Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in Music
Program Learning Outcomes for the BA Degree with a Major in Music
Upon completing the BA degree with a major in Music, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an intermediate level of technical and musical competence in performance.
- Possess rudimentary skills in music theory and an understanding of how those skills are related to music performance.
- Acquire a fundamental understanding and appreciation of the various historical periods of music literature.
Requirements for the BA Degree with a Major in Music
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in Music must complete:
- A minimum of 19 courses (43-51 credit hours, depending on course selection) to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 14 courses (30 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor, or where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits Hours Required for the Major in Music | 43-51 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BA Degree with a Major in Music | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music Theory | ||
| MUSI 211 | THEORY I | 3 |
| MUSI 212 | THEORY II | 3 |
| MUSI 311 | THEORETICAL STUDIES III | 3 |
| MUSI 312 | THEORETICAL STUDIES IV | 3 |
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| MULTI-MEDIA COMPOSITION | ||
| CLASSICAL, CONTEMPORARY, AND CROSS-CULTURAL ASIAN MUSIC | ||
| BASIC ELECTRONIC MUSIC | ||
| ELECTRONIC MUSIC COMPOSITION | ||
| MUSIC BUSINESS AND LAW | ||
| ORCHESTRATION | ||
| MUSIC FOR MEDIA | ||
| ANALYTICAL SYSTEMS | ||
| MODAL COUNTERPOINT | ||
| SCORE READING AND THEORY AT THE KEYBOARD | ||
| EARLY MODERN MASTERS | ||
| TONAL COUNTERPOINT | ||
| MUSIC SINCE 1950 | ||
| Aural Skills and Performance Techniques | ||
| MUSI 231 | AURAL SKILLS AND PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUE I | 2 |
| MUSI 232 | AURAL SKILLS AND PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUE II | 2 |
| Music History | ||
| MUSI 222 / MDEM 222 | MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE ERAS | 3 |
| MUSI 321 | BAROQUE AND EARLY CLASSICAL ERAS | 3 |
| MUSI 322 | CLASSICAL AND ROMANTIC ERAS | 3 |
| MUSI 421 | THE MODERN ERA | 3 |
| Individual and Ensemble Study | ||
| Select a minimum of 4 semesters from the following: 1 | 8-12 | |
Any 300-level individual instrumental or vocal study course (see course list below) | ||
Any 400-level individual instrumental or vocal study course (see course list below) | ||
| Select a minimum of 4 semesters from the following: | 4-8 | |
| UNDERGRADUATE CHORUS | ||
| UNDERGRADUATE ORCHESTRA | ||
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Music | 43-51 | |
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | 38-46 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 31 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Note: University Graduation Requirements include 31 credit hours, comprised of Distribution Requirements (Groups I, II, and III), FWIS, and LPAP coursework. In some instances, courses satisfying FWIS or distribution requirements may additionally meet other requirements, such as the Analyzing Diversity (AD) requirement, or some of the student’s declared major, minor, or certificate requirements. Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements include general electives, coursework completed as upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), and/or any other additional academic program requirements. |
| 1 | Students in the BA degree program who wish to continue taking private lessons beyond the required four (4) semesters of individual instrumental and/or vocal study must obtain permission from the dean of the Shepherd School of Music. |
Course List to Satisfy Requirements
Individual Instrumental or Vocal Study
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Instrumental or Vocal Study Courses (300-level) 1 | ||
| CONCENTRATION FLUTE | ||
| CONCENTRATION OBOE | ||
| CONCENTRATION CLARINET | ||
| CONCENTRATION BASSOON | ||
| CONCENTRATION HORN | ||
| CONCENTRATION TRUMPET | ||
| CONCENTRATION TROMBONE | ||
| CONCENTRATION TUBA | ||
| CONCENTRATION PERCUSSION | ||
| CONCENTRATION VOICE | ||
| CONCENTRATION PIANO | ||
| CONCENTRATION ORGAN | ||
| CONCENTRATION HARP | ||
| CONCENTRATION VIOLIN | ||
| CONCENTRATION VIOLA | ||
| CONCENTRATION VIOLONCELLO | ||
| CONCENTRATION DOUBLE BASS | ||
| Individual Instrumental or Vocal Study Courses (400-level) 1 | ||
| FLUTE FOR MAJORS | ||
| OBOE FOR MAJORS | ||
| CLARINET FOR MAJORS | ||
| BASSOON FOR MAJORS | ||
| HORN FOR MAJORS | ||
| TRUMPET FOR MAJORS | ||
| TROMBONE FOR MAJORS | ||
| TUBA FOR MAJORS | ||
| PERCUSSION FOR MAJORS | ||
| VOICE FOR MAJORS | ||
| PIANO FOR MAJORS | ||
| ORGAN FOR MAJORS | ||
| HARP FOR MAJORS | ||
| VIOLIN FOR MAJORS | ||
| VIOLA FOR MAJORS | ||
| VIOLONCELLO FOR MAJORS | ||
| DOUBLE BASS FOR MAJORS | ||
Footnotes and Additional Information
| 1 | Students in the BA degree program who wish to continue taking private lessons beyond the required four (4) semesters of individual instrumental and/or vocal study must obtain permission from the dean of the Shepherd School of Music. |
Policies for the BA Degree with a Major in Music
Admission
The Shepherd School does not admit students to the BA degree with a major in Music. It is provided as an option for those BMus performance majors who no longer wish to pursue the performance degree.
Academic Standards
Curriculum and Degree Requirements
Further information on curricular requirements for all majors and degree programs is available from the Shepherd School of Music.
Grading Policy
A minimum grade of B- (2.67 grade points) per course is expected of all music students in their major applied area. A grade of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in a course in the student's major applied area is considered unsatisfactory and will be evaluated in the following manner:
- A music major who receives a grade of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in a course in their major applied area will be placed on music probation. Music probation signifies that the student’s work has been sufficiently unsatisfactory to preclude graduation unless marked improvement is achieved promptly. A student on music probation may be absent from class only for extraordinary reasons and may not represent the school in any public function not directly a part of a degree program.
- If a student receives a second semester of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in a course in their major applied area, whether for consecutive semesters or not, the student will be discontinued as a BMus degree seeking student and merit scholarship from the Shepherd School will be discontinued.
Please Note: For music history and musicology majors, a grade of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in any music history course is considered unsatisfactory and will be evaluated as noted above. For music theory majors, a grade of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in any advanced music theory course is considered unsatisfactory and will be evaluated as noted above.
Leaves of Absence and Voluntary Withdrawal
Music majors must obtain permission in writing from the dean of the Shepherd School before requesting a leave of absence from the university. Requests must be in the dean’s office before the first day of classes in the semester for which leave is requested.
Music majors taking voluntary withdrawal from the university are not guaranteed readmission into the Shepherd School and may be asked to reapply/reaudition. Students should explain the reasons for their withdrawal to the dean before leaving campus.
Examination
At the end of each semester, a jury examination in applied music may be given over the material studied during the semester.
Performance
Students are expected to perform frequently during their residence at Rice. Students are expected to attend both faculty and student recitals. In addition, all music majors must participate in the school’s conducted ensembles as assigned.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s transfer credit advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in Music should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:
- Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director (and/or the program’s official transfer credit advisor) on an individual case-by-case basis.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Shepherd School of Music website: https://music.rice.edu
Opportunities for the BA Degree with a Major in Music
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Other Musical Opportunities
Lectures and Performances
A visiting lecturer series, a professional concert series, and numerous distinguished visiting musicians contribute to the Shepherd School environment. The Houston Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Chorus, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Houston Masterworks Chorus, Da Camera, Context, and Chamber Music Houston, as well as the activities of other institutions of higher learning in the area, also provide exceptional opportunities for students to enjoy a wide spectrum of music.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Shepherd School of Music website: https://music.rice.edu/