Major in Music - Bachelor of Science Degree
The Bachelor of Science in Music is designed for students seeking a liberal arts degree in music. The curriculum of this program is designed to ensure that students receive a solid grounding in the fundamentals of music theory and history, take individual instruction in a primary applied area and participate in musical ensembles appropriate to their area of musical study. The primary applied area may be in performance, jazz/commercial performance, composition, jazz/commercial composition or music technology. Students must pass an audition/interview in order to be accepted into an applied area. Total minimum units required to complete the Bachelor of Science degree in Music are 120. Required Music content consists of 43 units. Students in this major must complete a minimum of 24 upper-level (300-400) units in MUSC (Music), Music Applied (MUSA), and/or Music Education (MUED) courses toward the major at Towson University. The remaining units include TU Core Curriculum requirements and allow ample space for completing a double major or a minor area of study.
All students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in Music must take one course in one of the arts outside of music (visual arts, theater, or dance) either within their Core Curriculum units or within their elective units.
Students must also undertake one of the following 3-unit capstone experiences demonstrating mastery of some area of their study. Selection of this capstone experience and approval by appropriate faculty must be completed by the end of the junior year. Students must have completed all required courses through the 300 level before enrolling in the capstone experience.
Recital
Students who choose the senior recital option must complete at least 2 units of applied music lessons at the upper-division level and complete MUSA 497. Students must be enrolled for applied lessons concurrently with Senior Recital. Approval of the recital option is granted by the faculty at the time of the upper-division jury.
Senior Thesis/Project
Students who choose the senior thesis/project option must have passed an advanced writing course (University Core 9) with the grade of B or higher and complete MUSC 495. The proposal for the thesis/project must be approved by the department chair, who will assign a principal faculty adviser by the end of the second term of the junior year. The completed thesis/project must be juried by at least two faculty members.
Internship in Music Industry
Students who choose the internship option in an appropriate professional field such as music business, music production or arts administration, must complete MUSC 497. Students must have a 2.75 general GPA and a 2.50 in music courses to enroll in MUSC 497. Internships must be approved by the department internship coordinator and the Career Center internship coordinator by the end of the junior year.
Screening Criteria for the Music Majors
Towson University and all degree programs in Music are fully accredited with the National Association of Schools of Music and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
The Music major is a screened major. Admission to the Music major is granted only by the department, contingent upon completion of a Department of Music application and a performance audition. Admission to TU does not guarantee acceptance as a Music major or minor. Further, continuance in the major is contingent on a number of evaluative processes established by the department. Proper course planning and regular meetings with advisers are key to timely completion of the programs in four years. Students are responsible for determining the progress and completion of their degree programs.
This is a screened program.
Music Major Requirements
Total minimum units required to complete the Bachelor of Science degree in Music are 120. Required Music content consists of 43 units. Students in this major must complete a minimum of 24 upper-level (300-400) units in MUSC (Music), Music Applied (MUSA), and/or Music Education (MUED) courses toward the major at Towson University. The remaining 77 units are satisfied by:
- completion of the University Core Curriculum (43-46)1
- completion of the remaining units with courses outside of Music but which may include other CORE courses completed beyond the University Core requirement. (34-31).
- 1
Up to four CORE classes that are also requirements of the B.S. in Music may be used to fulfill the University Core Curriculum requirement.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Music History and Culture Courses | ||
| MUSC 201 | MUSIC IN THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| or MUSC 202 | MUSIC CULTURES OF THE WORLD | |
| MUSC 303 | HISTORY OF MUSIC IN THE EUROPEAN CLASSICAL TRADITION | 3 |
| Select two of the following 400-level music history and culture courses | 6 | |
| ADVANCED MUSIC HISTORY | ||
| CONTEMPORARY MUSIC | ||
| SURVEY OF OPERA | ||
| SYMPHONIC LITERATURE | ||
| MUSIC IN THE U.S. | ||
| HISTORY OF MUSIC FOR FILM AND MEDIA | ||
| JAZZ HISTORY | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN MUSIC HISTORY AND CULTURE | ||
| Music Theory Courses | ||
| MUSC 131 | MUSIC THEORY AND MUSICIANSHIP I | 2 |
| MUSC 132 | MUSIC THEORY II | 2 |
| MUSC 134 | MUSICIANSHIP II | 2 |
| MUSC 231 | MUSIC THEORY III | 2 |
| MUSC 233 | MUSICIANSHIP III | 2 |
| MUSC 232 | MUSIC THEORY IV | 2 |
| MUSC 287 | CREATIVE MUSIC TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| Applied Music | ||
| MUSA xxx | Applied Lessons in a single medium | 3 |
| MUSA xxx | Applied Lessons in any medium | 5 |
| MUSA xxx | Ensembles: Four terms of any ensemble, one of which must include World Music Ensemble unless the student has completed a 3-unit global perspectives in music (MUSC) course. | 4 |
| MUSA 190 | PIANO CLASS I | 1 |
| Capstone | ||
| Capstone Experience, to be selected from the following | 3 | |
| SENIOR THESIS/PROJECT IN MUSIC | ||
| INTERNSHIP IN MUSIC INDUSTRY | ||
| SENIOR RECITAL FOR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MUSIC DEGREE (Students enroll in senior recital for 1 unit and complete 2 additional units of applied lessons beyond the above stated requirement.) | ||
| Total Units | 43 | |
Sample Four-Year Plan
The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Primary Performance Area | 1 | MUSA 190 | 1 |
| MUSC 131 | 2 | MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Primary Performance Area | 1 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | MUSC 132 | 2 |
| Core 6 | 3 | MUSC 134 | 2 |
| Elective (outside music) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Elective (outside music) | 3 | Core 3 | 3 |
| Core 5 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Primary Performance Area | 1 | MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Any Medium | 1 |
| MUSA xxx: Ensemble | 1 | MUSC 232 | 2 |
| MUSC 201 (Core 11) | 3 | MUSC 303 | 3 |
or | Core 12 (or Core 11) | 3 | |
MUSC 202 (Core 12) | Core 14 | 3 | |
| MUSC 231 | 2 | Elective | 3 |
| MUSC 233 | 2 | ||
| MUSC 287 (Core 4) | 3 | ||
| Core 13 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Any Medium | 1 | MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Any Medium | 1 |
| MUSA xxx: Ensemble | 1 | Core 8 | 4 |
| MUSC xxx (400-level Music History/Culture Course) | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Core 7 | 4 | Elective (outside music) | 3 |
| Core 9 | 3 | Elective (outside music) | 3 |
| Core 10 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Any Medium | 1 | MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Any Medium | 1 |
| MUSA xxx: Ensemble | 1 | MUSA xxx: Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC xxx (400-level Music History/Culture Course) | 3 | MUSC 495, MUSA 497, or MUSC 497 | 3 |
| Elective (outside music) | 3 | Elective (outside music) | 3 |
| Elective (outside music) | 3 | Elective (outside music) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective (outside music) | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Total Units 120 | |||
- Students will demonstrate technical mastery of required tasks in the senior recital/event (performance, composition, or music technology), the senior thesis/project, or music internship.
- Students will demonstrate appropriate cultural contexts with the required tasks in the senior recital/event (performance, composition, or music technology), the senior thesis/project, or music internship.
- Students will demonstrate an advanced knowledge and understanding of music and developing research skills appropriate fo reexamining and writing about music effectively.