Music
Home » Music

Plan of Study

General Education Requirements

To fulfill The Arts General Education Requirement in Music, students may select any of the three-credit courses for their Theoretical/Historical component, and any of the listed one-credit applied studio or ensemble courses for the Applied component.

Several Music Department courses fulfill other General Education Requirements. Four courses meet the International component of the Perspectives on Diversity Requirement, MUS 161, 361, 363 and 364; two courses fulfill the Domestic component of this requirement, MUS 362 and 369. The Department also offers Earlham Seminars.

The Major

The Music Major includes study in five areas: Theory and Composition, Ethnomusicology (including courses on Non-Western Musics and Oral Traditions of the West), History of Western Music in the Written Tradition, Applied Skills and Art or Theatre. The total minimum number of semester hours for the Music Major is 37. This minimum assumes the student will have tested out of MUS 141 and MUS 171, which are prerequisites for required courses.

Students majoring in Music must complete all of the following:

  • MUS 161 Introduction to Music: Geographic Emphasis

  • MUS 371 Music Theory II: Compositional Techniques — Counterpoint and Common Practice

  • MUS 441 Topics in the History of Western Music before 1900

  • MUS 442 History of Western Music 1890 – Present

  • MUS 460 Ethnomusicology: Methods and Issues

  • MUS 471 Music Theory III: Compositional Techniques — Romanticism and 20th Century

  • One course in Art or Theatre Arts, to be chosen from:
    ART 210, 211, 212 OR
    THEA 250, 251, 350 or 351 OR
     FILM 215, 300, 342, 346

  • One additional theoretical or applied course (minimum 3 credits) in Art, Theatre Arts, Film Studies or Music

  • Six additional credits* (See below for specifics regarding each concentration) 

  • Two credits of Applied Music ensembles** (See below for specifics regarding Music Education concentrations)

  • Four additional credits of Applied Music (private lessons or ensembles)*** (See below for specifics regarding Music Education concentrations)

  • Piano Proficiency Examination

  • Melodic and Harmonic Dictation Examination

  • Sight-Singing Examination

  • MUS 487 Senior Seminar

  • MUS 488 Senior Capstone Experience, including a Senior Project and Comprehensive Examinations

*The six additional credits for each concentration are as follows:

  • General Music Major: Six credits from MUS 340s, 350, 360s, 370s, 380s, 450 or 495
  • Performance Concentration: Three additional credits of private applied study and one course chosen from MUS 340s, 350, 360s, 370s, 380s, 450 or 495
  • Composition Concentration: Three credits in individual composition study and MUS 372
  • Choral Conducting Concentration: MUS 350 and 450
  • Western Music History Concentration: three credits from MUS 340s, 380s or independent study in Western Music History; and three additional credits in European History, Western Art History or Western Music History
  • Ethnomusicology Concentration: one SOAN course, to be chosen from 115, 216, 320s, 340, 341, 345, 361 or 366, and one additional Ethnomusicology course (MUS 360s)
  • Music Technology Concentration: MUS 372 and CS 128
  • Music Education Concentration (vocal): MUS 350 and 450
  • Music Education Concentration (instrumental): MUS 350 and 472

**For the Music Education Concentration, two credits of Applied Music ensembles must be chosen as follows:

  • For the Music Education Concentration (vocal), students must participate in choral ensembles, including at least one semester in Concert Choir
  • For the Music Education Concentration (instrumental), students must earn one credit each of Orchestra and Jazz Band

***For the Music Education Concentration, the four additional credits of Applied Music must be private lessons:

  • For the Music Education Concentration (vocal), must include two credits of voice lessons and two credits of piano lessons.
  • For the Music Education Concentration (instrumental), must include one credit each of lessons in a brass instrument, a wind instrument, and a bowed string instrument

The Minor

Students complete a minimum of 21 semester hours for the Music Minor. At least one course in Ethnomusicology (including courses in Non-Western Musics and Oral Traditions of the West) and one course in Western Music in the Written Tradition must be included. Students must complete areas A, B and C.

A. Entry-level (3 courses, 3 credits each)

  • MUS 141 Introduction to Music: Western Historical Emphasis AND
  • MUS 161 Introduction to Music: Geographic Emphasis OR
    MUS 340s/360s Topics courses Music

AND

  • MUS 171 Music Theory I: Introduction and Foundation

If competency is demonstrated through exam for MUS 141 or 171,
an upper-level course must be substituted.

B. Upper-level (2 courses, 3 credits each)

  • MUS 441 Topics in the History of Western Music before 1900 OR
  • MUS 442 History of Western Music 1890 – Present OR
    MUS 460 Ethnomusicology: Methods and Issues

AND

  • One additional upper-level history or theory course
    (MUS 371, 441, 442 or 471)

C. Six additional credit hours of the student's choice within the Music Department