Jun 23, 2025
2022-23 NSU Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]
Music B.A. - Musical Arts
OSRHE Program Code: 060
CIP Code: 500901
Major Code: 4645
The Bachelor of Arts in Music (Music, B.A.) and Bachelor of Music Education (Music Education, B.M.E.) degrees are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (http://nasm.arts-accredit.org/) located at 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, VA 20190, 703-437-0700.
Student Learning Outcomes - Music Core
- Perform successfully on at least one instrument with technical proficiency and with awareness of all musical elements.
- Understand and interpret musical scores satisfactorily.
- Read, write, and transcribe music as necessary, including exhibiting appropriate ear training skills.
- Demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge of the history and literature of the art, including a diversity of cultural soures, historical periods, and media.
- Demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge and skill level of appropriate technology as it applies to music.
Student Learning Outcomes - Musical Arts
- Participate in major musical ensempbles, thus helping the student to understand and respond to the aesthetic content of the music being performed.
Before pursuing a major in music, all students must successfully complete a performance audition for entrance into the applied area of concentration (instrumental, piano, vocal). This requirement must be fulfilled before degree plans can be approved and advisors assigned. Transfer students are given placement tests to determine what academic music courses are best suited for their background and experience. Students who have taken music theory or piano courses at other institutions should consult the Transfer Guides at http://academics.nsuok.edu/music/TransferStudents.aspx to prepare for the exams. These are necessary to ensure that students have the appropriate background and can succeed in the courses they take. Students are to declare a major in music by the beginning of their sophomore year. Transfer students are to declare a major in music by the end of their first semester as an NSU student.
Additional Program Requirements
- Ensemble: Music majors are required to participate in at least one music ensemble per semester as specified in the individual degree plans. They are to pass MUS 3611 Wind Ensemble, MUS 3631 University/Community Chorus, or MUS 3681 Band. Instrumental music majors with an emphasis in guitar may choose an appropriate ensemble as prescribed by their advisor.
- Junior Standing Jury: All music majors must pass the Junior Standing Jury (except BA Musical Arts and Music Business students) as prescribed by the music area (keyboard, instrumental, vocal) before enrollment in any 4000 level applied music courses. Junior standing is also a prerequisite to MUS 3131, Junior Recital and MUS 4031, Senior Recital.
- Upper Level Credit: At least one-fourth of the total semester hours in the major applied music area must be upper level credit from NSU (except BA Musical Arts and Music Business option students).
Minimum Grade Requirements
Students must earn a grade of C or better in courses used for major or minor credit. Grades lower than a C from NSU or transfer institutions will not apply for major or minor credit.
General Education Requirements: Music Majors
A minimum of 46 hours of academic work in general education is required during the freshman and sophomore years. For students transferring with the Associate of Arts degree or Associate of Science degree from a public institution in Oklahoma, all general education requirements will be satisfied with respect to degree requirements. Some majors may require other specific general education courses as program prerequisites or program requirements. Students are required to complete general education requirements by the time they have completed 90 semester hours of college work. See General Education Requirements for more information. All music majors are required to take MUS 2863 World Music as part of the humanities hours in the general education requirements. Music Core for B.A. degree - 30 hours
All students in the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music must complete the following 30 hours of core music classes. Musical Arts - 8 Required Hours + 4 semesters of recital lab
- Applied Music - 4 hours in major instrument
- Major Ensemble - 4 hours
Music Electives - 18 hours
- Music Electives (additional ensembles and applied lessons not to exceed eight hours) - 18 hours.
Additional Degree Information - College of Liberal Arts
In addition to general education and program requirements stated above, additional hours may be needed to satisfy all minimum degree requirements listed below. - English Proficiency: Components I and II of English proficiency should be met with grades of “C” or better prior to the completion of 60 credit hours.
- A minimum of 124 hours is required. PE activity is limited to four hours. Prior learning credit (CLEP, Advanced Standing, Military Credit, etc) is limited to 30 hours.
- A minimum of 30 hours in residence (from NSU) is required for graduation. PE activity is limited to four hours. Hours in residence exclude zero-level courses and prior learning credit such as CLEP, Advanced Placement, Advanced Standing, Military Credit, etc.
- A minimum of 40 hours of 3000/4000 level courses is required for graduation.
- A minimum of 60 hours from a 4-year school is required for graduation excluding zero level and PE activity courses.
- At least fifty percent of the major requirements must be upper division courses (3000 and 4000 level).
- At least 18 hours or fifty percent of the major, whichever is greater, must be satisfactorily completed at NSU.
- The minimum number of credit hours required in the Liberal Arts and Sciences varies based on the type of degree. B.A., B.A.Ed., B.F.A. and B.M.E. degrees require at least 80 hours. B.S. and B.S.Ed. degrees require at least 55 hours. B.G.S. and B.S.W. degrees require at least 40 hours. Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) courses are identified in catalog course descriptions.
For more information, see Bachelor’s Degree Requirements . |