Music

College of Liberal Arts
Department of Music
(907) 474-7555
www.uaf.edu/music/department/

B.A., B.M., M.A. Degrees

Minimum Requirements for Degrees: B.A.: 130 credits; B.M.: 120-144 credits

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The music curriculum is designed to satisfy cultural and professional objectives. The B.A. degree in music provides a broad, liberal education with a concentration in music. The B.M. degree in music education offers thorough preparation in teacher training with sufficient time to develop excellence in performance areas. The B.M. degree in performance offers intensive specialization for those desiring professional training in music performance.

Recitals and concerts provide students with a variety of musical experiences which expand their regular curriculum.

The music department of UAF is a full member of the National Association of Schools of Music, the national accrediting organization.

Major--B.A. Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements.
  2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements.
  3. Complete a piano placement test during the first week of classes.
  4. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
    1. Complete the following:
      MUS 131 and 132--Basic Theory--4 credits
      MUS 133 and 134--Basic Ear Training--4 credits
      MUS 161-462--Private Lessons (major area)**--8 credit
      MUS 190--Recital Attendance***--0 credits
      MUS 221 and 222--History of Music--6 credits
      MUS 231 and 232--Advanced Theory--4 credits
      MUS 233 and 234--Advanced Ear Training--2 credits
      MUS 253--Piano Proficiency--0 credits
      MUS 331--Form and Analysis--3 credits
      Large ensembles****--6 credits
    2. Complete 6 credits from the following:
      MUS 421W--Music before 1620--3 credits
      MUS 422W--Music in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries--3 credits
      MUS 423W--Music of the Nineteenth Century--3 credits
      MUS 424W--Music in the Twentieth Century--3 credits
  5. Minimum credits required--130 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** Competency level of MUS 362 must be achieved in one performance area.
*** Recital attendance (MUS 190) is required of music majors enrolled in private lessons (MUS 161 - 462). MUS 190 must be successfully completed eight times to meet the degree requirements.
**** Pianists may substitute up to 2 credits of MUS 307--Chamber Music (piano accompanying) in place of enrollment in large ensemble organizations.
Note: Additional information applies to this degree. See "Notes for All Undergraduate Music Degrees" in the notes following the Music--B.M. degree (Music Education).

Major--B.M. Degree (Performance)

  1. Complete the following B.M. degree admission requirement:
    1. Audition on the major instrument.
  2. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, voice performance majors must complete one year of language study. Selection of the language will be made in consultation with the voice advisor.)
  3. Complete the following B.M. degree requirement: 3 credits of mathematics, computer science or statistics.
  4. Complete a piano placement test during the first week of classes.
  5. Complete the following degree and program (major) requirements:*
    1. Complete the following:
      MUS 161-462--Private Lessons (major)--24 credits
      MUS 131 and 132--Basic Theory--4 credits
      MUS 133 and 134--Basic Ear Training--4 credits
      MUS 221 and 222--History of Music--6 credits
      MUS 231 and 232--Advanced Theory--4 credits
      MUS 233 and 234--Advanced Ear Training--2 credits
      MUS 331--Form and Analysis--3 credits
      MUS 351O--Conducting--3 credits
      MUS 390--Junior Recital--0 credits
      Large ensembles**--8 credits
      MUS 190--Recital Attendance***--0 credits
      MUS 253--Piano Proficiency--0 credits
      MUS 490--Senior Recital--0 credits
    2. Complete 6 credits from the following:
      MUS 332--Introduction to Computer-based Music Technology--3 credits
      MUS 431--Counterpoint--3 credits
      MUS 432--Orchestration and Arranging--3 credits
      MUS 433--Seminar in Musical Composition--3 credits
      MUS 434--Advanced Harmonic Analysis--3 credits
    3. Complete 6 credits from the following:
      MUS 421W--Music before 1620--3 credits
      MUS 422W--Music in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries--3 credits
      MUS 423W--Music of the Nineteenth Century--3 credits
      MUS 424W--Music in the Twentieth Century--3 credits
    4. Complete 12 credits from the following secondary area:****
      MUS 124--Music in World Cultures--3 credits
      MUS 153--Functional Piano--1 credit
      MUS 161-162, 261-262, 361-362, 461-462--Private Lessons (secondary performance area)--2 or 4 credits
      MUS 223--Alaska Native Music--3 credits
      MUS 253--Piano Proficiency--0 credits
      MUS 307--Chamber Music--1 credit
      MUS 313--Opera Workshop--1-3 credits
      MUS 317--Arctic Chamber Orchestra--1 credit
      MUS 493--Special Topics--1-6 credits
  6. Minimum credits required--120-121 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** MUS 101, 203, 205, 207 or 211. Wind and percussion instrumentalists are required to take a minimum of 4 credits in MUS 205 (Wind Ensemble). Piano majors may substitute up to 2 credits of MUS 307 (Piano Accompanying).
*** Recital attendance (MUS 190) is required of music majors enrolled in private lessons (MUS 161-462). MUS 190 must be successfully completed eight times to meet the degree requirements.
**** Courses from 5b and 5c not already applied to program requirements may also meet this requirement.
Note: MUS 493 is repeatable up to 6 credits.
Note: MUS 153, 307, 313, 317 are repeatable for credit.
Note: MUS 161-162, 261-262, 361-362, 461-462 are repeatable up to 6 credits.
Note: Additional information applies to this degree. See "Notes for All Undergraduate Music Degrees" in the notes following the Music--B.M. degree (Music Education).

Major--B.M. Degree (Music Education)

Concentrations: Elementary, Secondary, K-12

  1. Complete the following B.M. degree admission requirement:
    1. Audition on the major instrument.
  2. Complete the general university requirements.
  3. Complete the following B.M. degree requirement: 3 credits of mathematics, computer science or statistics.
  4. Complete a piano placement test during the first week of classes.
  5. Complete the following degree and program (major) requirements:*
    Large ensembles**--8 credits
    MUS 131 and 132--Basic Theory--4 credits
    MUS 133 and 134--Basic Ear Training--4 credits
    MUS 161-461--Private Lessons (major)--14 credits
    MUS 190--Recital Attendance***--0 credits
    MUS 221 and 222--History of Music--6 credits
    MUS 231 and 232--Advanced Theory--4 credits
    MUS 233 and 234--Advanced Ear Training--2 credits
    MUS 253--Piano Proficiency--0 credits
    MUED 315--Music Methods and Techniques--10 credits
    MUS 331--Form and Analysis--3 credits
    MUS 351O--Conducting--3 credits
    MUS 390--Junior Recital--0 credits
    MUS 432--Orchestration and Arranging--3 credits
  6. Complete the following education requirements:*
    1. Contact the School of Education for application procedures for admission to the teacher education program.****
    2. Complete the following:
      ED 201--Introduction to Education--3 credits
      ED 299--Practicum in Education--3 credits
      ED 330--Assessment of Learning (3)
           or ED 350--Communication in Cross-Cultural Classrooms (3)--3 credits
      PSY 240--Lifespan Developmental Psychology--3 credits
    3. Complete an Alaska Studies elective*****--3 credits
    4. Complete a multicultural elective*****--3 credits
  7. Complete one of the following concentrations:*
    Elementary
    1. Complete the following:
      MUED 309--Elementary School Music Methods--3 credits
      ED 452O--Elementary Internship--3-12 credits
    2. Minimum credits required--138 credits
    Secondary
    1. Complete the following:
      MUED 405W--Secondary School Music Methods--3 credits
      ED 453O--Secondary Internship--3-12 credits
    2. Minimum credits required--138 credits
    K-12
    1. Complete the following:
      MUED 309--Elementary School Music Methods--3 credits
      MUED 405W--Secondary School Music Methods--3 credits
      ED 454O--Student Teaching K-12--15 credits
    2. Minimum credits required--144 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** MUS 101, 203, 205, 207 or 211. Wind and percussion instrumentalists are required to take a minimum of 4 credits in MUS 205--Wind Ensemble. Piano majors may substitute up to 2 credits of MUS 307--Piano Accompanying
*** Recital attendance (MUS 190) is required of music majors enrolled in private lessons (MUS 161-462). MUS 190 must be successfully completed eight times to meet degree requirements.
**** Music education majors must have completed the necessary prerequisites and have been admitted to the teacher education program prior to acceptance for placement in student teaching.
***** Contact the Office of Certification and Advising (School of Education) for a list of approved courses that meet this requirement.
Note: Additional information applies to this degree. See "Notes for All Undergraduate Music Degrees" in the notes following the Music--B.M. degree (Music Education) degree.

Notes for All Undergraduate Music Degrees

Note: The various music organizations maintained by the department offer participation for students in all academic divisions of the university. Music majors will be required to earn a minimum of 8 credits in large ensembles: MUS 101 (University Chorus), MUS 203 (Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra), MUS 205 (Wind Ensemble), MUS 207 (UAF Jazz Band), or MUS 211 (Choir of the North). Students must be enrolled in one large ensemble during each semester of attendance at UAF.

Note: Each student (major or non-major) who enrolls in private applied or class lessons (excluding MUS 151K--Class Piano, MUS 151M--Class Voice, and MUS 151S--Class Guitar) must be concurrently enrolled in a large or small ensemble.

Note: Attendance at recitals and concerts provides students with a variety of musical experiences which expand their regular curriculum; therefore, attendance is mandatory for all majors. All applied music students are expected to perform in student recitals during each semester of study.

Note: At the end of the sophomore year, all music majors must demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency of performance in their applied major in order to advance to upper-division courses in music. A student may elect to continue study at the 200-level to prepare to pass requirements for admission to upper-division study.

Note: A piano proficiency jury examination must be successfully completed by the end of the student's second year in the program. See music department handbook for details.

Note: Students who desire to enroll in music theory or ear training courses will complete a placement examination and be allowed to enter at their appropriate level.

Minor

  1. Complete one of the following options:
    Option A
    1. Complete the following:
      Music theory, history and appreciation courses*--12 credits
    2. Complete 2 credits from the following:
      MUS 101, 203, 205, 211--2 credits
    3. Complete 4 credits from the following:
      MUS 151, 153, 161-462 (private lessons)--4 credits
    4. Minimum credits required--18 credits
    Option B
    1. Complete 4 credits from the following:
      MUS 101, 203, 205, 211, 307 (all sections) and MUS 319--4 credits
    2. Complete 8 credits from the following:
      MUS 161, 162, 261, 262 and 361--8 credits
    3. Complete 6 credits from the following:
      MUS 103, 123, 124, 131, 132, 221, 222 and 223--6 credits
    4. Minimum credits required--18 credits

* Courses to be selected with approval of department head.