Missouri State University

Program Requirements

If you are pursuing a degree in music, you must meet the below requirements to be eligible for graduation. Also, you must complete the general education program, fulfill the general baccalaureate degree requirements and complete at least 125 hours of coursework.

The music program can be non-comprehensive – therefore requiring the completion of a minor – or comprehensive, so that no minor is needed. Consult your advisor to determine which program is best for you.

Music (Non-Comprehensive)

Bachelor of Arts

Admission Requirements: To be admitted to the degree program, students must audition for a committee of applied faculty in that student’s major performance area. Students must also have a passing score on the Music Theory Entrance Exam before enrolling in MUS 103.

  1. General Education Requirements - see General Education Program and Requirements section of catalog

  2. Major Requirements (38 hours)

    1. Basic Theory (9 hours): MUS 103(3), 104(3), 203(3)

    2. Music History/Literature (9 hours): MUS 239(3), 345(3), 346(3)

    3. Applied Music (6 hours) to be selected from class and/or private instruction. At least four hours must be in private instruction in the major performance area.

    4. Performing Ensemble electives (4 hours)

    5. Additional electives (10 hours) select from: MUS 204(3), 313(2), 314(2), 315(2), 321(2), 327(2), 328(2), 512(3), 518(2), 523(2), 524(2), 529(3), 543(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 547(3), 548(2)

    6. Recital Attendance: MUS 107(0), 108(0), 207(0), 208(0), 307(0), 308(0), and 407(0)

    7. Pass Piano Proficiency Examination

    8. Upper Division Applied Status: MUS 298(0)

  3. Minor Required (or second major)

  4. Specific Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree - see Degrees, Programs and Requirements section of catalog

  5. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements - see General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements section of catalog

Music (Comprehensive)

Bachelor of Music

Admission Requirements: To be admitted to the degree program, students must audition for a committee of applied faculty in that student’s major performance area. Students must also have a passing score on the Music Theory Entrance Exam before enrolling in MUS 103.

The degree is designed to develop the student’s ability for either performance and private teaching or composition. It is also designed to prepare students for graduate study in the specialized area. All students (including transfer students) who wish to pursue the Bachelor of Music in Performance Degree must pass a performance hearing in order to be accepted into the program. This hearing should take place either prior to or at the end of the first semester of study. The candidate for this degree must meet the following requirements:

  1. General Education Requirements - see General Education Program and Requirements section of catalog

  2. Major Requirements (80-89 hours)

    1. Music Core Requirements (35 hours)

      1. Foreign Language (6 hours) select from: French, German, or Italian

      2. Basic Theory (12 hours): MUS 103(3), 104(3), 203(3), 204(3)

      3. Music History/Literature (9 hours): MUS 239(3), 345(3), 346(3)

      4. Piano (6 hours-may be waived by examination): MUS 137(1), 138(1), 237(1), 238(1), 337(1), 338(1)

      5. Conducting (2 hours): MUS 321(2)

      6. Recital Attendance: MUS 107(0), 108(0), 207(0), 208(0), 307(0), 308(0), and 407(0)

      7. Upper Division Applied Status: MUS 298(0)

    2. Choose one of the following options:

      1. Composition (52-53 hours)

        1. Composition (15 hours): MUS 498(2) and 13 additional hours selected from: MUS 327(2), 516(2-4), 517(2-4), 520(2-4), 521(2-4)

        2. Advanced Music History/Literature (5-6 hours) select from: MUS 523(2), 524(2), 543(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 547(3), 548(2)

        3. Advanced Music Theory (11 hours): MUS 313(2), 314(2), 315(2), 328(2), 512(3)

        4. Large Ensembles (8 hours) as determined by audition; full-time students shall be in an instrumental ensemble each semester until graduation. Select from: MUS 162(1), 262(1), 362(1), 462(1); MUS 165(1), 265(1), 365(1), 465(1); MUS 168(1), 268(1), 368(1), 468(1); MUS 175(1), 275(1), 375(1), 475(1); MUS 176(1), 276(1), 376(1), 476(1); MUS 192(1), 292(1), 392(1), 492(1)

        5. Small Ensemble (1 hour) select from: MUS 172(1), 272(1), 372(1), 472(1); MUS 173(1), 273(1), 373(1), 473(1); MUS 174(1), 274(1), 374(1), 474(1)

        6. Applied Music (12 hours)

          1. Keyboard (4 hours) select from: MUS 151(1), 251(1), 351(1), 451(1)

          2. Remaining hours in a single applied area (8 hours)

      2. Instrumental Performance (46-47 hours)

        1. Advanced Music History/Literature (5-6 hours) select from: MUS 523(2), 524(2), 543(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 547(3), 548(2)

        2. Advanced Music Theory (6 hours) select from: MUS 313(2), 314(2), 315(2), 327(2), 328(2)

        3. Large Ensembles (8 hours) as determined by audition; full-time students shall be in an instrumental ensemble each semester until graduation. Select from: MUS 175(1), 275(1), 375(1), 475(1); MUS 176(1), 276(1), 376(1), 476(1)

        4. Small Ensembles (4 hours) select from: MUS 172(1), 272(1), 372(1), 472(1); MUS 173(1), 273(1), 373(1), 473(1); MUS 174(1), 274(1), 374(1), 474(1)

        5. Pedagogy (2 hours): MUS 538(2)

        6. Applied Music (21 hours), must include MUS 398(2-4) and MUS 498(2-4)

      3. Jazz Performance (46-47 hours)

        1. Jazz Studies (14 hours)

          1. Jazz Theory/Jazz Keyboard Skills (2 hours): MUS 119(2)

          2. Jazz Improvisation (6 hours): MUS 219(2), 220(2), 319(2)

          3. Jazz History (3 hours): MUS 347(3)

          4. Jazz Arranging (3 hours): MUS 526(3) Jazz section only

        2. Advanced Music History (6 hours) select from: MUS 543(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 547(3)

        3. Advanced Music Theory (6-7 hours) select from: MUS 313(2), 314(2), 315(2), 327(2), 328(2), 529(3)

        4. Large Ensemble-Jazz (4 hours) as determined by audition: Select from: MUS 174(1), 274(1), 374(1), 474(1)

        5. Small Ensemble-Jazz Symposium (6 hours) as determined by audition: Select from: MUS 172(1), 272(1), 372(1), 472(1)-Jazz section only

        6. Applied Music (10 hours), must include MUS 398(2-4) and MUS 498(2-4) 

      4. Keyboard Performance (46-47 hours)

        1. Advanced Music History/Literature (5-6 hours) select from: MUS 523(2), 524(2), 543(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 547(3), 548(2)

        2. Advanced Music Theory (6 hours) select from: MUS 313(2), 314(2), 315(2), 327(2), 328(2)

        3. Large Ensembles (8 hours) as determined by audition; full-time students shall be in an instrumental ensemble each semester until graduation. Select from: MUS 162(1), 262(1), 362(1), 462(1); MUS 165(1), 265(1), 365(1), 465(1); MUS 168(1), 268(1), 368(1), 468(1); MUS 175(1), 275(1), 375(1), 475(1); MUS 176(1), 276(1), 376(1), 476(1); MUS 192(1), 292(1), 392(1), 492(1)

        4. Small Ensembles (4 hours) select from: MUS 172(1), 272(1), 372(1), 472(1); MUS 173(1), 273(1), 373(1), 473(1); MUS 174(1), 274(1), 374(1), 474(1). Keyboard majors may substitute up to three hours of Accompanying.

        5. Pedagogy (2 hours): MUS 538(2)

        6. Applied Music (21 hours), must include MUS 398(2-4) and MUS 498(2-4)

      5. Vocal Performance (52-53 hours)

        1. Advanced Music History/Literature (5-6 hours) select from: MUS 523(2), 524(2), 543(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 547(3), 548(2)

        2. Advanced Music Theory (6 hours) select from: MUS 313(2), 314(2), 315(2), 327(2), 328(2)

        3. Large Ensembles (8 hours) as determined by audition, full-time students shall be in one of the following choral ensembles each semester until graduation. Select from: MUS 162(1), 262(1), 362(1), 462(1); MUS 165(1), 265(1), 365(1), 465(1); MUS 168(1), 268(1), 368(1), 468(1)

        4. Small Ensembles (4 hours): MUS 172(1), 193(1), 272(1), 372(1), 472(1)

        5. Pedagogy (2 hours): MUS 530(2)

        6. Applied Music (21 hours), must include MUS 398(2-4) and MUS 498(2-4)

        7. Foreign Language (6 additional hours in a language other than that used in the Music Core) select from: French, German, Italian

  3. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements - see General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements section of catalog