Students in any of the liberal arts colleges of Rutgers can elect music as a major or minor subject. Both courses of study are primarily academic, with the emphasis placed on music theory and music history rather than performance.

The Bachelor Of Arts Music Major

The requirements for the B.A. music major are as follows:

 
I.  Music Theory Courses [21 credits] 
700:127  Introduction to Music Technology          1 cr 
    121  Theory I                                  3 cr. 
    122  Theory II                                 3 cr. 
    221  Theory III                                3 cr. 
    222  Theory IV                                 3 cr. 
 
07:700:123-124  Fundamentals of Musicianship I     4 cr. 
       223-224  Fundamentals of Musicianship II    4 cr. 
 
II. Music History Courses [12 credits] 
 
700:301-302      Music History I-II                6 cr. 
    303 or 304   Topics in World Music             3 cr. 
    419 or 420   Special Studies in Music History  3 cr. 
 
III. Performance Courses [8 credits] 
 
701:xxx  4 terms of performance lessons or class   4 cr.* 
701:yyy  4 terms of ensemble                       4 cr. 
                                                   ______ 
                                           total = 41 cr. 

* The requirement is 4 terms of lessons. If lessons are taken for more than 1 credit in any term, this total will be higher.

B.A. majors must also pass the Keyboard Proficiency Examination.

A minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 in major courses is required for the satisfactory completion of the major.

Notes on the B.A. music major:

1. In order to declare the music major, students must complete the first-year courses in theory and musicianship -- Theory I and II (700:121-122) and Fundamentals of Musicianship I (700:123-124) -- with a grade of C+ or better. No audition is required.
2. A few basic principles govern the way in which the performance requirements are satisfied. Because B.A. majors must pass the Keyboard Proficiency Examination in order to complete the major, it is customary for the four required semesters of performance lessons to begin with piano. The four semesters of Piano Class I and II (701:159-160 and 259-260) are intended to bring students to the required level in piano. If a student is already beyond that level, he or she may satisfy the four-semester requirement with lessons in piano, voice, or another instrument. These private lessons are open to B.A. majors only if the teachers have studio space available and students already perform at an acceptable level (lessons for beginners in an instrument are not available). Credit for private lessons is "by arrangement" and depends on the length of the lesson (1, 2, or 3 credits). Note that the requirement for the B.A. major is four semesters, not four credits.
3. Ensembles. All B.A. majors must perform in an ensemble for at least four semesters. See Ensemble Participation for a list of the ensembles that satisfy this requirement. Anyone who takes performance lessons beyond the required four semesters must also be enrolled in an ensemble each semester. All ensembles are open to all students by audition.
4. Substitutions for the required courses are not normally permitted. All requests for exceptions to this rule should be addressed in writing to the Undergraduate Director.

Music Minor

The music minor requires 18 credits, distributed as follows:

• at least 6 credits in music history
• at least 6 credits in music theory
• 6 additional credits in any courses offered by the Music Department, including performance courses (Pep Band excluded).

The basic courses most commonly used for the music minor are Music 101 and 102 (for music history) and Music 103 and 104 (for music theory), supplemented by two more courses at the 100 or 200 level. Exceptions to the prescribed distribution of requirements must be approved by the Undergraduate Director.

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TOP of Music Student Handbook

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