Music (B.A.)

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This program is designed for the student who wishes to major in music as part of a broader liberal arts curriculum. It is a versatile degree that allows students some freedom to create their own balance between the music and liberal arts areas. With this degree students can double major or minor in many other fields available at Gordon.

Minimum Course Grade

All music majors and minors must attain a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all music courses required for the major or minor, including music labs. Any required music course in which a grade below C has been received will not fulfill a prerequisite and must be repeated until the minimum requirements are met.

Requirements

Students pursuing this degree must complete the following courses, along with the full core curriculum, and earn a minimum of 120 credits:

MUS 111 - Foundational Music Reading Skills (2)
MUS 211 - Music Theory I (3)
MUS 212 - Music Theory II (3)
MUL 211 - Aural Skills I (2)
MUL 212 - Aural Skills II (1)
MUS 311 - Music Theory III (4)
MUL 311 - Aural Skills III (1)
MUS 226 - Music History and Literature I (4)
MUS 326 - Music History and Literature II (4)
MUS 329 - Music History and Literature III (2)
MUS 491 - Senior Seminar I (2)
MUS 492 - Senior Seminar II (2)
MUS 090 - Vocal Diction I (1) and MUS 092 - Vocal Diction II (1) for vocalists or MUS 098 - Voice Class (2) for instrumentalists
Applied music (12 credits on one instrument; includes piano proficiency credits as applicable)
Ensemble requirement (see “Ensemble Requirement” below)
Pass piano and voice proficiency examinations
Music electives (4 credits; 6 credits if MUS 111 is validated or waived)
Additional liberal arts courses (24 credits outside of music)

Piano Proficiency

Students are required to complete a minimum of two semesters of Piano Proficiency; credits will be included with the Applied Music credits.

Students testing into MUS 043 need only that course.

Students testing out of MUS 043 are exempt from the requirement.

Ensemble Requirement

Eight semesters of ensemble participation are required.
Up to 6 ensembles may be taken for credit.
Students completing the Composition or Music in Worship concentration must enroll in the 0-credit sections.

Vocalists

Notes:

✢ Further requirements and information are outlined in the Music Student Handbook.

Concentrations

Students majoring in Music (BA) may elect to complete one of the concentrations below. These courses will count towards the music electives requirement in the major.

Composition

Music in Worship

Departmental Honors

At the recommendation of their advisor, a qualifying music major with a departmental GPA of 3.65 or higher would be eligible to apply for Departmental Honors. Under the direction of a faculty advisor, students will complete a research-based project in their final two or three semesters of study. Applications must be made to the department chair, who will then bring the application before the music faculty. The student must maintain and graduate with a minimum departmental GPA of 3.65 in order to receive honors. Final projects for honors are in addition to any required senior or junior recitals for the BM degree and any capstone requirement for the BA degree.

Applications must be made according to the following time table:

BM in performance: Apply 1st semester of junior year;
BM in education: Apply 2nd semester of sophomore year;
BA in music: Apply 1st semester of junior year.

Final projects could include:

Research paper
Lecture recital
Composition