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Music - B.M. Program Requirements PDFDownload to print

Type Legend: DD Diversity–Domestic; DG Diversity–Global; ELR Experiential Learning; KAD Kent Core Additional; KBS Kent Core Basic Sciences; KCM Kent Core Composition; KFA Kent Core Fine Arts: KHU Kent Core Humanities; KMC Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning; KSS Kent Core Social Sciences; WIC Writing Intensive

Please read the sections in the University Catalog on Kent Core, diversity, writing-intensive and the experiential learning requirements.

I. DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE (1 credit)
Type Course Title Credits
  US 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience 1
II. MAJOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (37-38 credits)Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
  MUS 11121 Theory 1 3
    11122 Theory 1 3
    21121 Music Theory to 1750 1 3
    21122 Music Theory, 1750-1900 1 3
KFA   22111 The Understanding of Music (music major section) 3
KFA
DG
  22121 Music As a World Phenomenon (music major section) 3
    31121 Western Music Since 1900 2
    32211 Music History to 1750 3
WIC   32212 Music History, 1750-1900 2 3
    34111 Elementary Conducting 2
  Choose from the following: Major Ensemble 3 8
  MUS 45111 University Choir (1)  
    45121 Kent Chorus (1)  
    45141 Kent State University Chorale (1)  
    45142 Men's Chorus (1)  
    45143 Women's Chorus (1)  
    45212 Orchestra (1)  
    45221 Concert Band (1)  
    45223 Wind Ensemble (1)  
  Choose from the following: 1-2
  MUS 41341 Jazz Improvisation I (2)  
    48512 Improvisation (1)  
III. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (30 credits)  
Type Course Title Credits
  Kent Core Composition 6
  Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3-5
  Kent Core Humanities 3
  Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 6
  Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) 6-7
  Kent Core Additional 6
IV. CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (56-57 credits) 
  Composition (56-57)
  Instrumental (56-57)
  Piano Performance (56-57)
  Voice Performance (57)
MINIMUM TOTAL  125

Important Notes:

  • Minimum C (2.000) grade required in all music courses.
  • Students who begin their music or music education major program as first semester freshmen are required to attend a minimum of 84 concerts or recitals.  Music or music education majors who transfer from a non-music program or university must attend an average of 10 music recitals or concerts for semesters of full time enrollment.
  • To graduate from Kent State University with the degree B.M. in music, it is required that students take a major field achievement test in music history and music theory during their senior year.  Specific score level achievement is not required.
  • Students who pass 15 credits of non-remedial academic coursework each fall and spring semester and the 1-credit First Year Experience course will accumulate 121 credits in four years. This major requires 125 credits for graduation. Students can stay on track for graduation by:
    • Declaring their major as freshmen and completing all courses in sequence (bear in mind that switching majors may cause a delay in graduation);
    • Prioritizing required courses above electives;
    • Meeting regularly with their academic advisors to stay on track;
    • Passing each required course the first time attempted and maintaining the minimal GPA for the major;
    • Successfully completing more than 15 credit hours of relevant coursework (field-based work, internship) during academic semesters; and/or
    • Completing relevant coursework (field-based work, internship) during summer sessions.

1. A minimum 3.000 GPA is required in music theory courses (MUS 11121, 11122, 21121, 21122) in the Composition concentration.
2. A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
3. Major ensemble (8 semesters and 8 credit hours): Students must enroll in a major ensemble appropriate to their major performance area each semester they are registered full time as music majors, until the semester requirement is complete. Piano performance majors satisfy the eight-semester ensemble requirement as follows: 4 credit hours of MUS 45321 Accompanying, 2 credit hours of MUS 45311 Chamber Music and 2 credit hours selected from chamber music or a major vocal or instrumental ensemble or 1 credit hour selected from chamber music or a major vocal or instrumental ensemble and DAN 28010 Dance Accompaniment Laboratory I (2 credit hours). Composition majors may use MUS 45271 New Music Ensemble for up to 4 semesters of the 8 semester requirement.

 

Composition Concentration

For semester-by-semester course sequencing for this program, view the 2014-2015 Roadmap.
 

 I. CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (53-54 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
  MUS 31211 Composition 8
    41131 Keyboard Harmony 1 3
    41141 Sixteenth-Century Counterpoint 3
    41151 Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint 1 3
    41161 Advanced Musical Analysis 3
    41211 Composition 8
ELR   41299 Senior Project: Music Composition 2
    41321 Orchestration 3
    48251 Pedagogy of Music Theory 1 2
    44111
44121
Choral Conducting and Arranging (3)
or Instrumental Conducting and Arranging (3)
3
    Music Elective 2 3-4
  Choose from the following: 36xxx Applied Music 3 12
  MUS 3/46111 Applied Music—Piano (2)  
    3/46311 Applied Music—Voice (2)  
    3/46411 Applied Music—Violin (2)  
    3/46412 Applied Music—Viola (2)  
    3/46413 Applied Music—Cello (2)  
    3/46414 Applied Music—Double Bass (2)  
    3/46511 Applied Music—Flute (2)  
    3/46512 Applied Music—Oboe (2)  
    3/46513 Applied Music—Clarinet(2)  
    3/46514 Applied Music—Bassoon (2)  
    3/46515 Applied Music—Saxophone (2)  
    3/46611 Applied Music—Trumpet (2)  
    3/46612 Applied Music—Horn (2)  
    3/46613 Applied Music—Trombone (2)  
    3/46614 Applied Music—Euphonium (2)  
    3/46615 Applied Music—Tuba (2)  
    3/46711 Applied Music—Percussion(2)  
I. ADDITIONAL CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (3 credits)
Type Course Title Credits
  General Elective (lower or upper-division) 3
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 56-57

1. In addition to completing the required courses, students in the music composition concentration must do the following prior to taking required courses, MUS 41131, 41151 and 48251: 1). pass a theory proficiency exam, incorporating score reading, sight singing, keyboard harmony and written analysis, and 2). receive approval from the theory and composition faculty based on a portfolio of compositions.
2. If MUS 48512 is taken, take 4 credits of MUS electives.
3. Applied music (6 semesters and 12 credit hours): Students whose main instrument is piano may fulfill this requirement with piano only or can include one or two semesters with a different instrument. Students whose main instrument is not piano must take two semesters of Applied Music-Piano.  A piano placement test  or piano audition is required and additional remedial courses may be necessary. Students must meet the 46000-entry-level prior to graduation.

 

Instrumental Concentration

For semester-by-semester course sequencing for this program, view the 2014-2015 Roadmap.
 

 CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (53-54 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
  MUS 44121 Instrumental Conducting and Arranging 3
    45311 Chamber Music 4
    48257 Pedagogy-Instrumental 2
  MUS Elective (lower or upper-division) 5-6
  Choose from the following: Applied Music 1
16 credits at 36000 level and 16 credits at 46000 level
32
  MUS 3/46411 Applied Music—Violin (4)  
    3/46412 Applied Music—Viola (4)  
    3/46413 Applied Music—Cello (4)  
    3/46414 Applied Music—Double Bass (4)  
    3/46511 Applied Music—Flute (4)  
    3/46512 Applied Music—Oboe (4)  
    3/46513 Applied Music—Clarinet (4)  
    3/46514 Applied Music—Bassoon (4)  
    3/46515 Applied Music—Saxophone (4)  
    3/46611 Applied Music—Trumpet (4)  
    3/46612 Applied Music—Horn (4)  
    3/46613 Applied Music—Trombone (4)  
    3/46614 Applied Music—Euphonium (4)  
    3/46615 Applied Music—Tuba (4)  
    3/46711 Applied Music—Percussion (4)  
  Choose from the following: 4
  MUS 27111 Piano Class (2)  
    27112 Piano Class (2)  
    36111 Applied Music-Piano (2)  
    46111 Applied Music-Piano (2)  
  Choose from the following: 3
DD   42161 History of Jazz (3)  
    42221 Symphonic Literature (3)  
    42222 Chamber Music Literature (3)  
I. ADDITIONAL CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (3 credits)  
Type Course Title Credits
  General Elective (lower or upper-division) 3
 MINIMUM SUBTOTAL  56-57

1. Applied music (32 total credit hours:16 credits at 36000 level, 16 credits at 46000 level) based on instrument of acceptance into the Instrumental concentration. The 46000 level may be taken following a successful 46000 level barrier exam.

Instrumental Performance students are required to perform a half junior and a full senior recital. Applied music registration at the 46000 level is required during a degree recital semester. The senior recital may be used to satisfy the Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR).

 

Piano Performance Concentration

For semester-by-semester course sequencing for this program, view the 2014-2015 Roadmap.

 CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (53 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
  MUS 36111 Applied Music: Piano 16
    41131 Keyboard Harmony 3
    41151 18th-Century Counterpoint 3
    42241 Piano Literature 3
    46111 Applied Music-Piano 1 16
    48211 Introduction to Piano Pedagogy 2
    48221 Elements of Accompanying I 2
    48222 Elements of Accompanying II 2
  MUS Elective (lower or upper-division) 6
I. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS (3-4 credits)  
Type Course Title Credits
  General Elective(lower or upper-division) 3-4
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL  56-57


Piano Performance students are required to perform a half junior and a full senior recital. Applied music registration at the 46000 level is required during a degree recital semester. The senior recital may be used to satisfy the Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR).

1. The 46000 level courses may be taken following a successful 46000 level barrier exam.

 

Voice Performance Concentration

For semester-by-semester course sequencing for this program, view the 2014-2015 Roadmap.

 CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (57 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
  MUS 18611 Singer's Diction I 1
    18612 Singer's Diction II 1
    36311 Applied Music: Voice 16
    42251 Song Literature 3
    42261 Opera Literature 3
    45131 Opera: Singer-Actor Techniques (1) 2
    46311 Applied Music-Voice 1 16
    48241 Voice Pedagogy 2
    MUS electives 3
  Choose from the following: 6
  MUS 27111 Piano Class (2)  
    27112 Piano Class (2)  
    36111 Applied Music-Piano (2)  
    46111 Applied Music-Piano (2)  
  Choose from the following: 4
  FR 13201 Elementary French I (4)  
    13202 Elementary French II (4)  
  GER 11201 Elementary German I (4)  
    11202 Elementary German II (4)  
  ITAL 15201 Elementary Italian I (4)  
    15202 Elementary Italian II (4)  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 57


Voice Performance students are required to perform a half junior and a full senior recital. Applied music registration a the 46000 level is required during a degree recital semester. The senior recital may be used to satisfy the Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR).

1. The 46000 level courses may be taken following a successful 46000 level barrier exam.