B.A. in Music Degree Requirements
The B.A. in Music is offered for students with interest in music who also want to pursue a second degree or minor not in the School of Music.
A total of 120 credit hours (45 at the Jr/Sr level 300+) is required. To graduate, a student must earn a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in all major courses and a minimum average of 2.0 in all course work.
Students will gain knowledge in a variety of areas while pursuing the B.A. and may include any approved KU major or minor without adding extra credit hours to their degree program. Students will study with faculty members who are nationally and internationally recognized. Courses in music theory and musicology are part of the exploration of music as are private instruction, ensemble and chamber music opportunities, as well as a senior performance recital.
With this degree, students will be well-rounded prospects for nearly any employer upon graduation. Students can also go on to pursue graduate studies in music, establish private studios, audition for music ensembles, or create their own paths in music or music-related endeavors.
The School of Music
The School of Music at the University of Kansas ranks among the finest in America, offering comprehensive programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.
The school nurtures and advances the art of music through creation, performance, scholarly inquiry, entrepreneurship, and enhancement of the artistic skills and experiences of the university and regional cultural communities.
The school is a major contributor to the arts community through the student, faculty, and professional performances in Swarthout Recital Hall, Bales Organ Recital Hall, the Robert Baustian Theatre, and the Lied Center of Kansas.
The School of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. The entrance and graduation requirements in this catalog conform to the published guidelines of that organization.
Ensemble Policy
The Ensemble Policy applies to:
- All undergraduate students who enroll in any level of voice lessons.
- All undergraduate and master’s students who enroll in any level of lessons on a brass, jazz, percussion, piano, string, or woodwind instrument.
Applicable students must audition for and perform in a major ensemble, as assigned, on their primary instrument/voice each semester in which they are enrolled in lessons. Most music majors are required to enroll in one ensemble for 1 credit each semester. If a student chooses to enroll in additional ensembles beyond their degree requirements, they may enroll for zero credits. Except as noted below, exceptions to this policy are allowed on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the major ensemble conductor, in consultation with the student’s faculty mentor and applied faculty member. Students who receive a music scholarship or a GTA position may have additional responsibilities regarding ensemble participation.
Major ensembles include: Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Marching Band; Chamber Choir, KU Glee, Treble Choir, and University Singers; Jazz Ensemble I; and Symphony Orchestra. University Band, Oread Singers, Jazz Ensembles II and III, and Philharmonic Orchestra will satisfy this requirement only if the student is placed in those ensembles by audition.
BA-Composition and BA-Music Production & Technology majors: Jazz combos and other small ensembles can satisfy this requirement, if approved by either their applied faculty member and their faculty mentor (Composition) or the Director of Jazz and Commercial Music (MPT).
BM-Composition majors: Other ensembles can satisfy this requirement, if approved by their faculty mentor (Composition).
BA-Performance (Piano) and BM-Performance (Piano) majors: Small ensembles can satisfy this requirement, with approval from the student’s faculty mentor, applied faculty member and the course instructor.
BFA-Theatre & Voice and BM-Performance (Voice) majors: Opera Production can satisfy this requirement, if the student accepts a major role in the production. This exception must be documented through a course substitution petition. As noted above, students may choose to enroll in additional ensembles.
BMT majors: Additional ensembles can satisfy this requirement, if approved by the Area Coordinator for Music Therapy.
Undergraduate Admission to the School of Music
Students who wish to major in music must audition. All students academically approved for admission to the School of Music are admitted contingent upon demonstration by audition of satisfactory level proficiency in their area of applied music. Further information about specific applied music areas can be found on the School of Music's Audition Information website; if you do not see your particular area of study listed there, please contact KU School of Music Recruiting <musicrecruiting@ku.edu>, to inquire about availability.
Music audition and application information is available on the School of Music website. There is a limit of two times a prospective student may request an audition for entrance into one of the School's undergraduate degree programs. The second request must be within 12 months of the first and may be as early as 1 month following the first audition. This limitation also applies to students within the School auditioning from one program into another.
First-year and current KU students
Once admitted academically, first-year students will enter the School of Music directly after a successful audition. Students may transfer into the School of Music from other KU Schools or the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences if they have at least a 2.75 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and are eligible to return to the college or university last attended in addition to completing a successful audition. Other students can be admitted only with the permission of the Dean of the School of Music. Information and applications are available through the Office of Admissions and for international students they are available through the Office of International Admissions.
Transfer Students
Students may transfer to the School of Music from other institutions or from other KU Schools if they have at least a 2.75 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), are eligible to return to the college or university last attended and complete a successful audition. Only grades of C or higher are accepted in transfer credit toward degrees offered by the School of Music. Students who wish to transfer performance credit from another institution toward any music degree at KU must validate this credit by audition.
Keyboard Skills Placement Examination:
If a student has a background in keyboard playing, they may choose to take one or more Piano Quiz-Out tests. Successfully passing a Quiz-Out will exempt a student from having to take a particular class in the PIAN sequence (PIAN 144, PIAN 148, PIAN 284, or PIAN 310 for students with keyboard/organ emphasis). Students should check with their advisor about how this will impact their particular degree requirements.
Freshmen and transfer students with no previous piano study experience should enroll in PIAN 144. No examination or permission number is necessary. Students should check with their advisor about their particular degree requirements.
More information about the Keyboard Skills Placement Examination including deadlines is available on the School of Music website.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Music
The B.A. in Music is offered for students with interests in any area of music who also want to pursue a second degree or minor not in the School of Music.
A total of 120 credit hours (45 at the Jr/Sr level 300+) is required. To graduate, a student must earn a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in all major courses and a minimum average of 2.0 in all course work.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| MTHC 105 | Theory I (concurrent with MTHC 106) (fall only) | 3 |
| MTHC 106 | Aural Skills I (fall only) | 1 |
| MTHC 115 | Theory II (concurrent with MTHC 116) (spring only) | 3 |
| MTHC 116 | Aural Skills II (spring only) | 1 |
| MUSC 340 | Music History II (spring only) | 3 |
| MUSC 360 | Music History III (fall only) | 3 |
| REC 100 | Laboratory in Music Performance (Two semesters with a grade of "S" (Satisfactory) | 0 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| |
| |
| Total Hours | 120 |
Concentration in Music Composition
22 hours of additional courses required for a Concentration in Music Composition:
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| MTHC 583 | Composition (minimum 2 semesters) | 4 |
| MTHC 205 | Theory III (or other MTHC) | 3 |
| MTHC 315 | Theory IV (or other MTHC 300+) | 3 |
| MTHC 410 | Form and Analysis (or other MTHC 300+) | 3 |
| MTHC 433 | Advanced Analysis of Contemporary Music (or other MTHC 300+) | 3 |
| 3 |
| MTHC 498 | Undergraduate Recital | 3 |
| Total Hours | 22 |
Concentration in Music Performance
22 hours of additional courses required for a Concentration in Music Performance:
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| 4 |
| 2 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 6 |
| |
| 2 |
| Total Hours | 22 |
Concentration in Music Production & Technology
22 hours of additional courses required for a Concentration in Music Production & Technology:
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| MUS 486 | The Business of Music | 3 |
| MUS 487 | Entrepreneurship and Outreach | 3 |
| MUS 488 | Arts Management | 3 |
| MUS 481 | Introduction to Music Recording | 3 |
| MUS 483 | Advanced Music Recording | 3 |
| MUS 485 | Practicum in Audio Recording | 3 |
| 1 |
| 3 |
| Total Hours | 22 |
Concentration in Music Theory
22 hours of additional courses required for a Concentration in Music Theory:
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| MTHC 205 | Theory III (or other MTHC) | 3 |
| MTHC 252 | Introduction to Composition (or other MTHC) | 2 |
| MTHC 315 | Theory IV (or other MTHC 300+) | 3 |
| MTHC 410 | Form and Analysis (or other MTHC 300+) | 3 |
| MTHC 432 | Introduction to the Analysis Contemporary Music (or other MTHC 300+) | 3 |
| 3 |
| 1 |
| MTHC 499 | Senior Research Project (two semesters at 2 credits each) | 4 |
| Total Hours | 22 |
Concentration in Musicology
22 hours of additional courses required for a Concentration in Musicology:
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| MUSC 320 | Music History I (or other MUSC 300+) | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| MUSC 499 | Senior Thesis (two semesters at 2 credits each) | 4 |
| Total Hours | 22 |
Concentration in Piano Pedagogy
22 hours of additional courses required for a Concentration in Piano Pedagogy:
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Perform in one of more areas of music beyond basic musicianship and in a variety of musical styles appropriate to the student’s major performing medium.
- Apply fundamental skills and methods of music theory and history to a wide selection of musical literature.
- Demonstrate the ability to complete independent work in a format appropriate to the student’s primary area of interest (thesis, composition recital, or solo recital).
