Music - Instrumental Major (B.Mus.)
Major Requirements
Degree Type: B.Mus. Minimum Credits Required: 128
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 here.
| 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 D: Cultural Diversity | ||
| Category G: Global Perspectives | ||
| Category L: Digital Literacy | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Major 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 (May satisfy general education category A) | 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 331 | Instrumental Arranging | 2 |
| MUSC 340 | Music History I | 3 |
| MUSC 341 | Music History II | 3 |
| MUSC 344 | Wind Band Literature | 2 |
| or MUSC 441 | Symphonic Literature | |
| MUSC 380 | Recital | 1 |
| MUSC 351 | Instrumental Conducting & Literature | 2 |
| MUSC 385 | Music Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MUSC 480 | Recital | 1 |
| Advanced Theory | ||
| MUSC 435 | Topics in Music Theory (must be taken two times) | 6 |
| Pedagogy | 2 | |
| 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 | ||
| Applied Piano: Class or individual study | ||
| Select 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Piano Class I (Up to 2 semesters of MUSC 165 with permission) | ||
or MUSC 165 | Applied Piano | |
| Piano Class II | ||
| Piano Class III | ||
| Piano Class IV | ||
| Jazz Studies | ||
| Select 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Marching Band Methods and Techniques | ||
| Jazz Improvisation | ||
| Applied Composition | ||
| Applied Composition | ||
| Major Ensemble | ||
| Select 8 credits from the following: | 8 | |
| Wind Symphony (or as approved by adviser) | ||
| University Symphony Orchestra (for string majors) | ||
| Minor Ensembles | ||
| Select 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Marching Band | ||
| University Band | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Brass Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Woodwind Chamber Ensemble | ||
| String Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Mixed Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Jazz Combo | ||
Or as approved by adviser 2 | ||
| Total Credits | 89 | |
- 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 approved by advisor will require a substitution form to be submitted to the Office of Registration and Records for degree progress inclusion.
Degree Notes
- Music majors may not declare a music minor.