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:

1. Approval of the applied jury to progress to the upper-division courses (MUSC 311 or MUSC 411), as appropriate to the chosen degree program;
2. 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

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)

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.

Music, B.A.

Music, B.A. Musical Theatre

Music, B.A.

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.50 GPA on all MUSC & MUED courses and a 2.00 cumulative GPA.

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.

³

Students are required to participate in the 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, and University Chorus. Students whose applied focus is jazz may satisfy the major ensemble requirement by enrolling in MUSC 131.

⁴

MUED 155 and 156 are not required if taking MUSC 111P for Piano as primary instrument or if a student passes the proficiency exam.

⁵

MUSC 111A-Z: Applied Music must be completed satisfactorily for a minimum of six semesters and 12 hours of credit.

⁶

Students in the Music, BA program are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.

⁷

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.

⁸

The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of, but related to the major. In place of a cognate, a student may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of courses concentrated in one area that follow a structured sequence. A second major eliminates the minor/cognate requirement. Music majors may supplement their degree with a minor in Audio Recording, Music Entrepreneurship, or Music Industry Studies.

⁹

Theory Electives (6 hours): MUSC 312, 313, 315, 319, 320, 515, 518, 525, 526, 528.

¹⁰

Courses which qualify for the Chamber Music requirement include all MUSC 130 courses with a suffix of A-Z and topics in: Voice, String, Percussion, Wind, Guitar, and Keyboard.

¹¹

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 college requirement.

¹²

Music Major Electives (6 hours): Students must complete a minimum of 6 hours of music major electives, including MUED 155 and 156, if needed, or MUSC 278 for those whose primary medium is voice.

¹³

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.

Program Notes:

• ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 must be completed within the first 60 semester hours of work in order to be credited toward graduation. 
• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
• Performance Certificate: The performance certificate is awarded by the School of Music to recognize those undergraduate music students with degree emphases other than music performance, as well as those students not majoring in music. The performance certificate will allow gifted and highly motivated students to acquire additional credit, professorial interaction, guidance, and departmental distinction in music performance.

Music, B.A. Musical Theatre

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.50 GPA on all MUSC & MUED courses and a 2.00 cumulative GPA.

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.

³

Students are required to participate in the 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, and University Chorus. Students who choose to complete the Musical Theatre concentration must complete 4 semesters of musical theatre ensemble, selected from MUSC 130M and MUSC 450.

⁴

MUED 155 and 156 are not required if taking MUSC 111P for Piano as primary instrument or if a student passes the proficiency exam.

⁵

Applied Music must be completed satisfactorily for a minimum of six semesters and 12 hours of credit.

⁶

Students in the Music, BA program are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.

⁷

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.

⁸

Music Major Electives: Students must complete a minimum of 6 hours of music major electives, including MUED 155 and 156, if needed, or MUSC 278 for those whose primary medium is voice. Students who choose to complete the Musical Theatre Concentration must choose MUSC 278 or MUSC 500 as 2 hours of their Major Electives.

⁹

Theory Electives (6 hours): MUSC 312, 313, 315, 319, 320, 515, 518, 525, 526, 528.

¹⁰

Courses which qualify for the Chamber Music requirement include all MUSC 130 courses with a suffix of A-Z and topics in: Voice, String, Percussion, Wind, Guitar, and Keyboard.

¹¹

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 college requirement.

¹²

Students should select 3 credits from any combination of the following: any DANC or THEA course(s) or additional semesters of MUSC 130M.

¹³

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.

Program Notes:

• ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 must be completed within the first 60 semester hours of work in order to be credited toward graduation. 
• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
• The Cognate or Minor requirement is optional for students who choose to complete the Musical Theatre Concentration. The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of, but related to the major. In place of a cognate, a student may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of courses concentrated in one area that follow a structured sequence. Students who choose to complete a concentration in Musical Theatre may not also choose to complete a Theatre Minor. A second major eliminates the minor/cognate requirement. Music majors may supplement their degree with a minor in Audio Recording, Music Entrepreneurship, or Music Industry Studies.
• Performance Certificate: The performance certificate is awarded by the School of Music to recognize those undergraduate music students with degree emphases other than music performance, as well as those students not majoring in music. The performance certificate will allow gifted and highly motivated students to acquire additional credit, professorial interaction, guidance, and departmental distinction in music performance.