The Bachelor of Music degree is a program of 120-139 hours that may be earned with a major in Performance, Music History, Music Theory, or Composition. It is designed for the student who intends to pursue a career as a composer, performer, or college teacher, as well as the student who plans to enter graduate school to pursue further study in one of these areas.
Non-Music Course Requirements
It may be possible to test out of certain non-music requirements or be excused on the basis of Advance Placement or other high school credit. A complete discussion of the requirements and waivers or possibilities for credit by examination will be found in the section on Arts & Science Graduation Requirements in the most recent Undergraduate Catalog. Consult with the Arts and Science advising center in 107 Lowry Hall and your music advisor.
ENGLISH 1000 (EXPOSITION AND ARGUMENTATION) is the prerequisite to all writing-intensive courses and must be completed before the end of the sophomore year with a grade of C- or better.
WRITING-INTENSIVE COURSES. Students must complete at least two MU writing-intensive courses with a grade of C or higher. Writing intensive courses are indicated by WI in the Schedule of Courses and are also listed in the Special Studies section in the back of the Schedule of Courses. They require a substantial amount of writing and offer students the opportunity to rewrite assignments to raise the level of performance. At least one of these courses must be in music.
MATH 1100 (COLLEGE ALGEBRA) is the prerequisite to all math/reasoning proficiency courses and must be completed before the end of the sophomore year with a grade of C- or better.
MATH/REASONING PROFICIENCY. Students must complete one math/reasoning proficiency course. Math/reasoning proficiency courses are indicated by MP in the Schedule of Courses and are also listed in the Special Studies section in the back of the Schedule of Courses.
SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. Nine hours of course work is required; one course must be in American History (History 1100, 1200, or 1400) or Political Science (Political Science 1100 or 1700). At least two subjects must be included in the nine hours.
PHYSICAL, BIOLOGICAL, AND MATH SCIENCES. Nine hours of course work is required; one course must include a lab. At least two subjects must be included in the nine hours.
Note: At least one course of 1000 level or higher must be taken in either Social and Behavioral Sciences or Physical, Biological, and Math Sciences.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE. For instrumental performance, theory, and composition majors, 13 hours in either French or German, or 12 hours in Italian are required.
The language requirement for majors in music history is 10 hours of German, plus 13 hours of French or 12 hours of Italian.
For vocal performance majors, the requirement is Elementary German I (5 hours), Elementary French I (5 hours), and Elementary Italian I (6 hours); one additional course in either German (5 hours), French (5 hours), or Italian (6 hours); and one hour each in Italian, French, and German diction (3 hours total).
Transfer students who have not completed four units of high school credit in a single language or its equivalent must complete the requirement after entering the University.
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION PROFICIENCY. Either by approved course work of through proficiency testing, students must demonstrate competency with computers and information technology. Approved courses are designated CP in the Schedule of Courses.
ELECTIVES. The different programs in the Bachelor of Music degree have a varying number of elective hours (see the Sample Degree Plans). Electives are to be academic courses except that up to half the elective credits may be earned in chamber music or ensemble participation outside the principal performance area (e.g. a woodwind major singing in a choir or a vocal major playing in a band). Students may enroll in courses taught in other divisions of the University, provided that they have the approval of their advisor.
Music Requirements
AREA OF CONCENTRATION. The Area of Concentration for the Bachelor of Music degree consists of no fewer than 62 hours and no more than 90 hours in applied music, music history, music theory, instrumental and vocal techniques, repertory and ensembles. The specified course work in each of these is determined by the particular area of music which the student wishes to emphasize.
NOTE: The Area of Concentration Form must contain a complete listing of all course work for the degree, and be signed by the student's advisor, the Director of Undergraduate Studies, and the Dean before enrollment will be permitted at the beginning of the Junior Year. Completion of this form is intended to insure that the student has a clear plan of study, including all college and school requirements, before the beginning of the Junior Year.
APPLIED STUDY. A total of 24 to 32 hours of credit must be earned by BM in Performance candidates in their major performance medium, depending on the specific instrument (see the Sample Degree Plans). Twelve to sixteen hours must be earned at the upperclass level (Music 4455, Studio Instruction) in addition to one hour each of Music 3970 (Junior Recital) and Music 4970 (Senior Recital). A candidacy examination in the student's area of performance must be passed before entrance to the 4455-level applied course is approved. This examination is administered by the applied faculty, normally at the end of the Sophomore Year.
BM candidates in Composition, Music Theory, Music Education, or Music History must complete at least 8 hours at the underclass level (Music 2455) and 8 hours at the upperclass level (Music 3455).
REQUIRED DEGREE RECITALS. All degree recitals must receive approval by a Recital Hearing Committee consisting of all faculty members of the rank of Instructor or above in that particular applied area, plus one other applied faculty member from each of the other performance areas. The hearing should take place not later than two weeks prior to the scheduled date of the performance. A form entitled "Authorization to Present Required Degree Recital" must be completed and signed at the end of the hearing by a majority of all faculty members comprising the Hearing Committee. Copies of this completed form, serving as notice that the student has fulfilled this requirement, will be placed in the student's files in (1) the Office of the Dean of Arts and Science, (2) the Department of Music Office and (3) the office of the coordinator of the student's applied area.
Students giving degree recitals must be enrolled in Music 3455 or 4455 (applied music) as well as the appropriate recital course [Music 3970 (Junior Recital) or Music 4970 (Senior Recital)] during the semester when the recital is presented.
RECITAL SPECIFICATIONS. A Bachelor of Music candidate in Performance must present both a Junior Recital and a Senior Recital. Generally, each recital will be a formal, public solo recital. The Junior recital will range from 45 to 60 minutes in length, and the Senior recital will range from 50 to no more than 65 minutes. The program material for each recital should consist of selections from the following three groups of historical periods:
Renaissance, Baroque, and/or Classic
Romantic
Contemporary
In vocal recitals, literature in the Italian, French, German and English languages should be presented. Any deviation from the above guidelines must be approved by the Recital Hearing Committee.
GROUP PIANO REQUIREMENT (as of Fall 2006) for all BM Candidates in music except approved piano majors and concentrations.
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE. Students enrolling in college for the first time in the fall of 1996 or later must, within the last 45 hours of credit, take a course or be involved in a project that qualifies as a Capstone Experience, that is, an academic activity that integrates general knowledge with the specialized knowledge each student has developed in the major area, and, when appropriate, the related field (often called a "minor").
Music performance majors must enroll in Music 4970, Senior Recital, and present a recital with program notes and an oral presentation in performance class of the works to be performed. The recital will be supervised by the student's applied music teacher.
Music composition students must enroll in Music 4216, Composition VI, and complete a special project that integrates previous studies in music theory, composition, and music history. A written report including the methodology, rationale for the media, and stylistic aspects of this work must be presented during the winter semester of the senior year.
Music theory students must enroll in Music 3085, Problems in Music, and prepare a research paper based on individual projects. Some of the content would include research about historical information, bibliographic listings, and analysis or application of theoretical studies.
Students majoring in music history must enroll in Music 3085, Problems in Music, and prepare a research paper and various other projects concerning the methods and materials of music history under the guidance of a music history professor.
GRADES. For all BM candidates, courses completed with grades of D may not be included on the Area of Concentration without the approval of the advisor, Director of Undergraduate Studies or School Director, and the Dean; and the student must achieve an overall average of 2.0 in all of these courses taken for the baccalaureate degree.
ENSEMBLES. All BM candidates are required to participate in one major ensemble each semester. Woodwind, brass, percussion, and vocal performance majors must perform on their principal instrument.
Special Stipulations for Bachelor of Music in Theory and Bachelor of Music in Composition Programs
PROCEDURES FOR ADMISSION. Music majors pursuing a program for the Bachelor of Music degree in Theory or Composition must submit an application for official admission to the program toward the end of the sophomore year of study. The procedures for admission by MU and transfer students are outlined below.
File an application with the Coordinator of the Theory and Composition Area no later than April 1 of the Sophomore year.
Take an examination in:
Stylistic writing and analysis
Dictation
Sight singing
Keyboard
Students currently enrolled as undergraduates at the University of Missouri-Columbia may be exempt from the above exam providing that:
The application has been approved by the theory and composition staff.
A grade of B or better has been earned in all theory and composition courses taken in the School.
REQUIREMENTS. In addition to completing the course requirements for the Bachelor of Music degree in Theory or Composition, the student is required to:
Maintain a grade of B in all theory or composition courses.
Satisfactorily complete at least 8 hours of applied music study at the level of Music 3455.
Students failing to meet these standards may continue on a probationary basis only. Reinstatement as a theory or composition major can be accomplished only by the approval of the composition and theory staff.
SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON SECONDARY APPLIED STUDY. The theory and composition staff requires Theory or Composition majors to earn 4 hours of credit in the study of secondary instruments (or voice) in addition to the major performance area. This requirement shall be specifically 4 separate 1-hour courses of instruction in the different media at an appropriate level (generally Music 1435), and not the parallel Instrumental or Vocal Techniques classes. The applied music courses will be chosen in consultation with the theory/composition advisor.
Sample Four-Year Plans for the Bachelor of Music Degree
The following plans (all in Word) present suggested sequences. In some cases it may not be possible or advisable to follow the exact sequence as given, especially during the junior and senior years. The student should meet with his or her advisor early in the freshman year and consult periodically with them during their time at MU in order to plan carefully and avoid scheduling problems.
Contact
School of Music | 135 Fine Arts Building | Columbia, MO 65211-6120 phone: 573-882-2604 | fax: 573-884-7444 academic inquiries: willettd@missouri.edu | website issues: pricet@missouri.edu
