BMus in Performance
Degree Requirements—Bachelor of Music in Performance
To earn a Bachelor of Music in Performance degree from UIC, students need to complete university, college, and school degree requirements. An audition is also required to enter the major. 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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| General Education Requirements | 24 | |
| Major Course Requirements | 77-79 | |
| Electives | 16-19 | |
| DLG 120 | UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) a | 1 |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- a
New freshmen are required to complete DLG 120 for one hour. These students will complete 16–19 hours of electives for the BMus in Performance. All other students complete 17–19 hours of electives for the BMus in Performance.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses a | ||
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| Analyzing the Natural World course b | 3-5 | |
| Understanding the Individual and Society course b | 3 | |
| Understanding the Past course b | 3 | |
| Understanding U.S. Society course b | 3 | |
| Additional General Education Core courses from any category b,c | 4-6 | |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
- 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.
Course Requirements
For the Performance Major, 77–79 semester hours distributed as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| MUS 101 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 102 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 103 | Ear Training I | 1 |
| MUS 104 | Ear Training II | 1 |
| MUS 110 | Convocation/Recital a | 0 |
| MUS 201 | Theory of Music III | 3 |
| MUS 202 | Theory of Music IV | 3 |
| MUS 203 | Ear Training III | 1 |
| MUS 204 | Ear Training IV | 1 |
| MUS 170 | Keyboard Skills I | 2 |
| MUS 171 | Keyboard Skills II | 2 |
| MUS 270 | Keyboard Skills III | 2 |
| MUS 271 | Keyboard Skills IV | 2 |
| MUS 230 | History of Western Music I: Music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance | 3 |
| MUS 231 | History of Western Music II: Music of the Baroque and Classical Periods | 3 |
| MUS 232 | History of Western Music III: Music from Romanticism through the Present | 3 |
| MUS 300 | Counterpoint | 3 |
| MUS 301 | Analytic Techniques | 3 |
| MUS 111 | Master Class in Performance b | 0 |
| MUS 223 | Music Technology | 3 |
| MUS 227 | Music Cultures of the World c,d | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Art Song c | ||
| Jazz History c,h | ||
| Opera c | ||
| Music for Symphony Orchestra c | ||
| Music for the Piano c | ||
| Music, Gender and Culture c,i | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Composing for Small Ensembles | ||
| Composing for Large Ensembles | ||
| Conducting | ||
| Orchestration and Arranging I | ||
| Orchestration and Arranging II | ||
| Advanced Topics in Music History and Ethnomusicology | ||
| Ensemble Requirement: Performance Majors must be enrolled in a minimum of one ensemble during every term in which they are a major, distributed as follows: j | 6-8 | |
| Ensemble Requirement: Select four of the following: e | ||
| Concert Band | ||
| University Choir | ||
| University Orchestras | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble Requirement: Select two of the following: e | ||
| Instrumental Ensembles | ||
| Chamber Choir | ||
| Treble Choir | ||
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble Requirement: Select two hours of any ensemble, excluding MUS 156 | ||
| Select eight hours from the following: | 8 | |
| Private Instrumental Lessons f | ||
| Private Voice Lessons f | ||
| Select six hours from the following: | 6 | |
| Advanced Private Instrumental Lessons g | ||
| Advanced Private Voice Lessons g | ||
| Total Hours | 77-79 | |
- a
Students must register for MUS 110 for four terms.
- b
Students must register for MUS 111 for four terms and perform in one master class in two of those terms.
- 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
Vocalists must choose four hours of MUS 153 and two hours of MUS 154 or MUS 155; wind and percussion students must choose four hours between MUS 151 and MUS 159, and two hours between MUS 152 and MUS 160; piano, classical guitar, and organ students must complete two hours from MUS 152, and four hours of a large ensemble, excluding MUS 156; string students must choose four hours of MUS 157 and two hours of MUS 152.
- f
Students must register for MUS 180 or MUS 182 for at least four terms. Both courses require juries or half-recitals; a minimum grade of B is required to remain in the major.
- g
Students must register for MUS 280 or MUS 282 for two terms. Both courses require one jury and one full recital. A minimum grade of B in the first term is required to remain in the major.
- h
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.
- i
This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society category. Students who apply MUS 240 to the Understanding Individual and Society category need to fulfill the Understanding the Creative Arts General Education category with another course.
- j
Total ensemble hour requirement will be determined by the number of semesters enrolled in the major.
Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | ||
| Electives to reach total hours a | 16-19 | |
| Total Hours | 16-19 | |
- a
New freshmen are required to complete DLG 120 for one hour. These students will complete 16–19 hours of electives for the BMus in Performance. All other students complete 17–19 hours of electives for the BMus in Performance.
UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| DLG 120 | UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) | 1 |
| Total Hours | 1 | |
Sample Course Schedule—Bachelor of Music in Performance
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons | 2 |
| MUS 101 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 103 | Ear Training I | 1 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Concert Band | ||
| University Choir | ||
| University Orchestras | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| MUS 110 | Convocation/Recital | 0 |
| MUS 170 | Keyboard Skills I | 2 |
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| General Education Core course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons | 2 |
| MUS 102 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 104 | Ear Training II | 1 |
| MUS 110 | Convocation/Recital | 0 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Concert Band | ||
| University Choir | ||
| University Orchestras | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| MUS 171 | Keyboard Skills II | 2 |
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| General Education Core course | 3 | |
| DLG 120 | UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) | 1 |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons | 2 |
| MUS 110 | Convocation/Recital | 0 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Concert Band | ||
| University Choir | ||
| University Orchestras | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| MUS 201 | Theory of Music III | 3 |
| MUS 203 | Ear Training III | 1 |
| MUS 270 | Keyboard Skills III | 2 |
| MUS 223 | Music Technology | 3 |
| General Education Core course | 5 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons | 2 |
| MUS 110 | Convocation/Recital | 0 |
| MUS 202 | Theory of Music IV | 3 |
| MUS 204 | Ear Training IV | 1 |
| MUS 271 | Keyboard Skills IV | 2 |
| MUS 230 | History of Western Music I: Music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance | 3 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Concert Band | ||
| University Choir | ||
| University Orchestras | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MUS 111 | Master Class in Performance | 0 |
| MUS 231 | History of Western Music II: Music of the Baroque and Classical Periods | 3 |
| MUS 300 | Counterpoint | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Art Song | ||
| Jazz History | ||
| Opera | ||
| Music for Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Music for the Piano | ||
| Music, Gender and Culture | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Instrumental Ensembles | ||
| Chamber Choir | ||
| Treble Choir | ||
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Composition, Conducting, or Orchestration | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Composing for Small Ensembles | ||
| Composing for Large Ensembles | ||
| Conducting | ||
| Orchestration and Arranging I | ||
| Orchestration and Arranging II | ||
| Advanced Topics in Music History and Ethnomusicology | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MUS 111 | Master Class in Performance | 0 |
| MUS 232 | History of Western Music III: Music from Romanticism through the Present | 3 |
| MUS 301 | Analytic Techniques | 3 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Instrumental Ensembles | ||
| Chamber Choir | ||
| Treble Choir | ||
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| One additional course chosen from Composition, Conducting, or Orchestration | 3 | |
| Electives | 4 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MUS 111 | Master Class in Performance | 0 |
| MUS 280 | Advanced Private Instrumental Lessons | 3 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Concert Band | ||
| Instrumental Ensembles | ||
| University Choir | ||
| Chamber Choir | ||
| Treble Choir | ||
| University Orchestras | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| General Education Core course | 3 | |
| General Education Core course | 4 | |
| MUS 227 | Music Cultures of the World | 3 |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MUS 111 | Master Class in Performance | 0 |
| MUS 280 | Advanced Private Instrumental Lessons | 3 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Concert Band | ||
| Instrumental Ensembles | ||
| University Choir | ||
| Chamber Choir | ||
| Treble Choir | ||
| University Orchestras | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Art Song | ||
| Jazz History | ||
| Opera | ||
| Music for Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Music for the Piano | ||
| Music, Gender and Culture | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |