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Bachelor of Arts in Music

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Harmonize Your Interests

In the Music, B.A., your focus in a music discipline will be complemented by a broad liberal arts experience.

This combination will prepare you for careers in Music Business, Music Technology, and Music Production.

The Music, B.A. program is attractive to students with experience making music using their computers or DAWS,  or who have a desire to be in the music industry. It is also possible to double major with Bachelor of Arts in Music in another area.

Visit the Department

Music Major Curriculum and Courses

All Bachelor of Arts in Music students take core music courses in contemporary music and music history, in addition to specializing in their track. Depending on the track you select, your curricular requirements will differ. Here is a sampling of courses in the B.A.:

  • CCA 202 Introduction to Music Business
  • MUS 100Z Laptop Ensemble 
  • MUS 119 Introduction to Music Theory
  • MUS 206 Tracking Sounds: A History of Film Music
  • MUS 381 Music for Games
  • MUS 386 The History and Development of Hip Hop Culture in America
  • MUS 415 You Say You Want a Revolution: Rock and Roll and the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s
Full Course List
learning outcomes
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  • Bachelor of Arts in Music majors in the Performance and Music Technology tracks must audition and study a primary instrument. These include:

    • Basson
    • Cello
    • Clarinet
    • Double Bass
    • Euphonium
    • Flute
    • Harp
    • Horn
    • Oboe
    • Percussion
    • Piano
    • Saxophone
    • Trombone
    • Trumpet
    • Tuba
    • Viola
    • Violin
    • Voice

  • Updated 2/25

    First Year: Fall Semester/Semester 1

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 101Theory of Music I3
    MUS 151Aural Skills I1
    MUS 142Applied Music2
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 160Functional Piano(1)
    ENG 111Composition and Rhetoric (MP PA1B)3
    —MP fulfilling course13
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total16(17)

    First Year: Spring Semester/Semester 2

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 102Theory of Music II3
    MUS 152Aural Skills II1
    MUS 142Applied Music2
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 161Functional Piano1
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total17

    Second Year: Fall Semester/Semester 3

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 201Theory of Music III3
    MUS 142Applied Music2
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    —MP fulfilling course or Multicultural
    Perspectives in MUS 185 (MP PA4B + SI)
    [Fall only] if no MUS 186    		3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives4
    —Total16

    Second Year: Spring Semester/Semester 4

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 202Theory of Music IV3
    MUS 142Applied Music2
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    —MP fulfilling course or Global Playlists
    MUS 186 (MP PA4C + SI) [Spring only] if no MUS 185    		3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives4
    —Total16

    Third Year: Fall Semester/Semester 5

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 211History of Western Music (MP PA3A)3
    —Upper Level Music Elective^3
    —Music Free Electives*3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives3
    —Total15

    Third Year: Spring Semester/Semester 6

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 212History of Western Music3
    —Upper Level Music Elective3
    —Music Free Electives3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives3
    —Total15

    Fourth Year: Fall Semester/Semester 7

    CourseTitleCredits
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives13
    —Total16

    Fourth Year: Spring Semester/Semester 8

    CourseTitleCredits
    —Capstone3
    —Free Electives10
    —Total13
    —Total Hours: 124

    *MUS 140 Recital Attendance requires four semesters of registration.

    1 9 credit hours of MP Perspectives Areas must double dip with 9 credit hours of MP Signature Inquiries unless 9 hours of free electives are used as MP fulfilling courses.

    Functional Piano requirement: MUS 161 or proficiency examination required.

    Performance requirement: four semesters of applied music in the primary performance medium are required. Study at the 200 level (MUS 242) is possible but requires Sophomore standing.

    ^Complete at least six hours of Upper Level Music Electives, from the following courses:

    • MUS 204 Brazilian Culture Through Popular Music (3)
    • MUS 206 Tracking Sounds: A History of Film Music (3)
    • MUS 221 Music Technologies (Miami Plan course) (3)
    • MUS 225 And the Beat Goes On… The History of Rock and Roll (3)
    • MUS 285 Introduction to African American Music (3)
    • MUS 286 Rhythm, Rhyme, and Resistance: Hip Hop Culture in America (3)
    • MUS 287 Enter the Diva: American Women in Music (3)
    • MUS 301 Counterpoint (3)
    • MUS 304 Electronic Music (3)
    • MUS 306 Advanced Electronic Music (3)
    • MUS 313 Small Screen Sounds (3)
    • MUS 370 Orchestration (3)
    • MUS 385 The Roots of Black Music: Blues, Gospel and Soul (3)
    • MUS 404/MUS 504 Wind Band Ensemble Literature (3)
    • MUS 406 Advanced Analysis (3)
    • MUS 490/MUS590 Special Topics in Music (3)

    *Complete six hours of Music Free Electives – elective hours may not include applied music.

    Large Music Ensemble requirement: All students in the Bachelor of Arts in Music: Performance Track are required to enroll in one large ensemble for four semesters in their primary performance medium. The large ensembles include: MUS 100B Men’s Glee Club, MUS 100C Symphony Orchestra, MUS 100D Choraliers, MUS 100E Marching Band, MUS 100F Symphony Band, MUS 100G Wind Ensemble, and MUS 100Q Chamber Singers. Entrance to each group is by audition. Pianists may fulfill the ensemble requirement through enrollment in a vocal ensemble, an instrumental ensemble, accompanying (MUS 110/120), or chamber music as a pianist. Guitarists may fulfill the ensemble requirement through enrollment in a vocal ensemble, an instrumental ensemble, or chamber music as a guitarist.

    It is the responsibility of the student to see that all university requirements are fulfilled – please refer to the General Bulletin.

  • Updated 2/25

    First Year: Fall Semester/Semester 1

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement*0
    MUS 101Theory of Music I3
    MUS 151Aural Skills I1
    MUS 100Music Ensemble1
    MUS 160Functional Piano(1)
    ENG 111Composition and Rhetoric (MP PA1B)3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total14(15)

    First Year: Spring Semester/Semester 2

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 102Theory of Music II3
    MUS 152Aural Skills II1
    MUS 100Music Ensemble1
    MUS 161Functional Piano1
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total15

    Second Year: Fall Semester/Semester 3

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 201Theory of Music III3
    —Upper Level Music Elective^3
    —Upper Level Non-Music Elective^^3
    —MP fulfilling course or Multicultural
    Perspectives in Music (MP PA4B + SI)
    [Fall only] if no MUS 186    		3
    —Free Electives4
    —Total16

    Second Year: Spring Semester/Semester 4

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 202Theory of Music IV3
    —Upper Level Music Elective^3
    —MP fulfilling course or Global Playlists
    MUS 186 (MP PA4C + SI) [Spring only] if no
    MUS 185    		3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives4
    —Total16

    Third Year: Fall Semester/Semester 5

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 211History of Western Music (MP PA3A)3
    —Upper Level Music Elective^3
    —Music Free Electives*3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives3
    —Total18

    Third Year: Spring Semester/Semester 6

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 212History of Western Music3
    —Upper Level Non-music Elective^^3
    —Music Free Electives3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives3
    —Total15

    Fourth Year: Fall Semester/Semester 7

    CourseTitleCredits
    —MP fulfulling course3
    —Free Electives12
    —Total15

    Fourth Year: Spring Semester/Semester 8

    CourseTitleCredits
    —Capstone3
    —Free Electives12
    —Total15
    —Total Hours: 124

    *MUS 140 Recital Attendance requires four semesters of registration.

    1 9 credit hours of MP Perspectives Areas must double dip with 9 credit hours of MP Signature Inquiries unless 9 hours of free electives are used as MP fulfilling courses

    Functional Piano requirement: MUS 161 or proficiency examination required.

    ^Complete at least six hours of Upper Level Music Electives, from the following courses:

    • MUS 204 Brazilian Culture Through Popular Music (3)
    • MUS 206 Tracking Sounds: A History of Film Music (3)
    • MUS 221 Music Technologies (Miami Plan course) (3)
    • MUS 225 And the Beat Goes On… The History of Rock and Roll (3)
    • MUS 285 Introduction to African American Music (3)
    • MUS 286 Rhythm, Rhyme, and Resistance: Hip Hop Culture in America (3)
    • MUS 287 Enter the Diva: American Women in Music (3)
    • MUS 301 Counterpoint (3)
    • MUS 304 Electronic Music (3)
    • MUS 306 Advanced Electronic Music (3)
    • MUS 313 Small Screen Sounds (3)
    • MUS 370 Orchestration (3)
    • MUS 385 The Roots of Black Music: Blues, Gospel and Soul (3)
    • MUS 404/MUS 504 Wind Band Ensemble Literature (3)
    • MUS 406 Advanced Analysis (3)
    • MUS 490/MUS590 Special Topics in Music (3)

    ^^Select a minimum of six hours of electives outside the Department of Music, from the following programs: Anthropology (ATH), Art (ART), Classics (CLS), Comparative Religion (REL), Global and Intercultural Studies (GIC), History (HST), Media, Journalism, Film (MJF), Sociology (SOC) and Theatre (THE). Courses must be at the 200 level or above.

    *Complete six hours of Music Free Electives – elective hours may not include applied music.

    Ensemble requirement: All students in the Bachelor of Arts in Music: Music in Culture Track are required to enroll in one of the following ensembles for two semesters: MUS 100B Men’s Glee Club, MUS 100C Symphony Orchestra, MUS 100D Choraliers, MUS 100E Marching Band, MUS 100F Symphony Band, MUS 100G Wind Ensemble, MUS 100K Jazz Ensemble, MUS 100N Steel Band, MUS 100Q Chamber Singers or MUS 100Z Laptop Ensemble. Pianists may fulfill the ensemble requirement through enrollment in a vocal ensemble, an instrumental ensemble, accompanying (MUS 110/120), or chamber music as a pianist. Guitarists may fulfill the ensemble requirement through enrollment in a vocal ensemble, an instrumental ensemble, or chamber music as a guitarist.

    It is the responsibility of the student to see that all university requirements are fulfilled – please refer to the General Bulletin.

  • Updated 2/25

    First Year: Fall Semester/Semester 1

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement*0
    MUS 101Theory of Music I3
    MUS 151Aural Skills I1
    MUS 100ZLaptop Ensemble1
    MUS 160Functional Piano(1)
    ENG 111Composition and Rhetoric (MP PA1B)3
    —MP fulfilling course13
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total14(15)

    First Year: Spring Semester/Semester 2

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 102Theory of Music II3
    MUS 152Aural Skills II1
    MUS 100ZLaptop Ensemble1
    MUS 161Functional Piano1
    MUS 221Music Technologies [Spring only]3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total15

    Second Year: Fall Semester/Semester 3

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 201Theory of Music III3
    MUS 304Electronic Music [Fall only]3
    —MP fulfilling course or Multicultural
    Perspectives in Music (MP PA4B + SI)
    [Fall only] if no MUS 186    		3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives4
    —Total16

    Second Year: Spring Semester/Semester 4

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 202Theory of Music IV3
    MUS 381Music for Games [Spring only]3
    —MP fulfilling course or Global Playlists
    MUS 186 (MP PA4C + SI) [Spring only] if no MUS 185    		3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives4
    —Total16

    Third Year: Fall Semester/Semester 5

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 211History of Western Music (MP PA3A)3
    MUS 308

    IMS___    		Audio Recording Techniques
    -OR-
    any other IMS course @ 200 level or above    		3

    3
    —Music Free Electives*3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —MP fulfilling3
    —Free Electives3
    —Total18

    Third Year: Spring Semester/Semester 6

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 212History of Western Music3
    MUS 308

    IMS___    		Audio Recording Techniques
    -OR-
    any other IMS course @ 200 level or above    		3

    3
    —Music Free Electives3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives3
    —Total15

    Fourth Year: Fall Semester/Semester 7

    CourseTitleCredits
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives12
    —Total15

    Fourth Year: Spring Semester/Semester 8

    CourseTitleCredits
    —Capstone3
    —Free Electives12
    —Total15
    —Total Hours: 124

    *MUS 140 Recital Attendance requires four semesters of registration.

    1 9 credit hours of MP Perspectives Areas must double dip with 9 credit hours of MP Signature Inquiries unless 9 hours of free electives are used as MP fulfilling courses.

    Functional Piano requirement: MUS 161 or proficiency examination required.

    Music Technology Courses above, include:

    • MUS 221 Music Technologies
    • MUS 304 Electronic Music
    • MUS 308 Audio Recording Techniques
    • MUS 381 Music for Games
    • Also take three hours of any other IMS course at the 200 level or above.

    *Complete six hours of Music Free Electives – elective hours may not include applied music.Ensemble requirement: All students in the Bachelor of Arts in Music: Music Technology Track are required to enroll in Laptop Ensemble (MUS 100Z) for two semesters.

    It is the responsibility of the student to see that all university requirements are fulfilled – please refer to the General Bulletin.

Career Options

The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree prepares students for a variety of career paths. Some of our graduates work in the music field as freelance artists or private teachers, while others find jobs in related fields such as arts management. Because the BA in Music degree works well as a double major, many students in this degree program go on to pursue careers in medicine, business, industry, or academia.

Additional Opportunities for Music Majors

The Department of Music offers a variety of opportunities for students to explore.

Miami University Symphony Orchestra performs.

Ensembles

All music ensembles are open to all Miami students, and some participate in more than one group per semester. Vocalists can sing in a choir and even audition for the Opera, while instrumentalists can choose from wind bands, orchestra, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, and steel band.

More About Ensembles

Distinguished Professor Tammy Kernodle, Ph.D. mentors a Music major student in her office.

Outstanding Professors

You’ll have the opportunity to work closely with outstanding faculty who are nationally recognized experts. For example, Distinguished Professor Dr. Tammy Kernodle has consulted for the Smithsonian’s African-American Museum of History and Cultures.

Meet the Faculty

Facts and Stats

Your college experience here will be one of the most exciting times of your life. To make sure of this, we’ll provide you with a powerful support system.

90%

First-to-second year retention

Miami University Data

12th

Among Public Universities in the United States for Four-Year Graduation Rate

OIRE

95%

Of 2021 CCA graduates employed or pursuing advanced degrees within six months of graduation

Miami University Data

Pair Your Music Major With the Perfect Co-Major or Minor

Explore a wide range of co-majors or minors that complement your major. Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise or broaden your academic experience, these programs are designed to help you build a well-rounded and impactful degree.

Customize your education to do more, see more, be more.
View All Programs

Music Admission Requirements

To pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree, you must apply both to Miami University and to the Department of Music. These are separate processes, but you may complete them concurrently—no need to wait for a University admission decision before applying to the Department.

Note: A successful audition or portfolio review is required to be admitted.

Contact Us

Benjamin Smolder, M.M.
Interim Chair and Associate Professor
Department of Music
Presser Hall 204
501 S. Patterson Ave.
Oxford, OH 45056

513-529-6009

[email protected]