2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Major in Music (BA/BS)

Students pursuing a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science in music will experience a broad and challenging curriculum that improves their general musicianship and performance skills, develops creative skills, or broadens general music knowledge while increasing the understanding of music in its wider cultural context. By having a more general musical emphasis, BA/BS students have access to all courses offered by the School of Music to freely explore diverse areas of interest.

54 credits

Required Music Courses, 27 credits

MUST 100Fundamentals of Music Theory

3

MUST 101Sight Singing and Ear Training

1

MUST 102Sight Singing and Ear Training

1

MUST 111Music Theory

2

MUST 112Music Theory

2

MUST 201Sight Singing and Ear Training

1

MUST 202Sight Singing and Ear Training

1

MUST 211Music Theory

2

MUST 212Music Theory

2

MUHI 200Gateway to Music History

2

MUHI 330Music History to 1800

3

MUHI 331Music History from 1800

3

MUSP 498Senior Recital/ Project

1-2

MUSC 499Recital

.5-1

and

MUST 311Music Theory: Form and Analysis

2

or

MUST 310Form and Analysis of Popular Music

2

Students must take MUSP 498 for 1 credit. Students will take MUSC 499 twice, each for .5 credit. .5 credit for the Freshman Experience in Music and .5 credit for Recital Hour credit. If a student tests into MUST 111 and therefore doesn't need MUST 100, they will have three more required music electives added to their concentration area. Also, as MUHI 330 and 331 currently meet core requirements, 6 additional music electives are also assumed in the attached four year plans. 

Additional core performance requirements for all concentrations, 5 credits

All BA/BS students will have 5 credit hours of core performance requirements, consisting of 2 cr of group/secondary piano and 3 from MUSP 201/202 (applied lessons), large ensembles, or a combination.

3 credits from applied music or ensembles

MUSP 201Principal Study

1 TO 4

MUSP 202Secondary Study

1 TO 4

MUSC 342Wind Ensemble

.5-3

MUSC 343Wind Symphony

.5-3

MUSC 344Symphony Band

.5-3

MUSC 345Campus Band

.5-3

MUSC 347The Pride of Mid-America Marching Band

.5-3

MUSC 348The Pride of Mid-America Color Guard and Drum Line

.5-3

MUSC 349Basketball Band

.5-3

MUSC 352Concert Choir

.5-3

MUSC 353Vox Anima

.5-3

MUSC 354Cardinal Chorus

.5-3

MUSC 355University Choral Union

.5-3

MUSC 356Ball State Opera Theatre Chorus

.5-3

MUSC 357Ball State Opera Theatre Role

.5-3

MUSC 360Jazz Ensemble 1

.5-3

MUSC 361Jazz Ensemble 2

.5-3

MUSC 362Jazz Ensemble 3

.5-3

MUSC 366New Music Ensemble

.5-3

MUSC 367Studio Band

.5-3

MUSC 369University Singers Instrumental Ensemble

.5-3

MUSC 370University Singers

.5-3

MUSC 373Campus Orchestra

.5-3

MUSC 374Ball State Symphony Orchestra (BSSO)

.5-3

MUSC 375Chamber Choir

.5-3

2 credits in Piano

MUSP 140Group Piano 1

1

and

MUSP 141Group Piano 2

1

or

MUSP 325Secondary Study (Piano)

1

The "Music Exploration" concentration, 22 credits

The "Music Exploration" concentration offers a thorough grounding in the academic areas of music study while still offering opportunities in applied music or creating new music.

5 credits in Music History

MUHI 305 (3 credits) is required and students may select one course (2 credits) from the list below.

MUHI 305Popular Music and Society Since 1940

3

Music History, 2 credits from

MUHI 401Piano Literature

2

MUHI 435Music in the Baroque Era

2

MUHI 436Music in the Classical Era

2

MUHI 437Music in the Romantic Era

2

MUHI 438Opera History from 1780 to 1980

2

MUHI 441Jazz History

2

MUHI 492Special Topics in Musicology

1-3

6 - 7 credits in Music Theory

a minimum grade of D- in MUST 310 will serve as a substitute for the pre-requisite for MUST 311 where appropriate.

MUST 250Jazz Theory

2

MUST 312Music Theory: Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint

2

MUST 412Compositional Practices of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries

2 TO 3

MUST 416Theory of Nineteenth-Century Music

3

MUST 417Theory of Twentieth-Century Music and Twenty-First-Century Music

3

MUST 420Sixteenth-Century Counterpoint

3

MUST 421Analytical Technique

3

10-11 additional elective credits in Music

Students choose from 100-400 level courses with MMP, MUHI, MUSC, MUSE, MUST, or MUSP prefixes.

The "Applied Music" concentration, 22 credits

The "Applied Music" Concentration offers a thorough grounding in applied music study while still offering opportunities in academic music, ensembles, and creating new music.

8 Credits in Applied Music (in addition to core requirements):

MUSP 201Principal Study

1 TO 4

6 Credits in Ensembles (in addition to core requirements)

Ensemble participation must be in compliance with the School of Music Undergraduate Handbook's Designated Ensemble Policy.

MUSC 342Wind Ensemble

.5-3

MUSC 343Wind Symphony

.5-3

MUSC 344Symphony Band

.5-3

MUSC 345Campus Band

.5-3

MUSC 347The Pride of Mid-America Marching Band

.5-3

MUSC 348The Pride of Mid-America Color Guard and Drum Line

.5-3

MUSC 349Basketball Band

.5-3

MUSC 352Concert Choir

.5-3

MUSC 353Vox Anima

.5-3

MUSC 354Cardinal Chorus

.5-3

MUSC 355University Choral Union

.5-3

MUSC 356Ball State Opera Theatre Chorus

.5-3

MUSC 357Ball State Opera Theatre Role

.5-3

MUSC 360Jazz Ensemble 1

.5-3

MUSC 361Jazz Ensemble 2

.5-3

MUSC 362Jazz Ensemble 3

.5-3

MUSC 366New Music Ensemble

.5-3

MUSC 367Studio Band

.5-3

MUSC 369University Singers Instrumental Ensemble

.5-3

MUSC 370University Singers

.5-3

MUSC 373Campus Orchestra

.5-3

MUSC 374Ball State Symphony Orchestra (BSSO)

.5-3

MUSC 375Chamber Choir

.5-3

8 additional credits in music

Students choose from 100-400 level courses with MMP, MUHI, MUSC, MUSE, MUST, or MUSP prefixes.

The "Music Creation" concentration, 22 credits

The "Music Creation" Concentration offers a thorough grounding in the creation of new music while still offering opportunities in academic music, ensembles, and applied music.

12 credits in Music Creation

MUST 121Introduction to Music Technologies

3

MUST 221Introductory Composition Lessons and Seminar 1

2

MUST 222Music Composition 2

2

MUST 432Applied Composition Lessons and Seminar

2

MUST 441Creative Music Technologies 1

3

10 additional credits in music

Students choose from 100-400 level courses with MMP, MUHI, MUSC, MUSE, MUST, or MUSP prefixes.

Total Credit Hours: 54