Music, B.A.

Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music combines a broad liberal education with a selection of courses in Music. The degree is designed to develop basic musicianship, the ability to perform, and a set of principles that leads to a fuller intellectual grasp of the art.

The B.A. in Music degree program includes a General Music Studies Option and an additional option in Music Technology.

What is Music?

Italian composer Ferruccio Busoni said “music is sonorous air.” A more scientific definition might be “sounds organized in time.” With a history that likely pre-dates language, music is an in integral part of all societies for expression, communication and the fostering of community. In the words of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, “without music, life would be a mistake.”

You Might Like This Program If...

You’re looking for an educational experience that develops your musicianship, scholarship, and performance skills through broad-based study in all areas of music. For those students interested in music technology, an option in the B.A. provides a focus in this area. If you are looking to earn two degrees, the B.A. combines well with a degree outside of music.

Entrance to Major

Application for admittance into the program requires completion of a two-year core of music and General Education courses.

Entrance Procedures

Students interested in pursuing Music (B.A.) should follow the appropriate first year, change of major, or transfer application instructions found under Music Admission Information at https://arts.psu.edu/how-to-apply/#specific.

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, a minimum of 120 credits is required for the General Music Studies option and a minimum of 133 credits is required for the Music Technology option:

0-15 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes 0-3 credits of GA courses, 0-6 credits of GN courses, 0-6 credits of GQ courses.

Requirements for the Major

To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
MUSIC 40	First-Year Seminar in Music	1
MUSIC 101	Music Common Hour	1
MUSIC 121	Basic Musicianship I	1
MUSIC 122	Basic Musicianship II	1
MUSIC 131	Music Theory I	2
MUSIC 132	Music Theory II	2
MUSIC 162	Introduction to Music History	2
MUSIC 221	Basic Musicianship III	1
MUSIC 222	Basic Musicianship IV	1
MUSIC 231	Music Theory III	2
MUSIC 261	Survey of Music History I	3
MUSIC 262	Survey of Music History II	3
MUSIC 270	Keyboard Skills IV: Music Major	1
MUSIC 332	Analysis of Twentieth Century Music	2
MUSIC 476W	B.A. Senior Project	3
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Select 8 credits in applied music through Level IV of Primary		8
Select 4 credits of ensembles (see School of Music Handbook for list of ensembles)		4
Requirements for the Option
Select an option		12-41

Requirements for the Option

General Music Studies Option (12 credits)

Music Technology Option (41 credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
INART 258A	Fundamentals of Digital Audio	3
INART 50	The Science of Music	3
MATH 38	Elementary Linear Algebra	3
MATH 41	Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry	4
MATSE 81	Materials in Today's World	3
MUSIC 127	Introduction to Music Technology	1
MUSIC 177	ROARS lab 1	8
MUSIC 437	Music Information Retrieval and Computer-Assisted Music	3
MUSIC 451	Computer Programming for Musicians	3
MUSIC 452	Computer Music Synthesis	3
MUSIC 453	Recording Studio Training	1
MUSIC 458	Electronic Music Composition I	3
THEA 484	Sound Recording Techniques	3

¹

Students will repeat MUSIC 177, a 1-credit course, for a total of 8 credits.

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

B.A. Degree Requirements

World Language (0-12 credits): Student must attain 12th credit level of proficiency in one world language in addition to English. This proficiency must be demonstrated by either examination or course work. See the Placement Policy for Penn State World Language Courses.

B.A. Fields (9 credits): Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, World Languages, Natural Sciences, Quantification (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; world language credits in this category must be in a second world language in addition to English or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language). Credits must be selected from the list of approved courses.

World Cultures (0-3 credits): Select 3 credits from approved list. Students may count courses in this category in order to meet other major, minor, elective, or General Education requirements, except for the University Cultural Diversity (US/IL) requirement.​

Integrated B.A. in Music and M.A. in Music

Requirements for the Integrated B.A. in Music and M.A. in Music can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.

Learning Outcomes

General Studies

• To hear, identify, and work conceptually with the elements of music such as rhythm, melody, harmony, structure, timbre, texture.
• Have an understanding of and the ability to read and realize musical notation.
• Have an understanding of compositional processes, aesthetic properties of style, and the ways these shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural forces.
• Have an acquaintance with a wide selection of musical literature, the principal eras, genres, and cultural sources.
• Performing skills on chosen instrument/voice to present accurate and artistic performances.

Music Technology

The above learning outcomes plus:

• Understanding of music technology as an integrated field.
• Understanding of fundamental science, engineering, and math content underlying acoustics and electronic technologies employed in music technology.
• Ability to integrate and synthesize basic musical and technological knowledge and skills in the conceptualization of music technology projects.
• Ability to produce work in at least one area of integrative music technology, or to produce undergraduate-level research or scholarly work in integrative music technology.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Margaret Higgins
Academic Adviser
104 Borland Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-9523
mah68@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

General Music Option: Music, B.A. at University Park Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in World Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as World Cultures courses.

Music Technology Option: Music, B.A. at University Park Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in World Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as World Cultures courses.

Career Paths

The Bachelor of Arts in Music program provides students with a strong foundation in all areas of music. Students on the general music studies track may pursue a wide range of potential careers, as well as graduate study in more specialized areas of music. Students on the music technology track develop a range of knowledge and skills that prepare graduates for numerous career options and graduate study opportunities.

Careers

A wide range of careers is possible for graduates of the B.A. in music program’s general studies option. From performance to arts management to entrepreneurial pursuits, the possibilities are extensive. Graduates of the music technology option have the skills and knowledge to pursue careers in many areas of the field. Producers, acoustic consultants, sound technicians, audio and sound engineers, recording engineers and mixers, music editors, sound designers, and audio developers are just some of the careers that use music technology.

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

Graduates of the B.A. in music program are prepared to pursue graduate study in a more specialized area of music, including performance, theory and composition, conducting, technology, musicology, and more!

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Accreditation

The Pennsylvania State University is accredited through the National Association of Schools of Music. NASM is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges, and universities with approximately 650 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for music and music-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other music-related endeavors.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF MUSIC

Contact

University Park

SCHOOL OF MUSIC
233 Music Building I
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-0431
music-ug-adm@psu.edu

https://arts.psu.edu/academics/school-of-music/