Music, BA

Music (BA) Offered by the Department of Performing Arts, College of Arts and Sciences. American University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Admission to the Program Formal admission to the music major requires demonstrated ability through an audition and interview arranged with the department, preferably prior to beginning university studies. However, a student may enter as an intended major and audition/interview during the first year. Students will be accepted based on programmatic approval and written declaration of major. 120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better Completion of college writing requirement Completion of university mathematics requirement General Education Requirements A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline Major Requirements 53 credit hours with grades of C or better. Applied Music Lesson requirement: all students must successfully complete a minimum of four semesters of MUS-122 Private Instrumental or Vocal Study on a principal instrument or voice; music majors must enroll for a one-hour lesson each week and attend the weekly music performance lab (MUS-001). Jury examinations must be undertaken at the end of each semester except when the student is presenting a recital in MUS-334 or MUS-434. Performance Ensemble requirements: All students must successfully complete a minimum of four semesters of approved performance ensembles. Music majors must enroll in a performance ensemble in all semesters in which they are enrolled in applied music lessons. Music Prerequisite Courses These courses are waived for students with equivalent music experience: PERF-111 Class Piano Level I (1) PERF-112 Class Piano Level II (1) PERF-120 Music Fundamentals (3) with a grade of B or better Course Requirements Required PERF-124 Music Theory I (3) PERF-125 Music Theory II (3) PERF-227 Musicianship I (3) PERF-228 Musicianship II (3) PERF-322 History of Music I: From Antiquity to 1750 (3) PERF-323 History of Music II: From 1750 to the Present (3) PERF-324 Form and Analysis (3) PERF-325 Counterpoint (3) PERF-445 Senior Capstone (3) A minimum of 8 credit hours in MUS-122 Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (2) A minimum of 4 credit hours in performance ensembles: PERF-142 University Chorus (1) or PERF-542 University Chorus (1) PERF-143 University Singers (2) or PERF-543 University Singers (2) PERF-144 University Orchestra (1) or PERF-544 University Orchestra (1) PERF-145 Chamber Ensembles (1) or PERF-545 Chamber Ensembles (1) PERF-146 Jazz Orchestra (1) or PERF-546 Jazz Orchestra (1) PERF-147 Symphonic Band (1) PERF-161 Gospel Choir (1) or PERF-561 Gospel Choir (1) Area of Concentration A minimum of 14 credit hours in an area of concentration. Students may select from the following or design an individual area of concentration with approval of their academic advisor and the director of music. Examples of individually designed areas include music production, international arts management, and music criticism. Arts Management (15 credit hours) ACCT-240 Principles of Financial Accounting (3) ACCT-241 Principles of Managerial Accounting (3) or ECON-200 Microeconomics FA4 (3) ECON-100 Macroeconomics FA4 (3) MKTG-300 Principles of Marketing (3) PERF-470 Survey of Arts Management (3) Composition (16 credit hours) MUS-122 Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (2) : Composition three semesters for a total of 6 credit hours MUS-434 Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (4) : Senior Recital PERF-326 Orchestration (3) PERF-435 Topics in Music (3) (approved topic) Jazz Studies (16 credit hours) MUS-122 Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (2) three additional semesters for a total of 6 credit hours MUS-434 Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (4) : Senior Recital PERF-226 Improvisation (3) PERF-321 Evolution of Jazz and Blues (3) Performance (16 credit hours) Vocal Performance Note: German, Italian, or French language courses are recommended. MUS-122 Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (2) three additional semesters for a total of 6 credit hours MUS-434 Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (4) : Senior Recital PERF-251 Fundamentals of Acting I (3) PERF-356 Diction for Singers (3) Instrumental Performance MUS-122 Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (2) three additional semesters for a total of 6 credit hours MUS-434 Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (4) : Senior Recital PERF-435 Topics in Music (3) (approved topic) PERF-550 Pep Band (1) three semesters for a total of 3 credit hours History and Literature or Anthropology of Music (15 credit hours) Required HIST-100 History, Memory, and the Changeable Past FA2 (3) HIST-xxx or ANTH-xxx approved course (3) PERF-435 Topics in Music (3) (approved topic) (two courses for a total of 6 credit hours) PERF-491 Performing Arts: Internship (1-6) or PERF-435 Topics in Music (3) (approved topic) Senior thesis written project submitted for: PERF-445 Senior Capstone (3) : Music Theory (15 credit hours) Required PERF-326 Orchestration (3) PERF-435 Topics in Music (3) (approved topic) (three courses for a total of 9 credit hours) 3 credit hours in approved coursework Senior thesis written project submitted for: PERF-445 Senior Capstone (3) : Music Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degrees American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor's/master's programs. See Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degrees for more information.