Program Overview

Music, BA

Introduction

The Music BA is a liberal arts degree in music without a concentration. This major includes core courses in music theory, aural skills, and musicology, along with private instruction, and ensemble performance. At 60 credits, this program offers flexibility to pursue an additional major or minor.

Student Resources

• Department website: Music
• Department advising: Undergraduate Academic Advisor
• Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample Careers:
  • Applied Instrumental or Voice Instructor
  • Arts Administration Manager
  • Music Reporter
  • Recreation Director
  • Publicist
  • Music Promoter
  • Church Music Director
  • Music Critic
  • Professional Musician

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process)

To begin a music major or minor and to enroll in core music classes, students must complete an Entrance Audition on their primary instrument or voice. New music majors are advised to audition the same year they apply to WWU. Generally, students are admitted for the fall term, mid-year applicants are also accepted depending on space availability.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for all courses in the music major and minor. A minimum GPA of 2.5 in music courses is required for graduation with a degree in music.

Requirements (60 credits)

Music Non-Course Requirements

• Keyboarding Proficiency: To fulfill the music degree program, all music majors must demonstrate keyboard proficiency. Proficiencies are assessed throughout the final quarter of the keyboarding sequence.

Music Core Sequences

The music core sequence starts with 100-level courses in theoretical and analytical skills (music theory), aural skills, keyboarding skills (at either the 100 or 200 level, depending on the student’s piano level). After that, students take 200-level courses in those subjects, followed by a year of 300-level musicology courses. This sequence starts each Fall quarter and repeats the next academic year.

• MUS 121A - Aural Skills I
• MUS 121B - Keyboard Skills I
• MUS 122 - Theoretical and Analytical Skills I
• MUS 123A - Aural Skills II
• MUS 123B - Keyboard Skills II
• MUS 124 - Theoretical and Analytical Skills II
• MUS 125A - Aural Skills III
• MUS 125B - Keyboard Skills III
• MUS 126 - Theoretical and Analytical Skills III
• MUS 221A - Aural Skills IV
• MUS 221B - Keyboard Skills IV
• MUS 222 - Theoretical and Analytical Skills IV
• MUS 223A - Aural Skills V
• MUS 223B - Keyboard Skills V
• MUS 224 - Theoretical and Analytical Skills V
• MUS 225A - Aural Skills VI
• MUS 225B - Keyboard Skills VI
• MUS 226 - Theoretical and Analytical Skills VI
• MUS 345 - Foundations in Musicology
• MUS 346 - Case Studies in Musicology I
• MUS 347 - Case Studies in Musicology II

Electives

In addition to the core requirements, BA students must complete the following courses as partial fulfillment of the degree program.

• 9 credits from the following:
  • MUS 105 - Survey of Popular and Rock Music
  • MUS 106 - Intro to Hip-Hop
  • MUS 107 - Introduction to Country Music
  • MUS 108 - Survey of Video Game Music
  • MUS 109 - Iconic Music in Iconic Films
  • MUS 110 - Electronic Music and Technology
  • MUS 202 - Jazz: An American Original
  • MUS 205 - Survey of World Musical Cultures
  • MUS 231 - Elementary Composition
  • MUS 301 - Music & Sustainability
  • MUS 302 - Music & Social Justice
  • MUS 322 - Form and Analysis: Music to 1900
  • MUS 324A - Modal Counterpoint
  • MUS 324B - Tonal Counterpoint
  • MUS 326 - Orchestration
  • MUS 331 - Composition
  • MUS 334 - Jazz Theory and Improvisation I
  • MUS 335 - Jazz Theory and Improvisation II
  • MUS 336 - Jazz Theory and Improvisation III
  • MUS 422 - Analytical Techniques: 20th-Century Music
  • MUS 424 - Free Counterpoint
  • MUS 431 - Composition
  • MUS 434 - Jazz Arranging and Composition I
  • MUS 435 - Jazz Arranging and Composition II
  • MUS 436 - Jazz Arranging III
  • MUS 442 - Seminar in Musicology

Primary Instrument Requirements

Brass

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)
  • MUS 214F - Applied Instruction: French Horn
  • MUS 214G - Applied Instruction: Trumpet
  • MUS 214H - Applied Instruction: Trombone
  • MUS 214I - Applied Instruction: Euphonium
  • MUS 214J - Applied Instruction: Tuba
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra

Guitar

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)
  • MUS 216 - Applied Instruction: Classical Guitar
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra
• Guitar Ensemble (minimum of 8 credits)
  • MUS 282 - Guitar Ensemble

Percussion

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)
  • MUS 214K - Applied Instruction: Percussion
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra

Piano

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)
  • MUS 212 - Applied Instruction: Piano
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra
• Piano Accompanying (minimum of 6 credits)
  • MUS 276 - Piano Accompanying
  • MUS 476 - Advanced Piano Accompanying

Strings

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)
  • MUS 213A - Applied Instruction: Violin
  • MUS 213B - Applied Instruction: Viola
  • MUS 213C - Applied Instruction: Cello
  • MUS 213D - Applied Instruction: Double Bass
  • MUS 213E - Applied Instruction: Harp
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra

Voice

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)
  • MUS 215 - Applied Instruction: Voice
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra

Woodwinds

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)
  • MUS 214A - Applied Instruction: Flute
  • MUS 214B - Applied Instruction: Oboe
  • MUS 214C - Applied Instruction: Clarinet
  • MUS 214D - Applied Instruction: Bassoon
  • MUS 214E - Applied Instruction: Saxophone
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement