Music: Requirements

General Requirements for the Major or Minor

General university degree requirements stipulate that 1) at least four units of the major or three units of the minor be taken in residence at Puget Sound; 2) students earn a GPA of 2.0 in courses taken for the major or the minor; and 3) all courses taken for a major or minor must be taken for graded credit. Any exceptions to these stipulations are indicated in the major and minor degree requirements listed below.

Requirements for the Major

  1. Entrance audition to demonstrate appropriate background and potential for formal acceptance into the School of Music.
  2. Completion of 32 units for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Music degree; in the Bachelor of Arts program, students must fulfill the Fine Arts or the Fine Arts Approaches core requirements with a course outside of Music.
  3. Music majors must attain, maintain membership in, attend, and be registered for credit in the appropriate major university ensemble (band, orchestra, or choir) during all semesters in which they are enrolled. Music majors electing a wind or percussion instrument as their principal performing medium are required to participate in the Wind Ensemble or the University Band, as assigned; string instruments in the University Symphony Orchestra; voice students in the Adelphian Concert Choir, the University Chorale, or the Dorian Singers, as assigned; keyboard and guitar students in any of the above ensembles. Students may elect to perform in additional ensembles if they desire and are qualified.
  4. Each major must pass the Keyboard Musicianship Examination, preferably during the sophomore year. Typically, this requirement is completed in the two-year Music Theory sequence. Details of the examination are available in the School of Music Office.
  5. With the exception of the semester in which Music Business majors are registered for an internship, music majors are required to be registered for applied music every semester.
  6. Recital requirements for Bachelor of Music candidates majoring in Performance are a minimum of one-half of a formal evening recital or three noon recital appearances in the principal performing medium in the junior year and a full recital demonstrating a high level of musicianship in performance in the principal performing medium in the senior year. Other majors must perform in one noon recital during both their junior and senior years.
  7. Continuation in all music major degrees is based on ongoing assessment by the faculty of a student's progress in music theory, music history, ensembles, methods, and applied music. To advance to the junior year as well as to graduate in the major, students must have a 2.3 overall grade point average and a 2.5 music grade point average. Students also must demonstrate excellence in the jury of their major performance instrument in the spring of the sophomore year. Students who are music education majors and/or transfer students will also have a review of their academic performance progress in the junior year.
  8. All transfer students are required to take placement examinations in Music Theory and Music History prior to registration; Music Education transfer students are required to complete MUS 393 or an equivalent one-semester, in-school teaching experience.
  9. Each semester in residence all music majors register for Recital Attendance (109/309), a non-credit course. All music majors are expected to fulfill the Recital Attendance Requirement by attending a prescribed number of concerts and recitals.

Note: Music majors and minors must receive a grade of C- or better in all courses required by the School of Music. A course in which the student receives less than a C- will not satisfy the graduation requirements of the School of Music. Music Education majors must receive a grade of C or better in all required courses to fulfill Washington State teacher certification requirements. For transfer students, courses more than 10 years old on their transcripts may not be included in a major or minor offered by the School of Music.

Bachelor of Music in Performance

Keyboard Emphasis (Piano, Organ)

  1. Four units Theory: MUS 101/103, 102/104, 201/203, 202/204;
  2. Four units Music History to include MUS 230, 231, 333, and 493;
  3. One-half unit Conducting: MUS 291 or 293;
  4. Seven units Applied Music: 6 units of MUS 161 through 462 (major instrument), MUS 353 (Pedagogy and Literature, to be taken by pianists) or MUS 357 (Performance Practice and Literature for Organ, to be taken by organists), MUS 168 or 368 (Chamber Music) may be repeated for elective credit, and MUS 422 (Junior-Senior Recital);
  5. One and one-half units to be chosen from MUS 168/368 (.5 unit maximum), 220, 221, 222, 235, 236, 291, 292, 293, 294, 301, 335, 337, 341, 354, 393, 394, 401, 402, 493, 494; a maximum of .5 unit in applied lessons in a secondary instrument (requires approval of the music faculty advisor);
  6. Participation for credit in a performing group each term as specified under Requirements for the Major;
  7. Recital attendance.

Voice Emphasis

  1. Four units Theory: MUS 101/103, 102/104, 201/203, 202/204;
  2. Four units Music History to include MUS 230, 231, 333, and 493;
  3. One-half unit Conducting: MUS 293;
  4. Seven and one-half units Applied Music: 6 units of MUS 161 through 462 (major instrument); MUS 235 and 236 (Diction), MUS 356 (Pedagogy and Literature), and MUS 422 (Junior-Senior Recital);
  5. One unit to be chosen from MUS 168/368 (.5 unit maximum), 220, 221, 222, 291, 292, 294, 301, 335, 337, 341, 393, 394, 401, 402, 493, 494; a maximum of .5 unit in applied lessons in a secondary instrument (requires approval of the music faculty advisor);
  6. Participation for credit in a performing group each term as specified under Requirements for the Major;
  7. Recital attendance;
  8. Two units of a Foreign Language.

Orchestral Instrument Emphasis

  1. Four units Theory: MUS 101/103, 102/104, 201/203, 202/204;
  2. Four units History: MUS 230, 231, 333, and 493;
  3. One-half unit Conducting: MUS 291;
  4. Seven units Applied Music: 6 units of MUS 161 through 462 (major instrument); 1 unit of MUS 168 and/or 368 (Chamber Music); MUS 422 (Junior-Senior Recital);
  5. One and one-half units to be chosen from MUS 168/368 (.5 unit maximum), 220, 221, 222, 292, 293, 294, 301, 335, 337, 341, 393, 394, 401, 402, 493, 494; a maximum of .5 unit in applied lessons in a secondary instrument (requires approval of the music faculty advisor);
  6. Participation for credit in a performing group each term as specified under Requirements for the Major;
  7. Recital attendance.

Bachelor of Music in Music Education

Music Education

Graduates will be able to achieve Washington State teacher certification by completing the Master of Arts in Teaching degree. (The MAT program is described in the Education section of this Bulletin.) Within a five-year program, students are thus able to earn both a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Arts in Teaching. The Bachelor of Music in Music Education is a prerequisite in the Master of Arts in Teaching degree. Application to the MAT will take place in the Senior year. Details are available from the School of Education.

An endorsement in music requires completion of the major. Licensed, practicing teachers who wish to apply for completion of music certification, which includes completion of all music education major courses, should send a letter of application outlining previous certification, experience and goals; all transcripts; and a copy of their Washington teaching license. All unlicensed teacher applicants will be expected to complete the music education major and the fifth-year MAT program for teacher certification.

Instrumental and General Emphasis

  1. Four units Music Theory to include 101/103, 102/104, 201/203, and 202/204;
  2. Four units Music History to include 230, 231, 333, and 493;
  3. Five and one-half units Music Education to include MUS 291, 292, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, and 398;
  4. Two units Applied Music 111 through 412 on major instrument (Strings, Winds, or Percussion);
  5. At least one-half unit music electives (may include activity units; 222 is strongly recommended; a maximum of .5 unit in applied lessons in a secondary instrument (requires approval of the music faculty advisor);
  6. Participation for credit in a performing group each term as specified under Requirements for the Major;
  7. Recital attendance;
  8. EDUC 419 and 420 recommended as electives.

Choral and General Emphasis

  1. Four units Music Theory to include 101/103, 102/104, 201/203, and 202/204;
  2. Four units Music History to include 230, 231, 333, and 493;
  3. Six units Music Education to include MUS 205, 206, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 356, 393, 394, 397, and 398;
  4. Two units Applied Music 111 through 412 (Voice or Piano);
  5. Participation for credit in a performing group each term as specified under Requirements for the Major;
  6. Recital attendance;
  7. EDUC 419 and 420 recommended as electives.

Keyboard or other instrumental majors enrolled in the music education choral/general degree program require four semesters of applied voice.

A student who desires a comprehensive program (demonstrated experience in both vocal and instrumental music) must complete an application process during the first semester of the sophomore year. If the student is accepted, a program will be designed to fulfill the instrumental, choral, and general degree requirements. The comprehensive music education major requires four semesters of applied voice, which may include two semesters of class voice.

Bachelor of Music with Elective Studies in Business

  1. Four units Theory: MUS 101/103, 102/104, 201/203, 202/204;
  2. Four units Music History to include: MUS 230, 231, 333, and 493;
  3. One-half unit Conducting: MUS 291 or 293;
  4. Two units Music Business: MUS 341 and 498;
  5. Four units Business and Computer Science: BUS 205, 305, 310, and CSCI 158; ECON 170 is a prerequisite for BUS 310; MATH 160 is recommended but not required.
  6. Two units Applied Music: MUS 111 through 412 (major instrument);
  7. At least one-half unit to be chosen from MUS 161-462 (by permission of instructor), 168/368 (.5 units maximum), 220, 221, 222, 291 or 292, 293 or 294, 301, 335, 337, 393, 394, 401, 493, 494; a maximum of .5 unit in applied lessons in a secondary instrument (requires approval of the music faculty advisor);
  8. Participation for credit in a performing group each term as specified under Requirements for the Major;
  9. Recital attendance.

Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Music

  1. Four units Music Theory to include MUS 101/103, 102/104, 201/203, 202/204;
  2. Four units Music History to include MUS 230, 231, 333, 493;
  3. Two units Applied Music (major instrument) to include MUS 111 through 412;
  4. Participation for credit in a performing group each term as specified under Requirements for the Major;
  5. Recital Attendance.

Students who are planning to study music history or composition at the graduate level are advised to include the following courses in their programs:

  • Music History: Two units: MUS 494, Music History Thesis; and one course chosen from MUS 220, The Broadway Musical; MUS 221, Jazz History; MUS 222, Music of the World's Peoples; or additional unit of MUS 493, Special Topics in Music History.
  • Composition: Three units chosen from the following courses: MUS 301, Analysis of Form and Texture in Music; MUS 401, Counterpoint; MUS 402, Orchestration; MUS 337, Composition.

Minor in Music

  1. Two units Theory: MUS 101/103, 102/104;
  2. Two units History: one unit from MUS 100, 230, 224, 225, 226, 231, 333, 493; one unit from MUS 100, 220, 221, 222, 230, 231, 274, 275, 276, 333, 493;
  3. One unit Applied Music: MUS 111 through 212;
  4. One unit Music elective;
  5. Each Music minor shall register for credit and maintain membership for at least four semesters in the large university music ensemble appropriate to the student's major instrument and ability.

Major Area Courses

Theory

  • 101/103 Music Theory 1
  • 102/104 Music Theory 2
  • 201/203 Music Theory 3
  • 202/204 Music Theory 4
  • 301 Form and Texture
  • 335 Jazz Theory and Improvisation
  • 337 Composition
  • 401 Counterpoint
  • 402 Orchestration

History and Literature

  • 100 Survey of Music Literature
  • 220 The Broadway Musical
  • 221 Jazz History
  • 222 Music of the World's Peoples
  • 224 The Age of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven
  • 225 Romanticism in Music
  • 226 Twentieth Century Music
  • 230/231 History and Literature of Music I, II
  • 333 Western and World Music Since 1914
  • 493 Special Topics in Music History
  • 494 Music History Thesis

Pedagogy and Literature

  • 235/236 Diction for Singers I, II
  • 353 Piano Pedagogy and Literature
  • 354 Collaborative Piano
  • 356 Singing: Its History, Pedagogy, and Literature
  • 357 Performance Practice and Literature for the Organ

Conducting

  • 291 Instrumental Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques I
  • 292 Instrumental Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques II
  • 293 Choral Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques I
  • 294 Choral Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques II

Performing Groups

  • 170/270/370 University Wind Ensemble
  • 172/272/372 Adelphian Concert Choir
  • 174/274/374 University Symphony Orchestra/String Orchestra
  • 176/276/376 University Chorale
  • 178/278/378 Voci d'Amici
  • 180/280/380 Dorian Singers
  • 182/282/382 Gamelan Ensemble
  • 184/284/384 Jazz Band
  • 188/288/388 University Band
  • 119/319 Opera Theatre

Music Business

  • 327 Practicum in Music Education/Music Business
  • 341 Seminar in Music Business
  • 498 Music Business Internship

Music Education

  • 295 Instrumental Techniques: Brass
  • 296 Instrumental Techniques: Percussion
  • 297 Instrumental Techniques: Double Reeds
  • 298 Techniques of Accompanying
  • 327 Practicum in Music Education/Music Business
  • 393 Secondary Music Methods
  • 394 Elementary Music Methods
  • 395 Vocal Techniques
  • 396 Instrumental Techniques: 'Cello and Bass
  • 397 Instrumental Techniques: Violin and Viola
  • 398 Instrumental Techniques: Flute, Clarinet, and Saxophone

Applied Music

  • 113 Class Guitar, Beginning Level
  • 114 Class Guitar, Intermediate Level
  • 111 - 412 Applied Music (thirty-minute lesson)
  • 161 - 462 Applied Music (sixty-minute lesson)
  • 168/368 Instrumental Chamber Music/Opera Workshop
  • 205 Class Piano I
  • 206 Class Piano II

Courses Especially Suitable for Non-Majors

  • All Performing Groups (no audition required for University Chorale and University Band)
  • Applied Music, including classes (subject to audition by instructor and availability)
  • MUS 100, 220, 221, 222, 224, 225, 226, and 230 (Fine Arts Approaches core requirements courses)
 
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