Music Major (BA Traditional)
Students in the Music major expand their creativity, analytical, research and writing skills while studying music performance, programming, analysis, composition, history, literature, education and worship music. The music program is led by accomplished and caring faculty who give one-on-one attention to students in a nurturing community. With the support of CSP's deeply networked music faculty, students in this major are provided opportunities to ply their craft in music positions at churches, internships with local music organizations, and professional workshops. The culmination of the major is a senior year public presentation of the student's work, in which the student plans, prepares, promotes, and presents a recital of their work. The major prepares students for graduate work in music or other fields and employment as entry level music performers, composers, and private teachers. The program also provides students with the communication skills, collaborative aptitude, creativity, organizational ability, and work ethic to succeed in a broad range of fields beyond music, while providing them with a lifelong outlet for joyful aesthetic expression.
General Education Requirements
All degree seeking undergraduate students must complete the general education requirements.
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts degree consists of a major of typically 32 to 44 credits or two minors, general education courses, and elective courses totaling a minimum of 120 credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisites 1 | ||
| Basic Musicianship (2) | ||
| Class Piano I (2) | ||
| Class Piano II (2) | ||
| Class Piano III (1) | ||
| Prerequisites from General Education | ||
| Listening to Life: Western Classical Music (2) | ||
or MUS 121 | Listening to Life: Global & Popular Music (2) | |
| Required | ||
| MUS 201 | Musicianship I | 4 |
| MUS 202 | Musicianship II | 4 |
| MUS 301 | Musicianship III | 4 |
| MUS 302 | Musicianship IV | 4 |
| MUS 321 | Music History I | 3 |
| MUS 322 | Music History II | 3 |
| MUS 323 | Music History III | 3 |
| MUS 7xx | 4 semesters of ensemble at 0-2 credits each | 0-8 |
| MUS 8xx | 4 semesters of private lessons at 1 credit each | 4 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 5-7 credits from any music offerings to total 44 credits 2 | 5-7 | |
| Tracks | ||
| Select one of the following tracks: | 8-10 | |
Performance Track (8 credits) | ||
Music History Track (8-10 credits) | ||
Music Theory and Composition Track (10 credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 44 | |
| 1 | The successful Music major will enter the program with music-reading ability and previous music performance experience and study. The level of each student’s abilities and experience will be initially assessed through a music placement survey, auditions for ensembles and placement evaluations by private lesson instructors. Based on this assessment, the student may be required to take one or more of the Prerequisite courses. |
| 2 | May be chosen from any music offerings. Up to 2 credits may be drawn from the 700-level ensemble courses. |
Tracks
Performance Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 402 | The Business of Music | 2 |
| MUS 9xx | 3 semesters of honors lessons at 2 credits each | 6 |
| Total Credits | 8 | |
Music History Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 493 | Senior Project: Thesis | 2 |
| Select 4 credits of the following: | 4 | |
| History of Sacred Music (4) | ||
| Congregational Song (4) | ||
| Select 2-4 credits of the following: | 2-4 | |
| Keyboard Literature (2) | ||
| Choral Literature (2) | ||
| Instrumental Literature (2) | ||
| Organ Literature (2) | ||
| Total Credits | 8-10 | |
Music Theory and Composition
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 365 | Electronic Instruments Techniques & Pedagogy | 2 |
| MUS 402 | The Business of Music | 2 |
| MUS 444 | Instrumental Arranging | 1 |
| MUS 445 | Choral Arranging | 1 |
| MUS 890 | Composition (2 semesters of Composition lessons at 1 credit each) | 2 |
| MUS 990 | Honors Composition Lessons | 2 |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
Additional Requirements
Students must attend eight recitals or concerts per year and document such in their Music Portfolio. The Portfolios should be submitted for review each year by November 1 to the Chair of the Music Department. A minimum of a 2.75 GPA is required in music coursework, as well as a minimum of 2.5 GPA in each area of performance, history/literature, and theory/composition. Performance audition in February of sophomore year (first year for transfers). Pass Keyboard Proficiency Exam prior to graduation. Take Senior Music Outcomes exam when Musicianship/Music History courses are completed.