2020-2021 Catalog

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Programs Offered

Majors/Degrees

Music—Bachelor of Arts

Majors/Degrees with All-Level Certification

Music, Choral Track—Bachelor of Music with All-Level Certification

Music, Instrumental Track—Bachelor of Music with All-Level Certification

Minors

Music

Students electing to pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music pursue a track of music course with an area of concentration in voice, piano, organ, strings, guitar, woodwinds, brass, or percussion.  They may also pursue further course work in music theory, music history, composition or conducting.  This curriculum is a traditional skills-based degree designed to serve students wishing to pursue and develop their musical talents to a high level. In addition to general studies, these students take classes in elementary and advanced theory, aural skills, music history, and performance. They must complete a senior project, pass a one-hour comprehensive oral exam, and take an additional 10-11 hours of elective credit.

Students completing the Bachelor of Music Degree with All-Level Certification will be recommended for certification by Texas Wesleyan University to teach music in the state of Texas. Students will pursue a track of music course with an area of concentration in voice, piano, organ, strings, guitar, woodwinds, brass, or percussion. This concentration will place the student in one of two tracks:  the Choral Track or the Instrumental Track. They may also pursue further course work in music theory, music history, composition or conducting. In addition to their general studies, music education students take classes in elementary and advanced theory, aural skills, music history, literature, and performance. Beyond that, they complete 19 hours of coursework in the School of Education, including 6 hours of clinical teaching, and an additional 12 hours of music education training from the Music Department. Music education students also pass a one-hour comprehensive oral exam.

To receive an All-Level Music Certification, candidates must exhibit, proficiency in the following fields:

  1. Conducting – fulfilled by completion of MUS 4232 or MUS 4233.
  2. Secondary instruments or voice.
  3. Piano proficiency – fulfilled by completion of MUS 3003
  4. Theory proficiency – fulfilled by completion of MUS 4321

Two exams must be passed to receive the certification by the State Board of Education:

  1. TExES Music: EC-12 (Test #177) = All-Level Music Certification (EC-12)
  2. Professional Roles and Responsibilities (PPR): EC-12 (Test # 160)

Entrance Requirements

Students desiring admission to any music degree must first audition for the music faculty. The music department will not acknowledge students as fully qualified music majors or minors until this audition has occurred and their status as music students has been approved by the faculty. Music students must have had sufficient training and experience in a field of applied study to qualify for an appropriate area of performance concentration.

Music Degree Requirements

  1. A one-half hour lesson per week is provided for each one-hour course credit in applied music classes (MAP). Students are expected to practice approximately 50 minutes per day for each hour of MAP enrollment credit.
  2. All Bachelor of Arts degree students will complete a senior project (recital, lecture-recital, original composition, research paper, etc.) under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Music with All-Level Certification, students are not required to complete a senior project.
  3. Attendance is required of all Recital Lab students each semester at a specified number of department-sponsored concerts, recitals, and events. 
  4. All music degree students must pass a one-hour oral comprehensive examination during their senior year and must enroll in MUS 4101 Senior Exam Review.
  5. Four-year undergraduate students will be evaluated at the end of their fourth semester of study to determine suitability for continuation in the degree by enrolling in MUS 2003, Sophomore Barrier. Transfer students will be evaluated at the time of their application to the department.
  6. Four-year undergraduate students working in any music degree program must enroll in at least eight (8) semesters of music ensembles. Transfer students must enroll in at least four (4) semesters of music ensembles. Students receiving a music scholarship may be required to enroll in a music ensemble even though they have completed the requisite number of semesters for the degree.
  7. All music majors and minors must earn a grade of “C” or better for credit in their required music (MUS) or music applied (MAP) classes. Neither “D” nor “F” are considered passing grades for music students taking music classes and those classes must be repeated.
  8. All music majors must pass MUS 3003 Piano Proficiency Exam.

Note: For more detailed information, refer to the Music Department’s webpage at www.txwes.edu/academics/artsletters/music/.