Majoring & Minoring

Southwestern offers both a Bachelor of Music degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Music. Concentrations within the Bachelor of Music degree include Education, Performance, Theory, Literature and Sacred Music. A minor in music is also possible.

With fewer specialized course requirements, the Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music offers greater flexibility for students who wish to pursue a major or minor in another area.

Students who complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Music Education will be qualified to teach music in public schools. The Bachelor of Music with a Performance emphasis is designed for those students who wish to become highly proficient in an instrument or in voice, for the purpose of becoming private teachers and/or professional performers. For those students who wish to pursue a degree in musicology at the graduate level, or for those who wish to gain a greater knowledge and appreciation of significant works of music in Western civilization, the Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Music Literature is appropriate.  The Sacred Music emphasis within the Bachelor of Music degree is designed for students who wish to pursue careers as church musicians, and it can also serve as a preparation for seminary study. The Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Music Theory/Composition is designed for those students who plan to pursue graduate work in composition and/or music theory.

The Music Department requires an audition for all students who wish to pursue the music major at Southwestern. Once they are admitted to the major program, students must perform a jury in their major performance area each semester. In addition, they must pass a keyboard proficiency requirement and a sophomore barrier performance examination. The Southwestern University capstone requirement may be fulfilled in various ways by music majors, including a public recital or recitals, or a lecture or other public presentation; consult the University catalog for more information. NOTE: For the Performance and Music Education programs within the Bachelor of Music degree, public recitals are required as capstones.

Music majors must meet the general education standards common to all SU students.

Core Courses for the Major in Music (BA and BM)

56 semester hours, including six semesters of Music Literature 80-100 (four semesters for transfer students); Music Literature 80-113, 123, 223, 233, 363; Music Theory 76-101, 111, 113, 121, 123, 131, 223, 233; Music Education 77-603 or 613; six hours from Ensemble 78-101/201, 121/221, 131/231, 171/271 (other courses may be substituted with approval of the  department chair); 12 hours from Applied Music 8x-00x/8x-20x (principal instrument); four hours from Applied Music 8x-00x/8x-20x (secondary instrument--fulfilled by piano for all students except those whose principal instrument is piano).

NOTE: Students whose principal instrument is not piano must enroll in applied piano lessons every semester until the Keyboard Proficiency Exam is passed.

NOTE: Music majors with harp as their principal instrument should take two semesters of the approved ensembles listed above under “Core Courses for the Major in Music.” In addition, they should take two semesters of Chamber Music (Instrumental) ENS78-151/251, and two semesters of Harp Ensemble, which will be listed as a separate section of ENS78-151/251 in the semesters in which it is offered.

Additional Requirements for the Major in Music (BA and BM)

Passage of an audition/interview for admission into the major program; successful completion of the Keyboard Proficiency Examination; successful completion of the Sophomore Barrier Examination; successful completion of a jury at the end of each semester of enrollment at Southwestern; successful completion of a Capstone experience.

In addition to the core courses above, each degree program in the music major requires additional course work in Music. Click on the links in the introductory paragraph on this page for the specific requirements for each degree program.

Minor in Music

23 semester hours, including Music Literature 80-113; Music Theory 76-111, 113, 121, 123; 12 additional hours of Music courses above the introductory level.

OR

22 semester hours, including Music Literature 80-113, 123; Music Theory 76-111,113; 12 additional hours of Music courses above the introductory level.

An audition is not required for a Minor in Music. Students who wish to change from a Music major to a minor must notify the chair, as their financial aid will be affected if they are receiving a Music Scholarship.