Music - Piano 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 | 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 351 | Instrumental Conducting & Literature | 2 |
| or MUSC 352 | Choral Conducting & Literature | |
| MUSC 385 | Music Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MUSC 380 | Recital | 1 |
| MUSC 480 | Recital | 1 |
| Upper-Division Music Theory | ||
| MUSC 435 | Topics in Music Theory (Take course three times) | 9 |
| 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 | ||
| Piano Track | ||
| MUSC 443 | Keyboard Literature (Take course two times) | 6 |
| Additional Literature: Select one course from the following: | 2-3 | |
| Wind Band Literature | ||
| Topics in Song Literature | ||
| Symphonic Literature | ||
| Opera Literature | ||
| Pedagogy | ||
| MUSC 423 | Piano Pedagogy (Take two times) | 6 |
| 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 | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Opera Workshop | ||
| Piano Chamber Music | ||
| Individual Study | ||
| Applied Composition | ||
| Total Credits | 89-90 | |
- 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.
Degree Notes
- Music majors may not declare a music minor.