Music, B.A.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program enables students to study music history, music theory, composition, or performance within a curriculum that is flexible enough to allow for a second major, study abroad, and other curricular options.
All applicants, regardless of their degree objective, apply to the B.A. program and must demonstrate appropriate vocal or instrumental proficiency, as determined by the results of the Department’s required entrance audition (typically scheduled on campus in late January or early February). For the most up-to-date audition information, visit the Music Department website.
All students must meet University Requirements.
School Requirements: None.
Departmental Requirements—Common Curriculum: All courses must be completed with a grade of C- or higher, with an exception listed below.*
A student who does not receive a passing grade in the departmental Common Curriculum may retake the course one additional time. If the student does not pass the course on the second attempt, they will be dismissed from the music major.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program enables students to study music history, music theory, composition, or performance within a curriculum that is flexible enough to allow for a second major, study abroad, and other curricular options. A senior thesis or project is required.
All applicants, regardless of their degree objective, apply to the B.A. program and must demonstrate appropriate vocal or instrumental proficiency, as determined by the results of the Department’s required entrance audition (typically scheduled on campus in late January or early February). For the most up-to-date audition information, visit the Music Department website.
| A. Complete the following: | |
| MUSIC 15 | Musicianship 1 |
| MUSIC 16A- 16B- 16C | Music Theory and Music Theory and Music Theory |
| MUSIC 16D | Theory/Musicianship |
| MUSIC 40B- 40C | History of European Music: From the Renaissance through the Baroque and History of European Music: Hasse to Mahler |
| MUSIC 40D | 20th Century Music |
| B. Select six quarters of instrumental or vocal instruction for Music majors from the following: | |
| MUSIC 65–70 | |
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MUSIC 15 is a repeatable course students must take starting at the beginning of their major studies. At the end of the course, there is a Musicianship Proficiency Exam, which students must pass within six quarters of entering the major.
Additional Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree
| In addition to completing the common curriculum, students in the B.A. program must pass the departmental piano proficiency examination or take three quarters of MUSIC 10 (Piano for Majors) with a grade of C or better and complete the following course requirements: | |
| A. Select three courses in Theory, Composition, and Technology from the following: | |
| Music Technology and Computers | |
| Post-Tonal Theory | |
| Jazz Theory | |
| Instrumentation | |
| Studies in Music Technology | |
| Composition | |
| Computer Music Composition | |
| Counterpoint | |
| Analysis | |
| Advanced Study in Composition | |
| Jazz Composition I | |
| Jazz Composition II | |
| Jazz Composition III | |
| Accompanying for Plucked Strings: Continuo and Changes | |
| B. Select three courses in Music and Culture (including at least two upper-division courses) from the following: | |
| Topics in African American Music | |
| Topics in Expressive Forms | |
| Introduction to Opera | |
| The Beatles and the Sixties | |
| Rock: The Early Years | |
| Major Composer | |
| History of Film Music | |
| Introductory Topics in Music and Culture | |
| History of Jazz | |
| MAHUR-Pish Radif: Introduction to Classical Persian Music | |
| HOMAYUN-Pish Radif: Introduction to Classical Persian Music | |
| SHUR-Pish Radif: Introduction to Classical Persian Music | |
| Topics in Medieval Music | |
| Topics in Renaissance Music | |
| Topics in Baroque Music | |
| Topics in Classical Music | |
| Topics in Romantic Music | |
| Studies in Jazz Music | |
| Studies in Ethnomusicology | |
| Studies in Music History | |
| Song Literature | |
| Song Literature | |
| Improvisation | |
| C. Select six courses in Performance and Practice from the following: | |
| Keyboard Skills | |
| Keyboard Skills | |
| Keyboard Skills | |
| Diction | |
| Diction | |
| Diction | |
| University Orchestra | |
| Wind Ensemble | |
| University Chorus | |
| Opera Workshop | |
| Chamber Singers | |
| Chamber Ensembles | |
| Jazz Orchestra | |
| Advanced Jazz Combo | |
| Conducting | |
| Word and Music | |
| D. Depending upon the student’s area of emphasis, one of the following BA projects (which may develop work originally completed in meeting the requirements of another course) must be completed: | |
| (1) a formal lecture or lecture/performance lasting a minimum of 20 minutes | |
| (2) a composition or portfolio of compositions of appropriate length growing out of work done in MUSIC 157 | |
| (3) a thesis of at least 20 double-spaced pages on an appropriate musical subject | |
| Proposed projects, along with the name of the Senate faculty member who has agreed to supervise it, must be submitted to the undergraduate faculty advisor by November 1 of the academic year in which graduation is expected. Upon approval of the project proposal the student may register for up to two quarters of independent study (MUSIC 199) in which to complete the project. | |
NOTE: In order to cover the extra costs generated by private lesson instruction, the Claire Trevor School of the Arts charges a laboratory fee for students enrolled in such courses (MUSIC 65-70, MUSIC 165-170).
Departmental Honors Program in Music and Culture
The Honors Program in Music and Culture is designed to challenge superior students in the B.A. or B.Mus. program beyond the academic requirements of the Music major. It provides them with the opportunity to advance their knowledge in the scholarly fields of music while developing their writing, analytical, and research skills. The honors program is ideally suited for students who wish to study music at the graduate level, but not in performance, and who may be preparing for graduate work in arts criticism, the humanities, the social sciences, and the law.
Eligibility requirements are (1) completion of the core requirements for the major; (2) an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher; and (3) completion of the eligibility form (available for download through the Departmental website).
Admission to the Honors Program in Music and Culture is competitive. Students must apply no later than the spring quarter of their junior year. The application should be accompanied by two substantial writing samples. These may represent work done for courses at UCI. Only truly exceptional students may undertake Honors projects.
Students who are admitted to the Honors Program, regardless of whether they are in the B.A. or B.Mus. program, are required to complete three additional courses in categories 1 and 2 under Additional Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree beyond those taken in fulfillment of the core requirement; all three must be upper-division courses (numbered 100 or higher). Relevant upper-division courses in other departments may be taken to fulfill this requirement by approval of the Department Honors Committee.
The capstone project is a senior thesis, an extended original research project prepared under the supervision of the faculty advisor on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with that advisor. The thesis topic must be approved by the Departmental Honors Committee prior to the end of the fall quarter of the senior year. Students develop their topic during an ensuing two-quarter sequence of Senior Thesis (MUSIC 195A-MUSIC 195B). Upon successful completion of the thesis, a single grade is applied for both quarters and 4 units (total) are posted to the student’s record (2 units each for and MUSIC 195B).