Music, B.A.
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:
- 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.
- 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
| 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.
Requirements (121 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core (32-44 hours) | ||
| CMW - Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written 1 | ||
| ENGL 101 | Critical Reading and Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Rhetoric and Composition | 3 |
| ARP - Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving | ||
| CC-ARP course(s) | 6-8 | |
| SCI - Scientific Literacy | ||
| CC-SCI course(s) (Two 4-credit CC-SCI laboratory science courses) | 8 | |
| GFL - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language | ||
| 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 course(s) | 0-6 | |
| GHS - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking | ||
| CC-GHS course(s) | 3 | |
| GSS - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences | ||
| CC-GSS course(s) | 3 | |
| AIU - Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding | ||
| MUSC 115 | Music Theory I 1 | 3 |
| CMS - Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component 2 | ||
| CC-CMS course(s) | 0-3 | |
| INF - Information Literacy 2 | ||
| CC-INF course(s) | 0-3 | |
| VSR - Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility 2 | ||
| CC-VSR course(s) | 0-3 | |
| 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. | 0-3 | |
| 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 U.S. and non-U.S. History Courses . Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this Program Requirement. | 3 | |
| Social Science (3 hours): | ||
| Choose any from the list of CC-GSS course(s) . | 3 | |
| Humanities (9 hours): | ||
| Select 9 hours of Fine Arts/Humanities Courses (students in the Musical Theatre Concentration must select THEA 170 as one of their Humanities courses.) | 9 | |
| Cognate or Minor (0-18 hours) 1 | ||
| 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. | 0-18 | |
| 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. | 0-13 | |
| 4. Major Requirements (49-67 hours) 1 | ||
| Major Courses (43 hours) | ||
| MUSC 100 | Music Convocation (two 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 | |
| Special Topics in Musicology and Ethnomusicology | ||
| Topics in Music History | ||
| Black Sacred Music: Local and Global Perspectives | ||
| Select two Theory Electives from the following: | 6 | |
| Counterpoint | ||
| Twentieth-Century Techniques and Materials | ||
| Topics in Music Theory | ||
| Jazz Theory I | ||
| Jazz Theory II | ||
| Orchestration | ||
| Form and Analysis | ||
| Post-Tonal Music Theory | ||
| Analytical Studies | ||
| Seminar in Music Theory | ||
| Applied Music Courses (minimum of six semesters & 12 hours): | ||
| MUSC 111A-MUSC 111Z | 12 | |
| Ensembles (8 semesters) 3 | 8 | |
| 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. | 6 | |
| Musical Theatre Concentration (18 hours) Optional 4 | ||
| Ballet Technique I | ||
| Contemporary Dance Technique I | ||
| Jazz Dance Technique I | ||
| Beginning Voice and Speech | ||
| Beginning Acting | ||
| Elements of Design for Theatre Production | ||
| Intermediate Acting | ||
Select 3 hours from any combination of the following: | ||
Any DANC or THEA course(s) | ||
Additional semesters of MUSC 130M | ||
- 1
Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
- 2
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.
- 3
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.
- 4
Students who choose to complete a concentration in Musical Theatre may not also choose to complete a Theatre Minor.
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.