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**Review** Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

Music B.M. – Vocal Performance Concentration

Program Overview

College of Performing and Visual Arts

Contact: Dr. Mary Kathryn Brewer or Dr. Charles Moore, Voice Area Heads

Location: Frasier Hall 108

Telephone: 970-351-2993

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:

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

Program Description:

The Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance is designed to support development of skills, concepts, and sensitivity essential to a professional vocal musician. It also prepares students for graduate study in music.

Program Admission Requirements:

Students wishing to pursue the Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance music are required to audition for admission to the School of Music. Current School of Music admission guidelines and audition requirements are available at: arts.unco.edu/music/apply/

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.
  • 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.
  • The student must pass an upper-level qualifying examination 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 attempt, 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.
  • Students enrolled in lessons must enroll in a Major Music Organization.
  • After students have fulfilled the requirements for private instruction, additional private instruction lessons will be at the discretion of the studio teacher and School Director.
  • A half Junior Recital and full Senior Recital are required.
  • Placement in MUS 285/MUS 485 or MUS 286/MUS 486 is by audition and advisement. Four semesters 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 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 [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.

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 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 113Music Theory I

3

MUS 114Aural Skills and Sight Singing I

1

MUS 115Music Theory II

3

MUS 116Aural Skills and Sight Singing II

1

MUS 143Musical Styles and ContextLAA1

3

MUS 160Class Piano I

1

MUS 161Class Piano II

1

MUS 213Music Theory III

3

MUS 214Aural Skills and Sight Singing III

1

MUS 215Music Theory IV

3

MUS 216Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV

1

MUS 243History of Music ILAA1

3

MUS 244History of Music II

3

MUS 260Class Piano III

1

MUS 270Individual Instruction in Voice

2

MUS 302Form and Analysis

3

MUS 323Choral Techniques and Conducting

2

MUS 410Vocal Pedagogy

2

MUS 444English Diction

1

MUS 445German Diction

1

MUS 446French Diction

1

MUS 447Italian Diction

1

MUS 470Continuing Individual Instruction in Voice

2

Major Musical Organization

8

MUS 100: Take 8 semesters

MUS 143: Satisfies LAC Arts & Humanities

MUS 243: Satisfies LAC Arts & Humanities

MUS 270: Take 8 credits

MUS 470: Take 8 credits

Choose six credits from the following courses:

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

MUS 285Performance in Opera Theatre

1

MUS 286Scene Studies in Opera

1

MUS 329Stage Techniques for Singers

2

MUS 334Acting for Singers

2

MUS 485Performance in Opera Theatre

1

MUS 486Scene Studies in Opera

1

Take 9 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.

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 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 113Music Theory I

3

MUS 114Aural Skills and Sight Singing I

1

MUS 160Class Piano I

1

MUS 270Individual Instruction in Voice

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

University-Wide Elective

2

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 115Music Theory II

3

MUS 116Aural Skills and Sight Singing II

1

MUS 143Musical Styles and ContextLAA1

3

MUS 161Class Piano II

1

MUS 270Individual Instruction in Voice

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Year 2 – 29-33 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 213Music Theory III

3

MUS 214Aural Skills and Sight Singing III

1

MUS 243History of Music ILAA1

3

MUS 260Class Piano III

1

MUS 270Individual Instruction in Voice

2

Major Musical Organization

1

World Language

3-5

Choose one of the following courses:

MUS 444English Diction

1

MUS 445German Diction

1

MUS 446French Diction

1

MUS 447Italian Diction

1

Total Credit Hours:15-17

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 215Music Theory IV

3

MUS 216Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV

1

MUS 244History of Music II

3

MUS 270Individual Instruction in Voice

2

Major Musical Organization

1

World Language

3-5

Choose one of the following courses:

MUS 444English Diction

1

MUS 445German Diction

1

MUS 446French Diction

1

MUS 447Italian Diction

1

Total Credit Hours:14-16

Year 3 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 302Form and Analysis

3

MUS 410Vocal Pedagogy

2

MUS 470Continuing Individual Instruction in Voice

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Major Elective

1

Major Elective

4

Choose one of the following courses:

MUS 444English Diction

1

MUS 445German Diction

1

MUS 446French Diction

1

MUS 447Italian Diction

1

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 470Continuing Individual Instruction in Voice

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Major Elective

1

Major Elective

4

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

4

Choose one of the following courses:

MUS 444English Diction

1

MUS 445German Diction

1

MUS 446French Diction

1

MUS 447Italian Diction

1

Total Credit Hours:16

Year 4 – 28 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 323Choral Techniques and Conducting

2

MUS 470Continuing Individual Instruction in Voice

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Major Elective

2

Major Elective

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

University-Wide Elective

1

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 470Continuing Individual Instruction in Voice

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Major Elective

2

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:14

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.

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