BA in Music

Degree Requirements—Bachelor of Arts in Music

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from UIC, students need to complete university, college, and school degree requirements. The School of Theatre & Music degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts section of the Undergraduate Catalog for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

Summary of Requirements
General Education Requirements24
Major Course Requirements52-64
Electives31-44
DLG 120UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) a1
Total Hours120
a

New freshmen are required to complete DLG 120 for one hour. These students will complete 31–43 hours of electives for the BA in Music. All other students complete 32–44 hours of electives for the BA in Music.

General Education Requirements

Required Courses a
ENGL 160Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts3
ENGL 161Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research3
Analyzing the Natural World course b3-5
Understanding the Individual and Society course b3
Understanding the Past course b3
Understanding U.S. Society course b3
Additional General Education Core courses from any category b,c4-6
Total Hours24
a

The Understanding the Creative Arts and Exploring World Cultures General Education requirements are met by courses within the major.

b

Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this category.

c

Students take two additional courses from any General Education category for a total of 4-6 hours to reach the required 24 hours in the General Education core.

Major Course Requirements

For the BA in Music, 52–64 semester hours distributed as follows:

Required Courses
MUS 101Music Theory I3
MUS 102Music Theory II3
MUS 103Ear Training I1
MUS 104Ear Training II1
MUS 110Convocation/Recital a0
MUS 111Master Class in Performance b0
MUS 170Keyboard Skills I2
MUS 171Keyboard Skills II2
MUS 201Theory of Music III3
MUS 202Theory of Music IV3
MUS 203Ear Training III1
MUS 204Ear Training IV1
MUS 223Music Technology3
MUS 230History of Western Music I: Music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance3
MUS 231History of Western Music II: Music of the Baroque and Classical Periods3
MUS 232History of Western Music III: Music from Romanticism through the Present3
MUS 227Music Cultures of the World c,d3
MUS 301Analytic Techniques3
Select one music elective from the following:3
Art Song c
Jazz History c,e
Opera c
Music for Symphony Orchestra c
American Popular Music since 1850 c,e
Music for the Piano c
Latin American Music c,d
Music, Gender and Culture c,f
Select one music elective from the following:3
Counterpoint
Composing for Small Ensembles
Composing for Large Ensembles
Conducting
Orchestration and Arranging I
Orchestration and Arranging II
Jazz Arranging I
Advanced Topics in Music History and Ethnomusicology
Ensemble Requirement: BA students must be enrolled in at least one ensemble for every term in which they are a major. Select from the following: g4-8
Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Concert Band
Instrumental Ensembles
University Choir
Chamber Choir
Treble Choir
University Orchestras
Jazz Ensemble
Small Jazz Ensemble
BA students must complete four terms of private study (30 minutes per week). Select 4 hours from the following: g4
Private Instrumental Lessons-30 Minutes
Private Vocal Lessons-30 Minutes
Foreign language i0-8
Total Hours52-64
a

Students must register for MUS 110 for four terms.

b

Students must register for MUS 111 for four terms concurrent with enrollment in private instrumental/voice lessons.

c

This course is approved for the Understanding the Creative Arts General Education category.

d

This course is approved for the Exploring World Cultures General Education category.

e

This course is approved for the Understanding the Past General Education category. Students who apply MUS 114 to the Understanding the Past category need to fulfill the Understanding the Creative Arts category with another course.

f

This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society category. Students who apply MUS 240 to the Understanding the Individual and Society category need to fulfill the Understanding the Creative Arts General Education category with another course.

g

No more than 1 hour of credit earned in any term may apply towards this 4-hour requirement.

h

Concurrent registration with an ensemble from the list above. A jury is required at the end of every term of private lessons.

i

Students are required to complete two semesters of study in a language other than their language(s) of origin. Four semesters of language study are recommended. Students will consult with their faculty advisor about which language(s) may best prepare them for their future careers.

Electives

Electives
Electives to reach total hours a31-44
Total Hours31-44
a

New freshmen are required to complete DLG 120 for 1 hour. These students will complete 31–43 hours of electives for the BA in Music. All other students complete 32–44 hours of electives for the BA in Music.

UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar

Required Course
DLG 120UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only)1
Total Hours1

Sample Course Schedule—Bachelor of Arts in Music

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
Fall SemesterHours
MUS 101 Music Theory I 3
MUS 103 Ear Training I 1
MUS 110 Convocation/Recital 0
MUS 170 Keyboard Skills I 2
ENGL 160 Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts 3
Foreign language 4
MUS 181
Private Instrumental Lessons-30 Minutes
or Private Vocal Lessons-30 Minutes
1
MUS 111 Master Class in Performance 0
Ensemble a 1
 Hours15
Spring Semester
MUS 102 Music Theory II 3
MUS 104 Ear Training II 1
MUS 110 Convocation/Recital 0
MUS 171 Keyboard Skills II 2
ENGL 161 Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research 3
Foreign language 4
MUS 181
Private Instrumental Lessons-30 Minutes
or Private Vocal Lessons-30 Minutes
1
MUS 111 Master Class in Performance 0
Ensemble a 1
DLG 120 UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) 1
 Hours16
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
MUS 110 Convocation/Recital 0
MUS 201 Theory of Music III 3
MUS 203 Ear Training III 1
MUS 223 Music Technology 3
General Education Core course 5
MUS 181
Private Instrumental Lessons-30 Minutes
or Private Vocal Lessons-30 Minutes
1
MUS 111 Master Class in Performance 0
Ensemble a 1
 Hours14
Spring Semester
MUS 110 Convocation/Recital 0
MUS 202 Theory of Music IV 3
MUS 204 Ear Training IV 1
MUS 230 History of Western Music I: Music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance 3
Select one of the following: 3
Art Song  
Jazz History  
Opera  
Music for Symphony Orchestra  
Music for the Piano  
Latin American Music  
Music, Gender and Culture  
MUS 181
Private Instrumental Lessons-30 Minutes
or Private Vocal Lessons-30 Minutes
1
MUS 111 Master Class in Performance 0
Ensemble a 1
Elective 3
 Hours15
Junior Year
Fall Semester
MUS 231 History of Western Music II: Music of the Baroque and Classical Periods 3
Advanced Elective—Select one of the following: 3
Counterpoint  
Composing for Small Ensembles  
Composing for Large Ensembles  
Conducting  
Orchestration and Arranging I  
Orchestration and Arranging II  
Jazz Arranging I  
Advanced Topics in Music History and Ethnomusicology  
Ensemble a 1
Electives 8
 Hours15
Spring Semester
MUS 232 History of Western Music III: Music from Romanticism through the Present 3
MUS 301 Analytic Techniques 3
Ensemble a 1
Electives 8
 Hours15
Senior Year
Fall Semester
General Education Core course 3
General Education Core course 3
General Education Core course 3
Ensemble a 1
MUS 227 Music Cultures of the World 3
Electives 2
 Hours15
Spring Semester
General Education Core course 4
Ensemble a 1
Electives 10
 Hours15
 Total Hours120
a

Select one of the following: MUS 150, MUS 151, MUS 152, MUS 153, MUS 154, MUS 155, MUS 157, MUS 159, MUS 160.