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:

  1. completion of the University Core Curriculum (43-46)1
  2. 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. 

Music History and Culture Courses
MUSC 201MUSIC IN THE UNITED STATES3
or MUSC 202 MUSIC CULTURES OF THE WORLD
MUSC 303HISTORY OF MUSIC IN THE EUROPEAN CLASSICAL TRADITION3
Select two of the following 400-level music history and culture courses6
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 131MUSIC THEORY AND MUSICIANSHIP I2
MUSC 132MUSIC THEORY II2
MUSC 134MUSICIANSHIP II2
MUSC 231MUSIC THEORY III2
MUSC 233MUSICIANSHIP III2
MUSC 232MUSIC THEORY IV2
MUSC 287CREATIVE MUSIC TECHNOLOGY3
Applied Music
MUSA xxxApplied Lessons in a single medium3
MUSA xxxApplied Lessons in any medium5
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 190PIANO CLASS I1
Capstone
Capstone Experience, to be selected from the following3
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 Units43

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 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Primary Performance Area1MUSA 1901
MUSC 1312MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Primary Performance Area1
Core 1 (or Core 2)3MUSC 1322
Core 63MUSC 1342
Elective (outside music)3Core 2 (or Core 1)3
Elective (outside music)3Core 33
 Core 53
 15 15
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Primary Performance Area1MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Any Medium 1
MUSA xxx: Ensemble1MUSC 2322
MUSC 201 (Core 11)3MUSC 3033
or
Core 12 (or Core 11)3
MUSC 202 (Core 12)
Core 143
MUSC 2312Elective3
MUSC 2332 
MUSC 287 (Core 4)3 
Core 133 
 15 15
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Any Medium 1MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Any Medium 1
MUSA xxx: Ensemble1Core 84
MUSC xxx (400-level Music History/Culture Course)3Elective3
Core 74Elective (outside music)3
Core 93Elective (outside music)3
Core 103Elective3
 15 17
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Any Medium 1MUSA xxx: Applied Lesson in Any Medium 1
MUSA xxx: Ensemble1MUSA xxx: Ensemble1
MUSC xxx (400-level Music History/Culture Course)3MUSC 495, MUSA 497, or MUSC 4973
Elective (outside music)3Elective (outside music)3
Elective (outside music)3Elective (outside music)3
Elective3Elective (outside music)3
 14 14
Total Units 120
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Students will demonstrate an advanced knowledge and understanding of music and developing research skills appropriate fo reexamining and writing about music effectively.