Bachelor of Arts, Major in Music

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

Required Courses for Majors

Bachelor of Arts in Music - 120 Semester Credit Hours (SCH)

Bachelor of Arts in Music

Bachelor of Arts, Major in Music
Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)6
Component Area II (Mathematics) 13
Component Area III (Life and Physical Science)8
Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) 23
Component Area V (Creative Arts) 33
Component Area VI (U.S. History)6
Component Area VII (Political Science/Government)6
Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences)3
Component Area IX (Component Area Option) 44
Degree Specific Requirement
Foreign Language 414
Major: Foundation
MUSI 1181Class Piano, Level 1 51
MUSI 1182Class Piano, Level 2 51
MUSI 1222Theory Of Music I2
MUSI 1223Theory Of Music II2
MUSI 1224Musicianship I2
MUSI 1225Musicianship II2
MUSI 1379Survey of World Music Cultures 23
MUSI 2222Theory Of Music III2
MUSI 2224Musicianship III2
MUSI 2348Survey of Music Literature (Writing Enhanced) 33
MUSI 3377Mus His: Classic to Present (Writing Enhanced )3
or MUSI 3376 Mus His: Antiq through Baroque
Ensembles (5 SCH), Applied Lessons (12 SCH), additional Advanced Music Courses (14 SCH) 6
Select five of the following (Two must be Advanced):5
MUEN 1110/3110
Keyboard Skills & Collab Techn
MUEN 1111/3111
Choral Ensemble
MUEN 1115/3115
Jazz Band
MUEN 1116/3116
Band
MUEN 1117/3117
Orchestra
MUEN 1119/3119
Opera Workshop
MUEN 2116/4116
Wind Ensemble
Applied Lessons - Studio Instruction:
XXXX1201 Ind. Performances - Applied Lessons, Lower-Level8
XXXX 3201 Ind. Performances - Applied Lessons, Upper Level 54
Major: Prescribed Electives14
NOTE: No more than 4 additional ensemble hours can be counted toward the degree.
MUEN 3110
Collaborative Piano Chambr Mus
MUEN 3111
Choral Ensemble
MUEN 3115
Jazz Band
MUEN 3116
Band
MUEN 3117
Orchestra
MUEN 3118
Chamber Music
MUEN 3119
Opera Workshop
MUEN 4116
Wind Ensemble
Performance/Music Advanced Electives
XXXX 3201 Ind. Performances (SCH 2) - Applied Lessons: Advanced (May be repeated once for degree credit): 5
XXXX 3202 Applied Lessons with Junior Recital: SCH 2 7
MUSI 3362
Orchestration And Analysis
MUSI 3363
Structure And Analysis (Writing Enhanced)
MUSI 3364
Improvisation
MUSI 3367
Studies In Music For Children
MUSI 3377
Mus His: Classic to Present (Writing Enhanced)
or MUSI 3376
 Mus His: Antiq through Baroque
MUSI 3380
Opera Literature
MUSI 3381
Song History & Literature
MUSI 4224
Conducting II
MUSI 4373
Electronic Music
MUSI 4374
20th Century Musical Styles
MUSI 4375
Film Scoring
Electives: Advanced19
Advanced Electives (non-music courses only)
Minor: Not Required 8,9
Total Hours120
1

MATH 1332 is the recommended course for students in this degree program.

2

MUSI 1379 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy and Culture).

3

MUSI 2348 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area V (Creative Arts).

4

Four semesters of one language required.  An Intermediate I or II language course satisfies 3 credit hours of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX.

5

Not required if enrolled in PIAN 1201 (Piano Concentration).  Additional elective credits must be substituted. 

6

Select one of the Ensembles from the table below. Ensembles require advisor and conductor/director/faculty approval.

7

Students must pass the Sophomore Applied Proficiency before registering for upper-level applied lessons.  This Proficiency may be taken up to 3 times.

8

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

9

The following minor cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Music.

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

Ensembles:  2 SCH of the 5 SCH must be advanced-level. 

Students earning a grade below “C” in any music course required for his/her degree or minor in music are required to retake the course. After three failed attempts to earn a C or better, the student may be removed from the program.

All BA Degrees require 14 semester hours of foreign language (four semesters of the same language).

Completion of six semesters of Concert Attendance is required for graduation.  See student handbook and/or contact the School of Music for details.

1000 & 2000 level courses are LOWER-LEVEL (Freshman/Sophomore) and 3000 & 4000 level courses are ADVANCED-LEVEL (Junior/Senior).

General Electives (19 hours): "General Electives" are courses from the University’s catalog that can apply to the number of hours required for the BA. These free electives (not Music courses) must include at least 19 hours of advanced-level (3000 and 4000-level) courses (or enough to meet the university's 42 advanced-hour minimum).

Advanced Electives: Students should use the advanced electives (3000- or 4000-level courses) to complete the 42-advanced hour requirement for graduation.  120 Hour Requirement:  120 is the minimum number of hours required for graduation.

Other courses may be recommended by an advisor and must be approved by the Director of the School of Music.

Writing Enhanced Courses.  All undergraduate students are required to complete at least six hours of writing enhanced courses within the discipline, of which three hours must be advanced.

Ensembles

The following performance ensembles are open to all students of the university who qualify by audition:

Large Ensembles

Large Ensembles-
Marching/Concert Band-for Wind and Percussion Students
MUEN 1116/3116Band1
Wind Ensemble/Symphonic Band-for Wind and Percussion Students
MUEN 2116/4116Wind Ensemble1
Orchestra-for String Students and Wind and Percussion Students
MUEN 1117/3117Orchestra1
Chorus-for Vocal Students
MUEN 1111/3111Choral Ensemble1

Small Ensembles

No more than eight hours earned in large ensembles may be counted toward a degree. Small ensembles may be counted if approved by the ensemble director, studio instructor, and the Director, School of Music.

Additional small ensembles, such as Jazz Ensemble, Opera Workshop, and Chamber Music are strongly encouraged for those who qualify by audition:

Small Ensembles
Jazz Ensemble
MUEN 1115/3115Jazz Band1
Opera Workshop
MUEN 1119/3119Opera Workshop1
Chamber Music (smaller instrumental groups, including piano trios, string quartets, guitar ensemble, percussion ensemble, etc.)
MUEN 1118/3118Chamber Music1
Keyboard Skills and Collaborative Techniques-for Keyboard performance major students only
MUEN 1110/3110Keyboard Skills & Collab Techn1

Ensembles

  • Music majors should enroll in at least one ensemble each semester they are enrolled as full-time students (except the student teaching semester).
  • Students enrolled in studio instruction should be concurrently enrolled in an ensemble.
  • Jazz Ensemble will not normally be considered to be the major ensemble for graduation hours.
  • Students should not be enrolled in more than 2 ensembles per semester.
  • Music Therapy majors must participate in 6 semesters of ensemble.

NOTE: Modifications or exceptions may be made in rare or unusual circumstances, but require approval by the Director, School of Music in coordination with ensemble directors and studio instructors.

Marching Band (for Wind and Percussion students)

  • Wind and Percussion students in the Teacher Certification program are required to be in Marching Band for 3 semesters.
  • Music Therapy Majors, music performance majors, music minors, and non-majors are encouraged to participate in Marching Band.

For information regarding Common Course numbers for Ensemble, please refer to the Common Course listing in this catalog.

Ind. Performances/Applied Music Instruction and Practicums (Music Therapy)

Applied Music Instruction (Instrument, Voice, Music Therapy Practicum)
Bassoon
BSSN 1201Ind Performances-Bassoon2
BSSN 3201Ind Performances-Bassoon2
BSSN 3202Applied Bassoon W/ Jr Recital2
Cello
VNCL 1201Ind Performances-Violncello2
VNCL 3201Ind Performances-Violncello2
VNCL 3202Applied Cello w/ Jr Recital2
Clarinet
CLAR 1201Ind Performances-Clarinet2
CLAR 3201Ind Performances-Clarinet2
CLAR 3202Applied Clarinet w/ Jr Recital2
Composition
COMP 1101Applied Composition I1
COMP 3301Applied Composition II3
Euphonium
EUPH 1201Ind Performances-Euphonium2
EUPH 3201Ind Performances-Euphonium2
EUPH 3202Applied Euphonium w/Jr Recital2
Flute
FLUT 1201Ind Performances-Flute2
FLUT 3201Ind Performances-Flute2
FLUT 3202Applied Flute w/ Jr Recital2
French Horn
HORN 1201Ind Performances-Frnch Horn2
HORN 3201Ind Performances-Frnch Horn2
HORN 3202Applied Horn w/ Jr Recital2
Guitar
GUIT 1201Ind Performances-Guitar2
GUIT 3201Ind Performances-Guitar2
GUIT 3202Applied Guitar w/ Jr Recital2
Harp
HARP 1201Harp2
HARP 3201Harp2
HARP 3202Applied Harp w/ Jr Recital2
Oboe
OBOE 1201Ind Performances-Oboe2
OBOE 3201Ind Performances-Oboe2
OBOE 3202Applied Oboe w/ Jr Recital2
Organ
ORGN 1201Ind Performances-Organ2
ORGN 3201Ind Performances-Organ I2
ORGN 3202Applied Organ w/ Jr Recital2
Percussion
PERC 1201Ind Performances-Percussion2
PERC 3201Ind Performances-Percussion2
PERC 3202Applied Percussion w/ Jr Recital2
Piano
PIAN 1201Ind Performances-Piano2
PIAN 3201Ind Performances-Piano2
PIAN 3202Applied Piano w/ Jr Recital2
Saxophone
SAXO 1201Ind Performances-Saxophone2
SAXO 3201Ind Performances-Saxophone2
SAXO 3202Applied Saxophone w/Jr Recital2
String Bass
STBS 1201Ind Performances-Strg Bass2
STBS 3201Ind Performances-Strg Bass2
STBS 3202Applied String Bass w/ Jr Recital2
Trumpet
TRMT 1201Ind Performances-Trumpet2
TRMT 3201Ind Performances-Trumpet2
TRMT 3202Applied Trumpet w/ Jr Recital2
Tuba
TUBA 1201Ind Performances-Tuba2
TUBA 3201Ind Performances-Tuba2
TUBA 3202Applied Tuba w/ Jr Recital2
Trombone
TRMB 1201Ind Performances-Trombone2
TRMB 3201Ind Performances-Trombone2
TRMB 3202Applied Trombone w/ Jr Recital2
Viola
VIOL 1201Ind Performances-Viola2
VIOL 3201Ind Performances-Viola2
VIOL 3202Applied Viola w/ Jr Recital2
Violin
VILN 1201Individual Performances-Violin2
VILN 3201Individual Performances-Violin2
VILN 3202Applied Violin w/ Jr Recital2
Voice
VOIC 1201Ind Performances-Voice2
VOIC 3201Ind Performances-Voice2
VOIC 3202Applied Voice w/ Jr Recital2
Practicum – Early Childhood
MUSI 3117Practicum In Music Therapy I1
Practicum – Special Needs
MUSI 3118Practicum In Music Therapy II1
Practicum – Psychiatric/Geriatric
MUSI 4110Practicum In Music Therapy III1
Practicum – Medical
MUSI 4111Practicum In Music Therapy IV1

Applied Music Fees

Students enrolled in Applied Music Instruction are required to pay a fee at the time of registration on a per-course basis each semester:

Texas ResidentNonresident
Semester Hours Amount Semester Hours Amount
2-hour course $60.00 2-hour course $60.00
4-hour course $75.00 4-hour course $75.00

There is no additional charge for use of practice rooms.

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area I3Component Area I3
Component Area II13Component Area III4
Component Area IX1MUEN XXXX Lower-level Ensemble21
MUEN XXXX Lower-Level Ensemble21MUSI 118231
MUSI 118131MUSI 12232
MUSI 12222MUSI 12252
MUSI 12242XXXX 1201 Ind. Performances-Applied Lessons, Lower Level2
XXXX 1201 Ind. Performances-Applied Lessons, Lower-Level2 
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area III4Component Area VI3
Component Area VI3Component Area VII3
MUSI 137943Component Area VIII3
MUSI 22222MUEN XXXX Lower-Level Ensemble21
MUSI 22242MUSI 2348 (Writing Enhanced)53
XXXX 1201 Ind. Performances-Applied Lessons, Lower Level2XXXX 1201 Ind. Performances-Applied Lessons, Lower Level2
 16 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Foreign Language64Component Area VII3
MUEN XXXX Upper-Level Ensemble21Foreign Language64
MUSI 3376 or 3377 (Writing Enhanced)3MUEN XXXX Upper-Level Ensemble21
Performance/Music Advanced Electives75Performance/Music Advanced Electives76
XXXX 3201 Ind. Performances-Applied Lessons, Upper Level82XXXX 3201 Ind. Performances-Applied Lessons, Upper Level82
 15 16
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Advanced Electives (non-music only)9Advanced Electives (non-music only)10
Foreign Language63Foreign Language63
Performance/Music Advanced Electives73 
 15 13
Total Hours: 120
1

MATH 1332 is the recommended course for students in this degree program.

2

Select one of the Ensembles from the table below. Ensembles require advisor and conductor/director/faculty approval.

3

Not required if enrolled in PIAN 1201 (Piano Concentration).  Additional elective credits must be substituted.

4

MUSI 1379 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture).

5

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area V (Creative Arts).

6

Four semesters of one language required.  An Intermediate I or II language course satisfies 3 credit hours of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX (Component Area Option).

7

 Performance/Music Advanced Electives (See list below).

8

Students must pass the Sophomore Applied Proficiency before registering for upper-level applied lessons.  This Proficiency may be taken up to 3 times. 

Ensembles 3
MUEN 1110
& MUEN 3110		Keyboard Skills & Collab Techn
and Collaborative Piano Chambr Mus		2
MUEN 1111
& MUEN 3111		Choral Ensemble
and Choral Ensemble		2
MUEN 1115
& MUEN 3115		Jazz Band
and Jazz Band		2
MUEN 1116
& MUEN 3116		Band
and Band		2
MUEN 1117
& MUEN 3117		Orchestra
and Orchestra		2
MUEN 1119
& MUEN 3119		Opera Workshop
and Opera Workshop		2
MUEN 2116Wind Ensemble1
MUEN 2159Production Workshop1

Note: All Electives must be upper-level.

Performance/Music Advanced Electives 7
MUEN 3110Collaborative Piano Chambr Mus 11
MUEN 3111Choral Ensemble 11
MUEN 3115Jazz Band 11
MUEN 3116Band 11
MUEN 3117Orchestra 11
MUEN 3118Chamber Music 11
MUEN 3119Opera Workshop 11
MUEN 4116Wind Ensemble 11
XXXX 3202 Applied Study w/ Jr Recital2
XXXX Applied Study (may be repeated once for degree credit)2
MUSI 3362Orchestration And Analysis3
MUSI 3363Structure And Analysis (Writing Enhanced)3
MUSI 3364Improvisation3
MUSI 3367Studies In Music For Children3
MUSI 3376Mus His: Antiq through Baroque3
or MUSI 3377 Mus His: Classic to Present
MUSI 3380Opera Literature3
MUSI 3381Song History & Literature3
MUSI 4224Conducting II2
MUSI 4373Electronic Music3
MUSI 437420th Century Musical Styles3
MUSI 4375Film Scoring3
1

 Not more than 4 additional MUEN hours can be counted toward the degree.

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

Ensembles:  2 SCH of the 5 SCH must be advanced-level. 

Students earning a grade below “C” in any music course required for his/her degree or minor in music are required to retake the course. After three failed attempts to earn a C or better, the student may be removed from the program.

All BA Degrees require 14 semester hours of foreign language (four semesters of the same language).

Completion of six semesters of Concert Attendance is required for graduation. See student handbook and/or contact the School of Music for details.

1000 & 2000 level courses are LOWER-LEVEL (Freshman/Sophomore) and 3000 & 4000 level courses are ADVANCED-LEVEL (Junior/Senior).

General Electives (19 hours): "General Electives" are courses from the University’s catalog that can apply to the number of hours required for the BA. These free electives (not Music courses) must include at least 19 hours of advanced-level (3000 and 4000-level) courses (or enough to meet the university's 42 advanced-hour minimum).

Advanced Electives: Students should use the advanced electives (3000- or 4000-level courses) to complete the 42-advanced hour requirement for graduation. 120 Hour Requirement: 120 is the minimum number of hours required for graduation.

Other courses may be recommended by an advisor and must be approved by the Director of the School of Music.

Writing Enhanced Courses. All undergraduate students are required to complete at least six hours of writing enhanced courses within the discipline, of which three hours must be advanced.

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

The following minor cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Music. 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The BA in Music is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • Communication skills: written, verbal, and musical.

  • Critical and creative thinking, multitasking, and problem solving skills.

  • Versatile 21st century musicians with professional, collaborative, and inclusive demeanor.

  • Entrepreneurial in spirit including leadership, marketing, and self-promotion.

  • Community engagement and ability to work with diverse populations.