Program Overview
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Contact: Lei Weng, D.M.A., Head, Keyboard Area
Location: Frasier Hall 108
Telephone: 970.351.2993
Fax: 970.351.1923
Website: 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:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- 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 the 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: 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.
- The student must pass an upper-level qualifying examination, determined by the performance area, before they may enroll in the 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.
- 8 credits of 400-level of instruction (individual instruction) are required.
- 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 80 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 [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 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.
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 — 80 credits
Take all of the following (64 credits):
MUS 271: Take 8 credits
MUS 471: Take 8 credits
MUS 143: Satisfies LAC Arts & Humanities
MUS 243: Satisfies LAC Arts & Humanities
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 the examination on the first try, they may retake it once in the subsequent semester.
Ensembles (4 credits)
Choose from the following:
| MUS 228 | UNC Early Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 229 | UNC Contemporary Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 230 | Small Ensembles and Chamber Music | 1 |
| MUS 429 | UNC Contemporary Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 430 | Small Ensembles and Chamber Music | 1 |
| MUS 448 | UNC Early Music Ensemble | 1 |
Choose from the following music technology or music business courses (3-4 credits):
| MUS 209 | Introduction to Music Technology | 2 |
| MUS 211 | Careers in Music | 1 |
| MUS 313 | Digital Composition | 2 |
| MUS 332 | Beyond Talent: Career Development for Musicians | 2 |
| MUS 343 | Recording Techniques | 2 |
| MUS 460 | Survey of the Music Business | 2 |
Remaining Major (8-9 credits)
Take 8-9 credits from MUS-prefix coursework.
3. University-Wide Credits – 9 credits*
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 9 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.
Four Year Plan
This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.
Year 1 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 113 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 114 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing I | 1 |
| MUS 143 | Musical Styles and ContextLAA1 | 3 |
| MUS 271 | Individual Performance in Piano | 2 |
| | Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | Major Elective | 1 |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 115 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 116 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing II | 1 |
| MUS 271 | Individual Performance in Piano | 2 |
| | Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | Major Elective | 1 |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Year 2 – 33 credits
Fall Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 213 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUS 214 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing III | 1 |
| MUS 243 | History of Music ILAA1 | 3 |
| MUS 271 | Individual Performance in Piano | 2 |
| | Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | Major Elective | 2 |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 215 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUS 216 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV | 1 |
| MUS 244 | History of Music II | 3 |
| MUS 271 | Individual Performance in Piano | 2 |
| | Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | Major Elective | 3 |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Year 3 – 28-32 credits
Fall Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 302 | Form and Analysis | 3 |
| MUS 323 | Choral Techniques and Conducting | 2 |
| MUS 348 | Accompanying and Coaching I | 2 |
| | and | |
| MUS 352 | Piano Pedagogy I | 2 |
| | or | |
| MUS 415 | Keyboard Literature I | 2 |
| MUS 471 | Individual Instruction in Piano | 2 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13-15 |
Piano Core: Take MUS 348 and MUS 352 (offered Fall even years, e.g., Fall 2022) or MUS 415 (offered Fall odd years, e.g., Fall 2023)
Spring Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 349 | Accompanying and Coaching II | 2 |
| | and | |
| MUS 353 | Piano Pedagogy II | 2 |
| | or | |
| MUS 416 | Keyboard Literature II | 2 |
| MUS 471 | Individual Instruction in Piano | 2 |
| | Major Elective | 2 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15-17 |
Piano Core: Take MUS 349 and MUS 353 (offered Spring odd years, e.g., Spring 2023) or MUS 416 (offered Spring even years, e.g., Spring 2022)
Year 4 – 25-29 credits
Fall Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 348 | Accompanying and Coaching I | 2 |
| | and | |
| MUS 352 | Piano Pedagogy I | 2 |
| | or | |
| MUS 415 | Keyboard Literature I | 2 |
| MUS 403 | Acoustics of Music | 2 |
| MUS 471 | Individual Instruction in Piano | 2 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12-14 |
Piano Core: Take MUS 348 and MUS 352 (offered Fall even years, e.g., Fall 2022) or MUS 415 (offered Fall odd years, e.g., Fall 2023)
Spring Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 349 | Accompanying and Coaching II | 2 |
| | and | |
| MUS 353 | Piano Pedagogy II | 2 |
| | or | |
| MUS 416 | Keyboard Literature II | 2 |
| MUS 471 | Individual Instruction in Piano | 2 |
| | Major Elective | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13-15 |
Piano Core: Take MUS 349 and MUS 353 (offered Spring odd years, e.g., Spring 2023) or MUS 416 (offered Spring even years, e.g., Spring 2022)
Advising Notes –
- This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete your bachelor’s degree in 4 years. You will meet with the School of Music Retention Coordinator and your faculty advisor every semester to track your progress.