Music B.M. – Vocal Performance Emphasis

College of Performing and Visual Arts

Contact: Melissa Malde, D.M.A., Head, Voice Area

Location: Frasier Hall 108

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Website: www.arts.unco.edu/music

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
2. Required Major Credits
3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

The Bachelor of Music is a professional degree in music. It supports the development of skills, concepts, and sensitivity essential to a professional musician. It also prepares students for advanced study in music. 

Program Admission Requirements:

• Students planning to major in music are required to submit an application for admission to the School of Music. An audition is required for all applicants to music degree programs; for some graduate programs, an interview may be conducted in lieu of an audition. Current School of Music admission guidelines and audition requirements are available at: http://arts.unco.edu/music/apply/
• Students meeting the general admission requirements of the University may be accepted as undeclared majors. However, students may only be designated as music majors upon successful completion of the School of Music application and audition process.
• Minimum Proficiencies. Minimum proficiency in music fundamentals and ear training as assessed by the Music Theory Placement Exam to enter MUS 113/114.

Program Requirements:

• In all MUS courses, a student must receive C- or better to fulfill degree requirements.
• Any student receiving lower than a C- in a MUS prefix class for the second time in the same class will be placed on probation. If the student receives lower than a C- a third time in the same class, the student will be removed from the major.
• Students are required to take MUS 100 8 times, based on degree. This is not tied to lessons.
• After students have fulfilled the requirements for applied lessons in their degree, additional applied lessons will be at the discretion of the studio teacher and Director.
• All students in applied lessons must enroll in a major ensemble. Students that do not have a major ensemble required for the duration of the degree program should follow their degree requirements.
• Any student receiving a grade below a C- in applied lessons will be placed on probation. A second semester of a grade below a C- in applied lessons will result, upon consent from the area, in removal from the major.
• A half Junior Recital and full Senior Recital are required for all emphasis.
• Placement in MUS 285/MUS 485 or MUS 286/MUS 486 is by audition and advisement. Four semesters are required.
• 8 credits of 400-level instruction (Individual Instruction) are required.
• The student must pass an upper-level qualifying examination, determined by the performance area, before they may enroll in 400-level instruction. This examination is to be taken by the end of the fourth semester of 200-level instruction. If the student does not pass this examination on the first try, they may retake it once in the subsequent semester. If the student does not pass a second time, they will be removed from the degree.
• A minimum of 30 non-MUS prefix credits must be taken for the degree.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits

To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 84-88 required major credits.  

Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.  

Written Communication — 6 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Written Communication courses

Mathematics — 3 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Mathematics courses

Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies, and International Studies — 15 credits

To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.  

MUS 143: Musical Styles and Context, and MUS 243: History of Music 1 are recommended to fulfill Arts & Humanities requirements and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements. 

Note that 200-level Foreign Language courses double count for an LAC requirement in Arts & Humanities and carry either an IS or an MS designation). 

See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses

Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.  

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 84-88 credits

Take all of the following courses:

MUS 100	Recitals, Concerts and Productions	0
MUS 113	Music Theory I	3
MUS 114	Aural Skills and Sight Singing I	1
MUS 115	Music Theory II	3
MUS 116	Aural Skills and Sight Singing II	1
MUS 143	Musical Styles and ContextLAA1	3
MUS 160	Class Piano I	1
MUS 161	Class Piano II	1
MUS 170	Performance Study	1
MUS 213	Music Theory III	3
MUS 214	Aural Skills and Sight Singing III	1
MUS 215	Music Theory IV	3
MUS 216	Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV	1
MUS 243	History of Music ILAA1	3
MUS 244	History of Music II	3
MUS 260	Class Piano III	1
MUS 270	Individual Performance in Voice	2
MUS 302	Form and Analysis	3
MUS 323	Choral Techniques and Conducting	2
MUS 410	Vocal Pedagogy	2
MUS 444	English Diction	1
MUS 445	German Diction	1
MUS 446	French Diction	1
MUS 447	Italian Diction	1
MUS 470	Individual Instruction in Voice	2
	Major Musical Organization	8

MUS 170: Take 2 credits

MUS 270: Take 4 credits

MUS 470: Take 8 credits

MUS 143: Satisfies LAC Arts & Humanities

MUS 243: Satisfies LAC Arts & Humanities

Choose six credits from the following courses:

(Selected in consultation with advisor) (Placement is by audition):

MUS 285	Performance in Opera Theatre	1
MUS 286	Scene Studies in Opera	1
MUS 329	Stage Techniques for Singers	2
MUS 334	Acting for Singers	2
MUS 485	Performance in Opera Theatre	1
MUS 486	Scene Studies in Opera	1

Take 11 credits of MUS prefix courses

Take 6-10 credits of foreign language

Take two semesters of a spoken foreign language for a total of 6-10 credits (e.g., Chinese, French, German, Japanese or Spanish). Note that 200-level Foreign Language courses double count for an LAC requirement in Arts & Humanities and carry either an IS or an MS designation). 

3. University-Wide Credits — 1-5 credits*

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 1-5 credits.

*Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.