Progression Requirements

Acceptance as a music major does not guarantee progression to the upper division. To remain in a degree program offered by the School of Music, a student must make satisfactory progress toward the degree. A student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress may be placed on academic probation or removed from the school. This includes satisfactory progress in the applied music sequence. In addition, all students in the school are subject to the regulations on probation, suspension, and readmission in the “Academic Standards” section of the “Academic Regulations” chapter of this bulletin. At the end of the sophomore year, each student’s progress toward completion of lower-division requirements will be evaluated.

Upper Division

To be admitted to the upper division, students must meet the following criteria:

• completion of piano proficiency requirements;
• completion of the Aural Skills training sequence  MUSC 117, MUSC 118, MUSC 217, MUSC 218; Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Theory majors must achieve a minimum grade of “B”
• completion of MUSC 115 and MUSC 215; Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Theory majors must achieve a minimum grade of “B”
• completion ofMUSC 100L;
• for music education majors, completion of the Music Education Practicum (MUED 200);
• for Bachelor of Music students, approval of the applied jury to progress to the upper-division courses (MUSC 311 or MUSC 411), as appropriate to the chosen degree program;
• completion of at least 60 credits with a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 in MUSC and MUED courses and 2.00 in all courses.

Learning Outcomes

1. All BA & BM candidates will perform a series of jury exams on their primary instrument or voice. Each exam will engage the candidate in performance of a wide array of musical styles reflective of undergraduate-level literature.  
2. All BA & BM candidates will demonstrate fundamental piano skills, including performing, transposing, harmonizing, and sight-reading at levels appropriate for undergraduate music majors.  
3. All BM candidates with a performance or jazz studies emphasis will perform one half-recital and one-full recital on their primary instrument. Each recital will consist of a wide array of musical styles reflective of undergraduate-level repertoire.  
4. All BM candidates in music education will demonstrate the ability to plan level-appropriate lessons and execute plans successfully in authentic teaching contexts in their area of specialty (band, choir, orchestra, elementary).  

Admissions

Entrance Requirements

All applicants to the School of Music must audition on their principal instrument or voice. Admission to any specific degree is dependent on the qualifying audition. A student who wishes to enter the School of Music from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher. A student who wishes to enter the School of Music from another USC campus must fulfill one of the following:

1. Be in good standing, meet the admission requirements for a baccalaureate degree on the Columbia campus, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher.
2. Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.25 or higher on a USC campus. Transfer applicants from regionally accredited colleges and universities are required to have a minimum GPA of 2.25 (on a 4.00 scale) on all college-level courses attempted. If fewer than 30 semester hours of college-level work have been attempted, the applicant must meet both transfer and freshman entrance requirements.

Degree Requirements (121 hours)

See School of Music for information about progression requirements, and special academic opportunities.

Additional information is available in the “Undergraduate Academic Regulations” chapter of this bulletin, the School of Music’s Handbook for Undergraduate Students, or from the Office of Music Studies.

Program of Study

Program Summary

Requirements	Credit Hours
1. Carolina Core	32-44
2. College Requirements	0
3. Program Requirements	15-40
4. Major Requirements	49-67

Founding Documents Requirement

All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers.  This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective.  Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.

1. Carolina Core Requirements (32-44 hours)

CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher​

• ENGL 101
• ENGL 102

ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (6-8 hours) 

• any CC-ARP courses

SCI – Scientific Literacy (8 hours)

• two 4-credit hour CC-SCI courses 

GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language  (0-6 hours)

Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimum passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required, if not already met through Carolina Core or the foreign language placement exam.

• CC-GFL courses

GHS – ​Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours) 

• any CC-GHS course

GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours) 

• any CC-GSS course

AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher​

• MUSC 115

CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component¹ (0-3 hours)

• any overlay or stand-alone CC-CMS course

INF – Information Literacy¹ (0-3 hours)

• any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course

VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility¹ (0-3 hours)

• any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course

¹

Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

2. College Requirements (0 hours)

No college-required courses for this program.

3. Program Requirements (15-40 hours)

Supporting Courses (15-18 hours)

Foreign Language (0-3 hours)

• only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency

History (3 hours)

• The School of Music requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course, both of which must be chosen from the approved Carolina Core GHS courses. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this Program Requirement.

Social Science (3 hours)

• Choose any from the list of CC-GSS approved courses.

Humanities (9 hours)

• Students who choose to complete the Musical Theatre Concentration must select THEA 170 as one of their Humanities courses.

Cognate or Minor (0-18 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher​

• Students must choose to complete a cognate (12 hours) or a minor (18 hours).  The Cognate or Minor requirement is optional for students who choose to complete the Musical Theatre Concentration.

Electives (0-13 hours)

No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the School of Music. The School of Music allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the School of Music.

4. Major Requirements (49-67 hours)

a minimum grade of C is required in all major courses

Major Courses (43 hours)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
MUSC 100	Music Convocation (2 semesters are required)	0
MUSC 100A	Music Advocacy I: Understanding the Power of Your Music	0
MUSC 100L	Recital Class Laboratory	1
MUSC 117	Aural Skills I	1
MUSC 118	Aural Skills II	1
MUSC 215	Music Theory II	3
MUSC 217	Aural Skills III	1
MUSC 218	Aural Skills IV	1
MUSC 353	History of Western Music I	3
MUSC 354	History of Western Music II	3
Select one Music History course from the following:		3
MUSC 445	Special Topics in Musicology and Ethnomusicology
MUSC 544	Topics in Music History
Select two Theory Electives from the following courses:		6
MUSC 312	Counterpoint
MUSC 313	Twentieth-Century Techniques and Materials
MUSC 315	Topics in Music Theory
MUSC 319	Jazz Theory I
MUSC 320	Jazz Theory II
MUSC 515	Orchestration
MUSC 518	Form and Analysis
MUSC 525	Post-Tonal Music Theory
MUSC 526	Analytical Studies
MUSC 528	Seminar in Music Theory
Applied Music Courses 1
MUSC 111A-MUSC 111Z		12
Ensembles
Select 8 semesters 2		8
Total Credit Hours		43

¹

Must be completed satisfactorily for a minimum of six semesters & 12 hours of credit.

²

Students must complete 8 semesters of ensembles, with a minimum of 4 semesters in a major ensemble most closely related to their primary instrument. Students must declare a primary instrument upon acceptance into the program. The major ensembles are: Marching Band, Symphonic Winds, Wind Ensemble, University Orchestra, Concert Choir, & University Chorus. Ensembles require an audition for membership. Regulations for attendance at ensemble rehearsals & performances are different from regulations for class attendance. Members of ensembles are expected to be present at every rehearsal & performance, unless excused by the conductor. Courses which qualify for the Chamber Music requirement (minimum 1 semester) include all MUSC 130 courses with a suffix of A-Z and topics in: Voice, String, Percussion, Wind, Guitar, and Keyboard. Students who choose to complete the Musical Theatre concentration must complete 4 semesters/hours of musical theatre ensemble, selected from MUSC 130M and MUSC 450.  Students whose applied focus is jazz may satisfy the major ensemble requirement by enrolling in MUSC 131. Students enrolling in an ensemble to fulfill a  degree requirement must register for at least 1 credit hour each semester.

Major Electives (6 hours)

Students must complete a minimum of 6 hours of music major electives, including MUED 155 & MUED 156 (or demonstration of piano proficiency is required), if needed, or MUSC 278 for those whose primary medium is voice. Students who choose to complete the Music Theatre Concentration must choose MUSC 278 or MUSC 500 as two hours of their Major Electives.

Concentration in Musical Theatre (18 hours) optional

Students who choose to complete a concentration in Musical Theatre may not also choose to complete a Theatre Minor.

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
DANC 102B	Ballet Technique I	2
DANC 112B	Contemporary Dance Technique I	2
DANC 178	Jazz Dance Technique I	2
THEA 240	Beginning Voice and Speech	3
THEA 270	Beginning Acting	3
THEA 280	Elements of Design for Theatre Production	3
THEA 370	Intermediate Acting	3
Total Credit Hours		18

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Music, B.A.

Music, B.A. Musical Theatre