Degrees and Programs

Music

www.uaf.edu/music/department/

Minimum Requirements for Degrees: B.A.: 130 credits; B.M.: 120-144 credits, M.A.: 30 credits

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The curriculum is designed to satisfy cultural and professional objectives. The B.A. degree in music provides a broad, liberal education with a concentration in music. The B.M. degree in music education offers thorough preparation in teacher training with sufficient time to develop excellence in performance areas. The B.M. degree in performance offers intensive specialization for those desiring professional training in music performance.

The M.A. degree offers advanced training in four areas of specialization: performance, music education, music theory/composition and music history. The graduate program is determined by the student and the graduate committee. Each graduate student's program is individually tailored and is designed to meet the student's professional interests and aspirations, consistent with program requirements.

Recitals and concerts provide students with a variety of musical experiences which expand their regular curriculum.

The music department of UAF is a full member of the National Association of Schools of Music, the national accrediting organization.

Undergraduate Program

1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements.
3. Complete a piano placement test during the first week of classes.
4. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
a. Complete the following:

MUS 131 and 132 -- Basic Theory (4 credits)

MUS 133 and 134 -- Basic Ear Training (4 credits)

MUS 161 - 462 -- Private Lessons (major area)** (8 credits)

MUS 190 -- Recital Attendance*** (0 credit)

MUS 221 and 222 -- History of Music (6 credits)

MUS 231 and 232 -- Advanced Theory (4 credits)

MUS 233 and 234 -- Advanced Ear Training (2 credits)

MUS 253 -- Piano Proficiency (0 credit)

MUS 331 -- Form and Analysis (3 credits)

Large ensembles**** (6 credits)

MUS 421W -- Music before 1620 (3 credits)

MUS 422W -- Music in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries (3 credits)

MUS 423W -- Music of the Nineteenth Century (3 credits)

MUS 424W -- Music in the Twentieth Century (3 credits)

** Competency level of MUS 362 must be achieved in one performance area.

*** Recital attendance (MUS 190) is required of music majors enrolled in private lessons (MUS 161 - 462). MUS 190 must be successfully completed 8 times to meet the degree requirements.

**** Pianists may substitute up to 2 credits of MUS 307 -- Chamber Music (piano accompanying) in place of enrollment in large ensemble organizations.

Note: Additional information applies to this degree. See "Notes for All Undergraduate Music Degrees" in the notes following the Music -- B.M. degree (Music Education).

Music -- B.M. Degree (Performance)

1. Complete the following B.M. degree admission requirement:
a. Audition on the major instrument.
2. Complete the general university requirements. As part of the core curriculum requirements, voice performance majors must complete one year of language study. Selection of the language will be done in conjunction with the voice advisor.
3. Complete the B.M. degree requirements. (As part of the B.M. degree requirements, complete: 3 credits of MATH/CS at the 100-level or above).
4. Complete a piano placement test during the first week of classes.
5. Complete the following degree and program (major) requirements:*
a. Complete the following:

MUS 161 - 462 -- Private Lessons (major) (24 credits)

MUS 131 and 132 -- Basic Theory (4 credits)

MUS 133 and 134 -- Basic Ear Training (4 credits)

MUS 221 and 222 -- History of Music (6 credits)

MUS 231 and 232 -- Advanced Theory (4 credits)

MUS 233 and 234 -- Advanced Ear Training (2 credits)

MUS 331 -- Form and Analysis (3 credits)

MUS 351O -- Conducting (3 credits)

MUS 390 -- Junior Recital (0 credit)

Large ensembles** (8 credits)

MUS 190 -- Recital Attendance*** (0 credit)

MUS 253 -- Piano Proficiency (0 credit)

MUS 490 -- Senior Recital (0 credit)

MUS 332 -- Introduction to Computer-based Music Technology (3 credits)

MUS 431 -- Counterpoint (3 credits)

MUS 432 -- Orchestration and Arranging (3 credits)

MUS 433 -- Seminar in Musical Composition (3 credits)

MUS 434 -- Advanced Harmonic Analysis (3 credits)

MUS 421W -- Music before 1620 (3 credits)

MUS 422W -- Music in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries (3 credits)

MUS 423W -- Music of the Nineteenth Century (3 credits)

MUS 424W -- Music in the Twentieth Century (3 credits)

MUS 124 -- Music in World Cultures (3 credits)

MUS 153 -- Functional Piano (1 credit)

MUS 161-162, 261-262, 361-362, 461-462 -- Private Lessons (secondary performance area) 2 or 4

MUS 223 -- Native Alaskan Music (3 credits)

MUS 253 -- Piano Proficiency (0 credit)

MUS 307 -- Chamber Music (1 credit)

MUS 313 -- Opera Workshop (1-3 credits)

MUS 317 -- Arctic Chamber Orchestra (1 credit)

MUS 493 -- Special Topics (1-6 credits)

** MUS 101, 203, 205, 207 or 211. Wind and percussion instrumentalists are required to take a minimum of 4 credits in MUS 205 (Wind Ensemble). Piano majors may substitute up to 2 credits of MUS 307 (Piano Accompanying).

*** Recital attendance (MUS 190) is required of music majors enrolled in private lessons (MUS 161 - 462). MUS 190 must be successfully completed 8 times to meet the degree requirements.

**** Courses from 5b and 5c not already applied to program requirements may also meet this requirement.

Note: MUS 493 is repeatable up to 6 credits.

Note: MUS 153, 307, 313, 317 are repeatable for credit.

Note: MUS 161-162, 261-262, 361-362, 461-462 are repeatable up to 6 credits.

Note: Additional information applies to this degree. See "Notes for All Undergraduate Music Degrees" in the notes following the Music -- B.M. degree (Music Education).

Music -- B.M. Degree (Music Education)

Concentrations: Elementary, Secondary, K-12

1. Complete the following B.M. degree admission requirement:
a. Audition on the major instrument.
2. Complete the general university requirements.
3. Complete the B.M. degree requirements. (As part of the B.M. degree requirements, complete: 3 credits of MATH/CS at the 100-level or above).
4. Complete a piano placement test during the first week of classes.
5. Complete the following degree and program (major) requirements:*

Large ensembles** (8 credits)

MUS 131 and 132 -- Basic Theory (4 credits)

MUS 133 and 134 -- Basic Ear Training (4 credits)

MUS 161-461 -- Private Lessons (major) (14 credits)

MUS 190 -- Recital Attendance*** (0 credit)

MUS 221 and 222 -- History of Music (6 credits)

MUS 231 and 232 -- Advanced Theory (4 credits)

MUS 233 and 234 -- Advanced Ear Training (2 credits)

MUS 253 -- Piano Proficiency (0 credit)

MUS 315 -- Music Methods and Techniques (10 credits)

MUS 331 -- Form and Analysis (3 credits)

MUS 351O -- Conducting (3 credits)

MUS 390 -- Junior Recital (0 credit)

MUS 432 -- Orchestration and Arranging (3 credits)

ED 201 -- Introduction to Education (3 credits)

ED 299 -- Practicum in Education (3 credits)

ED 330 -- Assessment of Learning (3)
or ED 350 -- Communication in Cross-Cultural Classrooms (3) (3 credits)

PSY 240 -- Lifespan Developmental Psychology (3 credits)

MUS 309 -- Elementary School Music Methods (3 credits)

ED 452O -- Elementary Student Teaching (12 credits)

MUS 405W -- Secondary School Music Methods (3 credits)

ED 453O -- Secondary Student Teaching (12 credits)

MUS 309 -- Elementary School Music Methods (3 credits)

MUS 405W -- Secondary School Music Methods (3 credits)

ED 454O -- Student Teaching K - 12 (15 credits)

** MUS 101, 203, 205, 207 or 211. Wind and percussion instrumentalists are required to take a minimum of 4 credits in MUS 205 -- Wind Ensemble. Piano majors may substitute up to 2 credits of MUS 307 -- Piano Accompanying

*** Recital attendance (MUS 190) is required of music majors enrolled in private lessons (MUS 161 - 462). MUS 190 must be successfully completed 8 times to meet degree requirements.

**** Music education majors must have completed the necessary prerequisites and have been admitted to the teacher education program prior to acceptance for placement in student teaching.

***** Contact the Office of Certification and Advising (School of Education) for a list of approved courses that meet this requirement.

Note: Additional information applies to this degree. See "Notes for All Undergraduate Music Degrees" in the notes following the Music -- B.M. degree (Music Education) degree.

Notes for All Undergraduate Music Degrees

Note: The various music organizations maintained by the department offer participation for students in all academic divisions of the university. Music majors will be required to earn a minimum of 8 credits in large ensembles: MUS 101 (University Chorus), MUS 203 (Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra), MUS 205 (Wind Ensemble), MUS 207 (UAF Jazz Band), or MUS 211 (Choir of the North). Students must be enrolled in one large ensemble during each semester of attendance at UAF.

Note: Each student (major or non-major) who enrolls in private applied or class lessons (excluding MUS 151K-Class Piano, MUS 151M-Class Voice, and MUS 151S-Class Guitar) must be concurrently enrolled in a large or small ensemble.

Note: Attendance at recitals and concerts provides students with a variety of musical experiences which expand their regular curriculum; therefore, attendance is mandatory for all majors. All applied music students are expected to perform in student recitals during each semester of study.

Note: At the end of the sophomore year, all music majors must demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency of performance in their applied major in order to advance to upper-division courses in music. A student may elect to continue study at the 200 level to prepare to pass requirements for admission to upper-division study.

Note: A piano proficiency jury examination must be successfully completed by the end of the student's second year in the program. See music department handbook for details.

Note: Students who desire to enroll in music theory or ear training courses will complete a placement examination and be allowed to enter at their appropriate level.

Minor

Music theory, history and appreciation courses* (12 credits)

MUS 101, 203, 205, 211 (2 credits)

MUS 151, 153, 161-462 (private lessons) (4 credits)

MUS 101, 203, 205, 211, 307 (all sections) and MUS 319 (4 credits)

MUS 161, 162, 261, 262 and 361 (8 credits)

MUS 103, 123, 124, 131, 132, 221, 222 and 223 (6 credits)

Graduate Program

Concentrations: Conducting, Music Education, Music History, Performance and Theory/Composition

1. Complete the following admission requirements:
a. Take an evaluative preliminary examination.*
b. Music education majors must complete a section pertaining to organizations, literature, knowledge of instruments and voice, and rehearsal techniques appropriate for public school music instruction.
c. Composition majors must submit examples of previous work.
d. Performance majors must demonstrate acquaintance with solo literature of the various historical periods through audition or submission of performance tapes.
2. Complete the general university requirements.
3. Complete the master's degree requirements (page 46).**
4. Complete and pass an oral examination on the major project, thesis or recital.
5. Complete 13 credits from the following:
a. MUS 601 -- Introduction to Graduate Study (3 credits)
b. Applied Music*** (4 credits)
c. Music theory, music history, ethnomusicology, music literature and psychology of music (6 credits)
6. Complete at least 16 credits in a primary area of specialization, with the balance in a secondary area.
7. Students majoring in vocal performance or music history must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language appropriate to the area of concentration. Proficiency will be determined by the student's graduate committee in conjunction with the linguistics and foreign languages department.
8. Graduate students studying applied music and/or presenting recitals are governed by the same regulations concerning recital preparation, recital jury pre-hearings, and jury examinations as apply to undergraduate students. These regulations are described in the Music Handbook.
9. Minimum credits required (30 credits)
* This preliminary exam, to help determine the areas of strength and deficiency, will cover the following areas: a) music theory, b) music history and literature, c) demonstration of keyboard proficiency, and d) performance in major area. Applicants will be accepted from any accredited institution; before admission to a degree program, however, all students (including UAF graduates) must take the preliminary examination.

** After completing about one-half of the program, students will meet with their committees in an oral advisory comprehensive examination. This will be concerned primarily with the progress the student has demonstrated, particularly with regard to determining the major area of specialization. Such specialization is not to be conceived narrowly as a thesis topic, but rather as a broad area in which students plan to spend an appreciable amount of their scholarly career. Advisory examinations may be repeated until such time as the student has satisfactorily defined the area of specialization. Each student, with the approval of the advisory committee, shall develop an appropriate final project or thesis. A thesis is required for students majoring in music theory and music history. Performance majors must present a graduate recital and prepare a supporting paper on selected aspects of the recital.

*** Private lessons at either the senior or graduate level. Committee may suggest further study if remedial work is deemed necessary.

Note: All 600-level courses are restricted to graduate students; however graduate students may elect some of their courses from upper division undergraduate courses (300- or 400-level).