Transfer Articulation: Music

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

The Sam Houston State University School of Music exists as a community of musician-educators whose mission is:

  • To educate and train students for lives of service and contribution—as teachers, performers, composers, therapists, and scholars;
  • To provide and nurture a nucleus of musical life for the larger community;
  • To educate the university student population regarding music’s intrinsic value as a part of the human experience and its central role in human culture; and
  • To mutually encourage one another in professional growth and attainment

Our mission encompasses a variety of programs and curricula, traditional and innovative, which are regularly examined for effectiveness, quality and relevance. It includes our commitment to a combination of:

  •  Classroom studies in music; and
  •  The live performance of music, individually and collectively, as central to music study, development and knowledge.

As an integral part of our mission, we commit ourselves to continuing steps toward realizing the full potential of community, both as teachers and as colleagues; further, we commit to interaction with our students that emphasizes personal attention and interest in their total musical/intellectual development.

General Requirements for Music Majors - Students desiring to major in music must have previous musical experience.

Audition - All students entering the School of Music, as music majors, must audition in their major performance area and be accepted for a specific degree plan (e.g., Bachelor of Music: Performance, Teacher Certification, Composition; Bachelor of Music: Music Therapy). Music therapy majors must also schedule and pass an interview with the Director of Music Therapy.

Grades - Students must receive a grade of “C” or better in all courses required in the major. If they receive a grade lower than a “C,” they will be placed on academic probation until they retake the course with the “C” or better grade.

Jury - All students enrolled in applied classes (private studio instruction) must take jury examinations at the end of each semester.

Ensemble - All students enrolled in applied classes should perform in an ensemble.

Sophomore barrier - Before students majoring in music are allowed to enroll for 3000-level courses in applied music, they must pass a proficiency examination/barrier. The exam is normally administered at the end of their fourth semester of study. NOTE: Students are given/allowed three opportunities to pass the barrier. If they do not pass by the third attempt, they cannot continue as music majors.

Piano proficiency - Students must pass a proficiency examination in piano. Students who do not have the requisite skills may enroll in piano classes. Completion of the piano classes with a grade of “C” or better meets the skills requirement for the keyboard proficiency.

Concert attendance - Students are required to attend 12 performances (from a specified list) each semester for six semesters in all undergraduate Bachelor of Music major tracks. Transfer students may receive a credit or waiver for up to three semesters. Details of this requirement are printed in the School of Music Student Handbook.

Large ensemble - Enrollment in a large ensemble is expected of full-time music majors each fall and spring semester. Music therapy majors must enroll in an ensemble for 6 semesters. The minimum requirement is seven semesters for B.M. Music Education/Teacher Certification track; eight semesters for other B.M. tracks; and six semesters for Music Therapy majors.

  • For piano principals (non-performance majors), Accompanying (MUEN 1110/3110) will satisfy a portion of this requirement.
  • For piano performance majors, Collaborative Piano (MUEN 1110/3110) satisfies the major ensemble requirement.
  • Further details are printed in the School of Music Student Handbook.
  • Freshmen and sophomore students enroll in 1000-/2000-level ensembles; juniors and seniors enroll in 3000-/4000-level ensembles.

Department Contact: Dr. Scott D. Plugge, Director
Phone: 936-294-3808
Location: Music Building, Room 225

For a complete listing of undergraduate degree programs, visit Undergraduate Catalog. 

There are three music degree plans: Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Music, and a Bachelor of Music Therapy. Within those degree plans, there are eight different concentrations/tracks (Teaching Certification: Instrumental, Teaching Certification: Choral, Teaching Certification: Choral/Piano, Teaching Certification: Strings, Instrumental Performance, Piano Performance, Vocal Performance, Composition).

The Core Curriculum at Sam Houston State University (to be used by all incoming students as of fall 2014) contains 42 semester credit hours, encompassing nine component areas. Each component area has a minimum credit hour requirement and a selection of specific courses that may be used to satisfy the requirement. The Core Curriculum details Sam Houston State University courses and their Texas Common Course Number (TCCN) equivalents for college transfer students which comprise SHSU's core curriculum.

Many SHSU disciplines including the sciences, business, and education require specific courses from the SHSU core as degree specific graduation requirements. To minimize cost and time to complete degree requirements, always select SHSU/transfer core courses specified as degree requirements in your intended major. If you have not decided on a major, select core courses supporting your intended area of academic concentration.

It is suggested that a student wishing to transfer to the School of Music consults the current University Catalog to determine which courses fulfill the requirements specific to that emphasis.

Field of Study

Sam Houston State University supports the State of Texas Fields of Study. 

The Core Curriculum at Sam Houston State University (to be used by all incoming students as of fall 2014) contains 42 semester credit hours, encompassing nine component areas. Each component area has a minimum credit hour requirement and a selection of specific courses that may be used to satisfy the requirement. The Core Curriculum details Sam Houston State University courses and their Texas Common Course Number (TCCN) equivalents for college transfer students which comprise SHSU’s core curriculum.

Many SHSU disciplines including the sciences, business, and education require specific courses from the SHSU core as degree specific graduation requirements. To minimize cost and time to complete degree requirements always select SHSU/transfer core courses specified as degree requirements in your intended major.  If you have not decided on a major, select core courses supporting your intended area of academic concentration.

Prior to enrolling in core classes, students are encouraged to review specific degree requirements for their major. Selection of major-specified core courses reduces the total number of hours required for graduation.

If you do not see a Texas Common Course Number (TCCN) mapping a specific core course to your transfer institution, please go to Transfer Course Equivalency Guide and select your institution from the drop-down menu. The result will list all currently mapped transfer courses from your institution to SHSU courses.