Bachelor of Arts: Music Major (4 year)
The Bachelor of Arts: Music Major degree offers a broad-based, liberal arts music education as a foundation for a diverse range of career pathways in music. Students are afforded a high degree of elective choice and flexibility to pursue their unique study interests.
Profile of the Graduating Student
The graduating student will:
- possess an understanding of the historical development of Western art;
- possess an understanding of the melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic resources of Western music;
- have the ability to hear, identify, and work conceptually with the elements of music;
- have understanding and familiarity with a diverse range of musical literature, genres, and eras;
- be prepared for leadership roles requiring musical decisions and understanding;
- be knowledgeable in various methodologies of music research;
- understand the demands and rewards of music as a vocational endeavour
Career Paths
The Bachelor of Arts: Music Major prepares students for the following:
- Critical thinking, analytical proficiency, clear communication, complex problem-solving, and the ability to apply knowledge in real-world settings
- Entry into graduate programs in musicology, music theory, composition, music education, music therapy, and many other fields
- Entry-level positions in private music teaching, the retail music industry, church music, group music instruction, and performance groups.
- Further educational pursuits including after-degree programs such as a Bachelor of Education degree.
Bachelor of Arts: Music Major
Program Requirements (4 year - 120 credits)
UNI 101 The Ambrose Experience (non-credit)
Christian Formation (9 credits)
REL 105 Introduction to the Bible
REL 161 Introduction to Christian Theology
3 credits in REL at the senior level
English (3 credits)
EN 130 Introduction to English Literature
History (3 credits)
HI 140 Themes in World History
Philosophy (3 credits)
PH 125 Introduction to Philosophy
Science (3 credits)
(ASTR, BCH, BIO, BOT, CHE, ECOL, GEO, GEOG, KIN*, MED, PHY SC, ZOO)
*Note: Not all KIN courses can be used as Science credits; check the course descriptions.
Science or Mathematics (3 credits)
(the above, plus MA)
Social Science (6 credits)
(BHS, ECO, INDG, PS, SO)
Music Requirements (48 credits)
MU 124 Aural Skills I (1.5 credits)
MU 125 Aural Skills II (1.5 credits)
MU 136 Music Theory I
MU 185 Music as Vocation I (1.5 credit)
MU 203 Music History to 1825
MU 207 Music History since 1825
MU 236 Music Theory II
MU 237 Music Theory III
MU 275 Fundamentals of Music Technology
MU 285 Music as Vocation II (1.5 credit)
MU 309 Music and Culture
MU 485 Music Capstone Seminar
6 credits in Music History at the senior level, may include:
MU 272 Jazz History
MU 307 World Music
MU 308 Popular Music Since 1945
MU 352 History of Music and Worship
MU 403 Methods in Music Research
MU 405 Special Topics
12 credits of electives will count towards one of the following Career Pathways:
Pedagogy
MU 216 Studio Pedagogy
3 additional credits in Applied Lessons
MU 212 Conducting
MU 344 Music Practicum
Musicology
3 credits in Music History and Culture at the senior level
3 credits in Music History and Culture at the 400-level
MU 403 Methods in Music Research
MU 490 Independent Study
Music Theatre
TH 201 Acting I: Meisner
TH 202 Acting II: Meisner
DA 213 Modern Technique I (1.5 credits)
DA 214 Modern Technique II (1.5 credits)
MU 475 Recital
Composition (15 credits)
Note: If this Career Pathways is chosen, the number of Arts and Science Electives (below) is reduced by 3 credits.
MU 276 Fundamentals of Music Production
MU 320 Applied Music (Composition)
MU 321 Applied Music (Composition)
MU 337 Composition and Arranging
MU 475 Recital
Conducting
MU 212 Basic Conducting
MU 312 Advanced Conducting
MU 344 Practicum
3 credits in Music History and Culture
Worship Arts
MU 212 Basic Conducting
MU 352 History of Music and Worship
PST 382 Worship Leadership Strategies
One of the following:
MU 337 Composition and Arranging
MU 276 Fundamentals of Music Production
Music Ensemble (6 credits)
3 credits in Music Ensemble at the junior level
3 credits in Music Ensemble at the senior level
Cognate Requirements (6 credits)
HUM 101 Reading and Writing for University
3 credits non-music Fine Arts elective (ART, DA, FA, TH)
Electives
To meet senior level requirements in the program, 25.5 credits of electives must be taken at the senior level.
Arts and Science Electives (12 credits, maximum 6 credits in Applied Lessons)
Open Electives (18 credits)
General Requirements for Completion and Graduation
- Completion of The Ambrose Experience (UNI 101) (non-credit; this course is required for all programs, and must be completed within the first two semesters of enrolment. Students who do not complete UNI 101 may not be permitted to continue in their program.)
- Completion of a total of 120 credits (as outlined above)
- A minimum of 72 credits must be taken at the 200-level or higher
- A maximum of 72 credits taken in any one discipline
- A Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 2.0, with a CGPA of at least 2.0 in MU
- Must complete piano proficiency requirement - see Music Department for details
- Must participate in University Singers in the first two semesters of the program
- Must participate in an ensemble for at least 6 semesters registered as a full-time student
- Must complete ten-hour service requirement each semester registered as a full-time student