B.A. in Music Degree Requirements

The B.A. in Music is offered for students with interest in music who also want to pursue a second degree or minor not in the School of Music.

A total of 120 credit hours (45 at the Jr/Sr level 300+) is required. To graduate, a student must earn a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in all major courses and a minimum average of 2.0 in all course work.

Students will gain knowledge in a variety of areas while pursuing the B.A. and may include any approved KU major or minor without adding extra credit hours to their degree program. Students will study with faculty members who are nationally and internationally recognized. Courses in music theory and musicology are part of the exploration of music as are private instruction, ensemble and chamber music opportunities, as well as a senior performance recital.

With this degree, students will be well-rounded prospects for nearly any employer upon graduation. Students can also go on to pursue graduate studies in music, establish private studios, audition for music ensembles, or create their own paths in music or music-related endeavors.

The School of Music

The School of Music at the University of Kansas ranks among the finest in America, offering comprehensive programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.

The school nurtures and advances the art of music through creation, performance, scholarly inquiry, entrepreneurship, and enhancement of the artistic skills and experiences of the university and regional cultural communities.

The school is a major contributor to the arts community through the student, faculty, and professional performances in Swarthout Recital Hall, Bales Organ Recital Hall, the Robert Baustian Theatre, and the Lied Center of Kansas.

The School of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. The entrance and graduation requirements in this catalog conform to the published guidelines of that organization.

Instrumental Ensemble Policy

In order to remain enrolled in studio instruction (lessons), all undergraduate (B.A. & B.M.) and M.M. students who enroll in any level of studio instruction (including nonmajor levels) in band and orchestral instruments must audition for and perform as assigned in a major instrumental ensemble¹ each semester in which they are enrolled. For music majors, 1 ensemble taken for credit each semester is required for graduation. Exceptions to this policy are allowed on a case-by-case basis and only by the ensemble conductor in consultation with the faculty member in the studio area or the faculty advisor in music therapy as appropriate.

¹

Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, or Jazz Ensemble I & II. University Band or University Orchestra if placed by audition.

Undergraduate Admission to the School of Music

Students who wish to major in music must audition. All students academically approved for admission to the School of Music are admitted contingent upon demonstration by audition of satisfactory level proficiency in their areas of applied music. Further information about specific applied music areas can be found on the School of Music's Audition Information website; if you do not see your particular area of study listed there, please contact the Undergraduate Recruitment Coordinator to inquire about availability. Music audition and application information is available on the School of Music website. There is a limit of two times a prospective student may request an audition for entrance into one of the School's undergraduate degree programs. The second request must be within 12 months of the first and may be as early as 1 month following the first audition. The limitation also applies to students within the School auditioning from one program into another.

First-year and current KU students

Once admitted academically, first-year students should enter the School of Music directly after a successful audition. Students may transfer to the School from other KU Schools or the College if they have at least a 2.75 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and are eligible to return to the college or university last attended in addition to completing a successful audition. Other students can be admitted only with the permission of the dean. Send applications to the Office of Admissions. Visit the Office of International Admissions for information about international admissions.

Transfer Students

Students may transfer to the school from other institutions or from other KU Schools if they have at least a 2.75 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), are eligible to return to the college or university last attended and complete a successful audition. Only grades of C or higher are accepted in transfer credit toward degrees offered by the School of Music. Students who wish to transfer performance credit from another institution toward any music degree at KU must validate this credit by audition.

Keyboard Skills Placement Examination:

If a student has a background in keyboard playing, they may choose to take one or more Piano Quiz-Out tests. Successfully passing a Quiz-Out will exempt a student from having to take a particular class in the PIAN sequence (PIAN 144, PIAN 148, PIAN 284, and PIAN 310). Students should check with their advisor about how this will impact their particular degree requirements.

Freshmen and transfer students with no previous piano study experience should enroll in PIAN 144. No examination or permission number is necessary. Students should check with their advisor about their particular degree requirements.

More information about the Keyboard Skills Placement Examination including deadlines is available on the School of Music website.

Music Core Required Courses

26 hours of Music Core Courses required for all B.A. Concentrations, as follows:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Music Core Courses
Music Theory Sequence
MTHC 105	Theory I (concurrent with MTHC 106) (fall only)	3
MTHC 106	Aural Skills I (fall only)	1
MTHC 115	Theory II (concurrent with MTHC 116) (spring only)	3
MTHC 116	Aural Skills II (spring only)	1
Music History Sequence
MUSC 340	Music History II (spring only)	3
MUSC 360	Music History III (fall only)	3
Recital Attendance
REC 100	Laboratory in Music Performance (Two semesters with a grade of "S" (Satisfactory)	0
Applied Lessons Sequence
121 or MTHC 252 & MTHC 253 based on admission audition (two semesters)		4
221 or MTHC 583 based on admission audition (two semesters)		4
Ensembles
Four semesters of ensembles		4
Total Hours		26

Other Courses Outside Music

38 hours of courses to support declared non-music major/minor, for all B.A. Concentrations:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Major or Minor Outside Music or Non-music Electives
Any KU approved major or minor. Must be declared in the School/College of your major/minor and completed with your music major.		38
Total Hours		38

Concentration in Music Composition

22 hours of additional courses required for a Concentration in Music Composition:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Music Composition Courses Supporting Capstone
MTHC 583	Composition (minimum 2 semesters)	4
MTHC 205	Theory III (or other MTHC)	3
MTHC 315	Theory IV (or other MTHC 300+)	3
MTHC 410	Form and Analysis (or other MTHC 300+)	3
MTHC 433	Advanced Analysis of Contemporary Music (or other MTHC 300+)	3
MTHC 300+		3
Capstone
MTHC 498	Undergraduate Recital	3
Total Hours		22

Concentration in Music Performance

22 hours of additional courses required for a Concentration in Music Performance:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Music Performance Courses Supporting Capstone
XXXX 321 lessons (two semesters)		4
XXXX 421 lessons (one semester)		2
Ensembles (minimum four semesters)		4
Chamber/combo/small ensemble (minimum 4 semesters)		4
Non-jazz perf: select pedagogy, repertoire, etc. with advisor and faculty mentor		6
JAZZ perf: JAZZ 405, 406, 407, 410 (at least 6 of 12 credits)
Capstone
XXXX 422 Senior Recital (capstone)		2
Total Hours		22

Concentration in Music Production & Technology

22 hours of additional courses required for a Concentration in Music Production & Technology:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Music Courses Supporting Capstone
MUS 486	The Business of Music	3
MUS 487	Entrepreneurship and Outreach	3
MUS 488	Arts Management	3
MUS 481	Introduction to Music Recording	3
MUS 483	Advanced Music Recording	3
MUS 485	Practicum in Audio Recording	3
Music elective		1
Capstone
MUS 499 Music Prod & Tech capstone		3
Total Hours		22

Concentration in Music Theory

22 hours of additional courses required for a Concentration in Music Theory:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Music Theory Courses Supporting Capstone
MTHC 205	Theory III (or other MTHC)	3
MTHC 252	Introduction to Composition (or other MTHC)	2
MTHC 315	Theory IV (or other MTHC 300+)	3
MTHC 410	Form and Analysis (or other MTHC 300+)	3
MTHC 432	Introduction to the Analysis Contemporary Music (or other MTHC 300+)	3
MTHC 300+		3
MTHC 300+		1
Capstone
MTHC 499	Senior Research Project (two semesters at 2 credits each)	4
Total Hours		22

Concentration in Musicology

22 hours of additional courses required for a Concentration in Musicology:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Musicology Courses Supporting Capstone
MUSC 320	Music History I (or other MUSC 300+)	3
MUSC 300+		3
MUSC 300+		3
MUSC 300+		3
MUSC 300+		3
MUSC 300+		3
Capstone
MUSC 499	Senior Thesis (two semesters at 2 credits each)	4
Total Hours		22

Concentration in Piano Pedagogy

22 hours of additional courses required for a Concentration in Piano Pedagogy: 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Piano Courses Supporting Capstone
PIAN 450	Piano Pedagogy I	3
PIAN 452	Piano Pedagogy II	3
PIAN 454	Piano Pedagogy III	3
PIAN 456	Piano Pedagogy IV	3
PIAN 443	Piano Repertoire I (or PIAN 321 lessons)	3
PIAN 444	Piano Repertoire 2 (or PIAN 422 lessons)	3
Capstone
PIAN 423	Senior Pedagogy Project (two semesters at 2 credits each)	4
Total Hours		22

Sample 4-year plans for the Bachelor of Arts in Music with the following concentrations can be found here: concentration in Music Composition, concentration in Music Performance, concentration in Music Production & Technology, concentration in Music Theory, concentration in Musicology, concentration in Piano Pedagogy or by using the left-side navigation.