.
Proficiency Waiver
- Piano proficiency exam must be completed before pursuing the capstone experience.
- Piano credit requirements listed may be waived in whole or in part for successful completion of the piano proficiency.
- Piano majors may fulfill this requirement by accompanying or performance on a secondary medium according to the discretion of the student's applied instructor/adviser.
Degree Requirements and Notes:
- Music majors may not declare a general music minor, but may declare specific music minors.
- Music majors must pass a Sophomore Screening or Barrier Jury prior to enrolling in student teaching. More information is available in the Area Handbook for your degree track.
- A grade of 'C' or better is required in all MUSC prefix courses.