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Music

Students in the Asbury College of Liberal Arts may earn a Music major for the Bachelor of Arts degree through the School of Music. The Music (CLA) major is not available to School of Music students, including those in the dual degree program. Students in the College of Liberal Arts who are majoring in disciplines other than music may complete a minor in either applied music or instrumental jazz studies. The completion of a successful audition is required before a student can be certified as a minor. School of Music students may complete the minor in instrumental jazz studies.

Course Catalog

Requirements for a major

Music (BA) (declared prior to July 1, 2024)

Total courses required Ten + one course in fine arts
Core courses MUS 111, MUS 112, MUS 121, MUS 240, MUS 265 or MUS 266, MUS 450.
Other required courses Additional upper-level music history elective (usually MUS 390). Four semesters participation in major ensemble. One course credit in another fine art (theatre or art). 3.75 course credits in music electives.
Number 300 and 400 level courses Two
Senior requirement and capstone experience Students pursuing the B.A. with a major in Music fulfill the capstone requirement by satisfactorily completing MUS 450, Senior Seminar. Students discuss a common set of readings designed to help synthesize their diverse experiences in music and complete a major research project on an approved topic, which consists of a written thesis and oral presentation.
Additional information 21 course credits in the liberal arts (outside music) are required. Any student wishing to pursue a B.A. in Music who has not previously auditioned for acceptance into the School of Music or for a music performance award must successfully complete an an audition to declare the major.
Recent changes in major This major has been redesigned to coincide with the changes to the School of Music degree curriculum effective Fall 2015.
Writing in the Major Students pursuing the B.A. with a major in Music fulfill the Writing in the Major requirement in their core music courses (e.g., music theory and musicology sequences). Students write essays of varying lengths and in different situations, such as out-of-class assignments and in-class exams. Written work often includes composer biographies, descriptive writing about musical repetoire (i.e., descriptions of form, melody, harmony, and rhythm), program notes, annotated bibliographies, introductory essays with a bibliography, and research papers.

Music (Bachelor of Arts)

Total courses required Ten courses in Music
Core courses MUS 140, MUS 141, MUS 290 or 390, MUS BAS-VOC (1 credit), MUS 300, MUS 450 or 454
Other required courses 4 electives in music. At least one must be at the 300- or 400-level unless a MUS 390 course is taken for the core.
Number 300 and 400 level courses Four
Senior requirement and capstone experience Students pursuing the B.A. with a major in Music fulfill the capstone requirement by satisfactorily completing MUS 450, Senior Seminar, or MUS 454, Senior Performance/Creation Recital Capstone.

Music (Bachelor of Musical Arts)

Total courses required Seventeen courses in Music
Core courses

MUS 140, MUS 141, MUS 290 or 390.

MUS BAS-VOC (2 credits), MUS 272, 276 or 277 (1 credit), MUS 282 or 289 (0.5 credit), MUS 272, 274, 276, 277, 282, or 289 (0.5 credit).

Three of the following: MUS 200, MUS 203, MUS 205, MUS 210.

MUS 300, MUS 310, MUS 450 or 454

Four elective in MUS, at least one at the 300- or 400-level unless MUS 390 is chosen above.

Other required courses Discrete Competency - 5 credits in non-music subjects that form an intended learning pathway.
Number 300 and 400 level courses Four
Senior requirement and capstone experience Students pursuing the B.M.A. in Music fulfill the capstone requirement by satisfactorily completing MUS 450, Senior Seminar or MUS 454, Senior Performance/Creation Recital Capstone.

Requirements for a minor

Jazz Studies for Students Majoring in Music

Total courses required 5.25
Core courses

MUS 295, Jazz Theory (1 credit)
MUS 395, Jazz Arranging (1 credit)
MUS JPNJ, Jazz Piano (.25 credit)
MUS IMPR, Applied Improvisation (.5 credit)
MUS 289J, Jazz Combos (.5 credit)
COMM 318, Business of Performing Arts (1 credit)
AFST 100, Introduction to Africana Studies (1 credit)

Other required courses

Notes:
MUS 140 and MUS 141 are prerequisites for Jazz Theory.
Jazz Theory is a prerequisite for Jazz Arranging.
MUS 289J may overlap with the major.

Number 300 and 400 level courses 2

Jazz Studies for Students Not Majoring in Music

Total courses required 6
Core courses

Music Scholarship (3 credits)
MUS 140, Music Theory and Musicianship I (1 credit)
MUS 141, Music Theory and Musicianship II (1 credit)
MUS 295, Topics in Music: Jazz Theory (1 credit)

Applied Music (1 credit)
MUS BAS-VOC, applied music lessons, and/or MUS 272, 274, 276, or 277, large ensembles (1 credit)

Music Creation (1 credit) >br>MUS 200, Improvisation (1 credit)

Music Elective (1 credit)
One 300-400 level elective course in jazz studies (1 credit)

Other required courses
Number 300 and 400 level courses 1

Music

Total courses required 5
Core courses

Music Scholarship (3 credits)
MUS 140, Music Theory and Musicianship I (1 credit
MUS 141, Music Theory and Musicianship II (1 credit)
MUS 102 or any MUS 290 or MUS 390 musicology topics course (1 credit)

Electives (2 credits)
300-level elective, if MUS 390 is not chosen for Music Scholarship (1 credit)
Music electives (1 credit)

Other required courses

For the Minor in Music, students may choose to take applied music lessons as part of the coursework (an audition is required). Students may take applied lessons in an instrument, voice, or composition within the Institute of Music.

Only 0.25 credits of lessons per semesters, with a total limit of 2 credits over the course of study at DePauw University, may be counted towards fulfilling requirements for the minor.

Number 300 and 400 level courses 1

Music Creation and Technology

Total courses required Five
Core courses
  • MUS 100: Thinking, Listening, and Creating with Music (1 credit)
  • MUS 110: Introduction to Music Technology (.5 credit)
  • MUS 280: Topics in Music Technology (.5 credit)
  • MUS CMP: Applied Lessons in Composition, including bi-monthly ARR studio class (1 total credit)
Other required courses 2 electives, from the following (ARTS 165, ARTS 272, ARTH281, COMM 211, ENG 149, ENG 311, ENG 312, ENG 245, ENG 342, ENG 343, FLME 230, MUS 130 (with permission of instructor), MUS 335, MUS 445, Performance classes/lessons (voice, piano, guitar or MUS APP if eligible), Ensembles. Any of the above MUS electives for which the student meets prerequisites. Any core theory/musicianship course(s) (placement by exam)
Number 300 and 400 level courses One

Musical Theatre

Total courses required 5
Core courses

CORE COURSES (3.75 CREDITS)
DANCE (1 credit; choose two courses)

  • MUS 171--Beginning Ballet (.5 credit), MUS 175--Beginning Jazz Dance (.5 credit), MUS 179--Ballroom Dancing (.5 credit), MUS 180--Beginning Tap (.5 credit)

MUSIC (1.25 credits)
  • MUS 100--Thinking, Listening, and Creating with Music OR MUS 140--Music Theory and Musicianship I (1 credit) OR MUS 141--Music Theory and Musicianship II (1 credit), depending on placement
  • MUS 905--Beginning Class Voice (.25 credit) OR MUS VOS--Voice (.25 credit)

THEATRE (1 credit)
  • COMM 111--Acting I (1 credit)

PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE in Musical Theatre, Theatre and/or Opera (.5 credit)
  • COMM 101--Theatre Practicum (.25 credit)
  • COMM 184--DePauw Theatre Mainstage Workshop Production (.5 credit)
  • MUS 184--DePauw Opera (.5 credit)
Other required courses

OTHER COURSES (1.25 CREDITS)

  • 300-level Music or Theatre course (1 credit)
  • Elective (.25 credit)
    • Group music classes (.25 credit), applied music (.25 credit), large or chamber ensemble (.25 credit), additional production experience (.25-.5 credit), dance course (.5 credit), independent study project in music or theatre (.25-.5 credit)

    ADDITIONAL DETAILS

    • Since minors are not required, students must pay any additional that are set by the University.
    • No performance experience is guaranteed.
Number 300 and 400 level courses 1