Skip to Main Content

Bachelor of Arts in Music

Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate skills requisite for artistic self-expression in their major performance medium;
  2. Critically analyze chromatic music within a tonal idiom;
  3. Identify significant, genres, composers, performers and repertories that have impacted histories of Western Art Music and explain political, cultural, philosophical, artistic and social contexts that have influenced the formation of musical styles.

Sample Degree Map

Performance Track

Updated 6/23

First Year: Fall Semester/Semester 1
Course Title Credits
MUS 140 Recital Attendance Requirement 0
MUS 101 Theory of Music I 3
MUS 151 Aural Skills I 1
MUS 142 Applied Music 2
MUS 100 Large Music Ensemble 1
MUS 160 Functional Piano (1)
ENG 111 Composition and Rhetoric (MP PA1B) 3
-- MP fulfilling course1 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Total 16(17)
First Year: Spring Semester/Semester 2
Course Title Credits
MUS 140 Recital Attendance Requirement 0
MUS 102 Theory of Music II 3
MUS 152 Aural Skills II 1
MUS 142 Applied Music 2
MUS 100 Large Music Ensemble 1
MUS 161 Functional Piano 1
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Total 17
Second Year: Fall Semester/Semester 3
Course Title Credits
MUS 140 Recital Attendance Requirement 0
MUS 201 Theory of Music III 3
MUS 142 Applied Music 2
MUS 100 Large Music Ensemble 1
MUS 185

MUS 186
Multicultural Perspectives in Music (MP PA4B + SI) [Fall only]+
-OR-
Global Popular Music (Fulfills no MP)
3

3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Foreign Language 4
-- Total 16
Second Year: Spring Semester/Semester 4
Course Title Credits
MUS 140 Recital Attendance Requirement 0
MUS 202 Theory of Music IV 3
MUS 142 Applied Music 2
MUS 100 Large Music Ensemble 1
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Foreign Language 4
-- Total 16
Third Year: Fall Semester/Semester 5
Course Title Credits
MUS 211 History of Western Music (MP PA3A) 3
-- Upper Level Music Elective^ 3
-- Music Free Electives* 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Foreign Language 3
-- Total 15
Third Year: Semester II
Course Title Credits
MUS 212 History of Western Music 3
-- Upper Level Music Elective 3
-- Music Free Electives 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Foreign Language 3
-- Total 15
Fourth Year: Semester I
Course Title Credits
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Free Electives 13
-- Total 16
Fourth Year: Semester II
Course Title Credits
-- Capstone 3
-- Free Electives 10
-- Total 13
-- Total Hours: 124

*MUS 140 Recital Attendance requires four semesters of registration.

1 9 credit hours of MP Perspectives Areas must double dip with 9 credit hours of MP Signature Inquiries unless 9 hours of free electives are used as MP fulfilling courses.

Chamber Music requirement: MUS 139 Chamber Music Experience requires one semester of registration.

Functional Piano requirement: MUS 161 or proficiency examination required.

Performance requirement: four semesters of applied music in the primary performance medium are required. Study at the 200 level (MUS 242) is possible but requires Sophomore standing.

Foreign Language requirement: two years are required (completion of 202 in any foreign language offered at Miami University). Requirement may be met by proficiency exam. Two years of the language in high school will usually fulfill one year of the requirement.

^Complete at least six hours of Upper Level Music Electives, from the following courses:

  • MUS 204 Brazilian Culture Through Popular Music (cross-listed with LAS) (3)
  • MUS 206 Tracking Sounds: A History of Film Music (3)
  • MUS 221 Music Technologies (Miami Plan course) (3)
  • MUS 225 And the Beat Goes On… The History of Rock and Roll (3)
  • MUS 285 Introduction to African American Music (3)
  • MUS 287 Enter the Diva: Women in Music (Miami Plan course)  (3)
  • MUS 301 Counterpoint (3)
  • MUS 304 Electronic Music (3)
  • MUS 306 Advanced Electronic Music (3)
  • MUS 313 Small Screen Sounds (3)
  • MUS 370 Orchestration (3)
  • MUS 385 The Roots of Black Music: Blues, Gospel and Soul (3)
  • MUS 386 The History and Development of Hip Hop Culture in America (3)
  • MUS 404/MUS 504 Wind Band Ensemble Literature (3)
  • MUS 406 Advanced Analysis (3)
  • MUS 415 You Say You Want a Revolution: Rock and Roll and the Cultural Revolution of the 1960’s (3)
  • MUS 490/MUS590 Special Topics in Music (3)
*Complete six hours of Music Free Electives - elective hours may not include applied music.

Large Music Ensemble requirement: All students in the Bachelor of Arts in Music: Performance Track  are required to enroll in one large ensemble for four semesters in their primary performance medium. The large ensembles include: MUS 100B Men’s Glee Club, MUS 100C Symphony Orchestra, MUS 100D Choraliers, MUS 100E Marching Band, MUS 100F Symphony Band, MUS 100G Wind Ensemble, and MUS 100Q Chamber Singers. Entrance to each group is by audition. Pianists may fulfill the ensemble requirement through enrollment in a vocal ensemble, an instrumental ensemble, accompanying (MUS 110/120), or chamber music as a pianist. Guitarists may fulfill the ensemble requirement through enrollment in a vocal ensemble, an instrumental ensemble, or chamber music as a guitarist.

It is the responsibility of the student to see that all university requirements are fulfilled – please refer to the General Bulletin.

Music in Culture Track

Updated 6/23
 First Year: Fall Semester/Semester 1
Course Title Credits
MUS 140 Recital Attendance Requirement* 0
MUS 101 Theory of Music I 3
MUS 151 Aural Skills I 1
MUS 100 Music Ensemble 1
MUS 160 Functional Piano (1)
ENG 111 Composition and Rhetoric (MP PA1B) 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Total 14(15)
First Year: Spring Semester/Semester 2
Course Title Credits
MUS 140 Recital Attendance Requirement 0
MUS 102 Theory of Music II 3
MUS 152 Aural Skills II 1
MUS 100 Music Ensemble 1
MUS 161 Functional Piano 1
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Total 15
Second Year: Fall Semester/Semester 3
Course Title Credits
MUS 140 Recital Attendance Requirement 0
MUS 201 Theory of Music III 3
-- Upper Level Music Elective^ 3
-- Upper Level Non-Music Elective^^ 3
MUS 185
OR
MUS 186
Multicultural Perspectives in Music (MP PA4B + SI) [Fall only]+ 
OR Global Popular Music (Fulfills no MP]
3
-- Foreign Language 4
-- Total 16
Second Year: Spring Semester/Semester 4
Course Title Credits
MUS 140 Recital Attendance Requirement 0
MUS 202 Theory of Music IV 3
-- Upper Level Music Elective^ 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Foreign Language 4
-- Total 16
Third Year: Fall Semester/Semester 5
Course Title Credits
MUS 211 History of Western Music (MP PA3A) 3
-- Upper Level Music Elective^ 3
-- Music Free Electives* 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Foreign Language 3
-- Total 18
Third Year: Spring Semester/Semester 6
Course Title Credits
MUS 212 History of Western Music 3
-- Upper Level Non-music Elective^^ 3
-- Music Free Electives 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Foreign Language 3
-- Total 15
Fourth Year: Fall Semester/Semester 7
Course Title Credits
-- MP fulfulling course 3
-- Free Electives 12
-- Total 15
Fourth Year: Fall Semester/Semester 8
Course Title Credits
-- Capstone 3
-- Free Electives 12
-- Total 15
-- Total Hours: 124

*MUS 140 Recital Attendance requires four semesters of registration.

1 9 credit hours of MP Perspectives Areas must double dip with 9 credit hours of MP Signature Inquiries unless 9 hours of free electives are used as MP fulfilling courses

Chamber Music requirement: MUS 139 Chamber Music Experience requires one semester of registration.

Functional Piano requirement: MUS 161 or proficiency examination required.

Foreign Language requirement: two years are required (completion of 202 in any foreign language offered at Miami University). Requirement may be met by proficiency exam. Two years of the language in high school will usually fulfill one year of the requirement.

^Complete at least six hours of Upper Level Music Electives, from the following courses:

  • MUS 204 Brazilian Culture Through Popular Music (cross-listed with LAS) (3)
  • MUS 206 Tracking Sounds: A History of Film Music (3)
  • MUS 221 Music Technologies (Miami Plan course) (3)
  • MUS 225 And the Beat Goes On… The History of Rock and Roll (3)
  • MUS 285 Introduction to African American Music (3)
  • MUS 287 Enter the Diva: Women in Music (Miami Plan course) (3)
  • MUS 301 Counterpoint (3)
  • MUS 304 Electronic Music (3)
  • MUS 306 Advanced Electronic Music (3)
  • MUS 313 Small Screen Sounds (3)
  • MUS 370 Orchestration (3)
  • MUS 385 The Roots of Black Music: Blues, Gospel and Soul (3)
  • MUS 386 The History and Development of Hip Hop Culture in America (3)
  • MUS 404/MUS 504 Wind Band Ensemble Literature (3)
  • MUS 405/MUS 505 Choral Literature (3)
  • MUS 406 Advanced Analysis (3)
  • MUS 415 You Say You Want a Revolution: Rock and Roll and the Cultural
  • Revolution of the 1960’s (3)
  • MUS 490/MUS590 Special Topics in Music (3)

^^Select a minimum of six hours of electives outside the Department of Music, from the following programs: Anthropology (ATH), Art (ART), Classics (CLS), Comparative Religion (REL), Global and Intercultural Studies (GIC), History (HST), Media and Culture (MAC), Sociology (SOC) and Theatre (THE). Courses must be at the 200 level or above.

*Complete six hours of Music Free Electives - elective hours may not include applied music.

Ensemble requirement: All students in the Bachelor of Arts in Music: Music in Culture Track are required to enroll in one of the following ensembles for two semesters: MUS 100B Men’s Glee Club, MUS 100C Symphony Orchestra, MUS 100D Choraliers, MUS 100E Marching Band, MUS 100F Symphony Band, MUS 100G Wind Ensemble, MUS 100K Jazz Ensemble, MUS 100N Steel Band, MUS 100Q Chamber Singers or MUS 100Z Laptop Ensemble. Pianists may fulfill the ensemble requirement through enrollment in a vocal ensemble, an instrumental ensemble, accompanying (MUS 110/120), or chamber music as a pianist. Guitarists may fulfill the ensemble requirement through enrollment in a vocal ensemble, an instrumental ensemble, or chamber music as a guitarist.

It is the responsibility of the student to see that all university requirements are fulfilled – please refer to the General Bulletin.

Music Technology Track

Updated 6/23
First Year: Fall Semester/Semester 1
Course Title Credits
MUS 140 Recital Attendance Requirement* 0
MUS 101 Theory of Music I 3
MUS 151 Aural Skills I 1
MUS 100Z Laptop Ensemble 1
MUS 160 Functional Piano (1)
ENG 111 Composition and Rhetoric (MP PA1B) 3
-- MP fulfilling course1 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Total 14(15)
First Year: Spring Semester/Semester 2
Course Title Credits
MUS 140 Recital Attendance Requirement 0
MUS 102 Theory of Music II 3
MUS 152 Aural Skills II 1
MUS 100Z Laptop Ensemble 1
MUS 161 Functional Piano 1
MUS 221 Music Technologies [Spring only] 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Total 15
Second Year: Fall Semester/Semester 3
Course Title Credits
MUS 140 Recital Attendance Requirement 0
MUS 201 Theory of Music III 3
MUS 304 Electronic Music [Fall only] 3
MUS 185

MUS 186
Multicultural Perspectives in Music (MP PA4B + SI) [Fall only]+
-OR-
Global Popular Music (Fulfills no MP]
3

3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Foreign Language 4
-- Total 16
Second Year: Spring Semester/Semester 4
Course Title Credits
MUS 140 Recital Attendance Requirement 0
MUS 202 Theory of Music IV 3
MUS 381 Music for Games [Spring only] 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Foreign Language 4
-- Total 16
Third Year: Fall Semester/Semester 5
Course Title Credits
MUS 211 History of Western Music (MP PA3A) 3
MUS 308

IMS___
Audio Recording Techniques
-OR-
any other IMS course @ 200 level or above
3

3
-- Music Free Electives* 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- MP fulfilling 3
-- Foreign Language 3
-- Total 18
Third Year: Spring Semester/Semester 6
Course Title Credits
MUS 212 History of Western Music 3
MUS 308

IMS___
Audio Recording Techniques
-OR-
any other IMS course @ 200 level or above
3

3
-- Music Free Electives 3
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Foreign Language 3
-- Total 15
Fourth Year: Fall Semester/Semester 7
Course Title Credits
-- MP fulfilling course 3
-- Free Electives 12
-- Total 15
Fourth Year: Spring Semester/Semester 8
Course Title Credits
-- Capstone 3
-- Free Electives 12
-- Total 15
-- Total Hours: 124

*MUS 140 Recital Attendance requires four semesters of registration.

1 9 credit hours of MP Perspectives Areas must double dip with 9 credit hours of MP Signature Inquiries unless 9 hours of free electives are used as MP fulfilling courses.

Chamber Music requirement: MUS 139 Chamber Music Experience requires one semester of registration.

Functional Piano requirement: MUS 161 or proficiency examination required.

Foreign Language requirement: two years are required (completion of 202 in any foreign language offered at Miami University). Requirement may be met by proficiency exam. Two years of the language in high school will usually fulfill one year of the requirement.

Music Technology Courses above, include:

  • MUS 221 Music Technologies
  • MUS 304 Electronic Music
  • MUS 308 Audio Recording Techniques
  • MUS 381 Music for Games
  • Also take three hours of any other IMS course at the 200 level or above.

*Complete six hours of Music Free Electives - elective hours may not include applied music.

Ensemble requirement: All students in the Bachelor of Arts in Music: Music Technology Track are required to enroll in Laptop Ensemble (MUS 100Z) for two semesters.

It is the responsibility of the student to see that all university requirements are fulfilled – please refer to the General Bulletin.

Entrance Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Music

A successful audition or portfolio review is required to be admitted to the Bachelor of Arts degree program. For more information please see our Entrance Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts below.

Performance Track

Students interested in the Performance Track should see the instrumental or vocal audition requirements.

Music in Culture Track

Entrance to the Music in Culture Track requires the submission of a brief writing sample. To begin the application process students must email Dr. Elizabeth Hoover at hooverea@miamioh.edu.

Music Technology Track

Entrance to the Music Technology Track is determined through the following steps:

  1. Submission of a portfolio that demonstrates the applicant’s previous experience with Music Technology. This portfolio may consist of audio recordings on which the applicant was involved in the production (including but not limited to recording or mixing), a text document listing live sound or other related experience, or any other materials related to the applicant’s knowledge of and/or experience using technology to create audio art.
  2. An audition in which the applicant will give a brief performance (no more than 1-2 minutes) on any instrument, acoustic (including any vocal style or guitar) or electronic (including electric guitar or keyboard). A short interview with BA Music Technology faculty will follow. Zoom interviews and submission of video auditions and may be arranged as necessary. 

For further information contact Dr. Per Bloland (blolanpa@miamioh.edu, 513-529-0584).
Apply to the Department of Music via Acceptd to submit a Portfolio and schedule an audition.

Launch Acceptd

Department of Music

The Miami University Department of Music encourages its students to develop their relationship to the discipline of music as they explore the world through the lens of a superb liberal arts education.