Introduction

The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree is a non-professional degree designed for talented musicians who wish to pursue a broad liberal arts education. Curriculum flexibility affords students the opportunity to explore a variety of pre-professional offerings, including premedical and prelaw. 

A dual degree, second major, or minor outside the Frost School of Music is required. Students in the BA in Music program must earn a minimum 2.5 GPA each semester to remain in the program.

Educational Objectives

  • Students will acquire a thorough understanding of music theory and music history, and develop advanced competence in musical performance.
  • Students will develop the ability to think, speak, and write clearly about their primary and chosen minor fields, and increase their capacity to defend their views effectively and rationally based on substantive knowledge of the liberal arts.
  • The student will acquire competency in an approved non-music academic area that includes a broad understanding of the area and contemporary thought within that area.

Advanced Writing and Communication Skills

Courses

All students are required to successfully complete three (3) Advanced Writing and Communication Skills (AWC) courses. Student degree requirements will include courses that meet the desired communication outcomes in evaluated and revised writing, speaking, stage presence, and audience engagement. There will be at least 2 specific assessments in each Advanced Communications Skills course for communications or writing equivalent to 4000 words, evaluated and revised.

All BA in Music students will successfully complete:

  1. MCY 341, which will include substantial evaluated and revised writing components.
  2. An approved MCY 300+ or MTC 300+ elective, which will include evaluated communication skills in attracting an audience, engaging an audience during performance, and preparing program notes or similar media as appropriate to the medium/venue.
  3. An approved non-music Humanities or Modern Language elective, which will include evaluated written communication skills relevant to the minor degree.

Curriculum Requirements

General Education Requirements
Written Communication Skills:
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 106First-Year Writing II3
or ENG 106 Writing About Literature and Culture
Quantitative Skills:
MTH 113Finite Mathematics (This course fulfills the Quantitative Skills Requirement.)3
Areas of Knowledge:
Arts & Humanities Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major)
People & Society Cognate 9
STEM Cognate 9
Additional Requirements
UMX 100The University of Miami Experience0
Advanced Writing and Communication Skills (3 courses) See details below.
Experiential Music Curriculum Core Courses MUS 1
MCY 7B.A. in Music Forum (8 semesters)8
MXX XX1 (Level 1)Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (semesters 1-4, 2 credit hours)8
MXX XX3 (Level 3)Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (semesters 5-6, 2 credit hours)4
MTC 140Experiential Musicianship I3
or MSJ 140 Experiential Musicianship I
or MDE 140 Experiential Musicianship I
MTC 141Experiential Musicianship II3
or MSJ 141 Experiential Musicianship II
or MDE 141 Experiential Musicianship II
MTC 240Experiential Musicianship III3
or MSJ 240 Experiential Musicianship III
or MDE 240 Experiential Musicianship III
MTC 241Experiential Musicianship IV3
or MSJ 241 Experiential Musicianship IV
or MDE 241 Experiential Musicianship IV
MTC 107Skills Lab I (co-requisite MTC 140/MSJ 140/MDE 140)1
or MSJ 107 Skills Lab I
or MDE 107 Skills Lab I
MTC 108Skills Lab II (co-requisite MTC 141/MSJ 141/MDE 141)1
or MSJ 108 Skills Lab II
or MDE 108 Skills Lab II
MTC 207Skills Lab III (co-requisite MTC 240/MSJ 240/MDE 240)1
or MSJ 207 Skills Lab III
or MDE 207 Skills Lab III: American Song Traditions
MTC 208Skills Lab IV (co-requisite MTC 241/MSJ 241/MDE 241)1
or MSJ 208 Skills Lab IV
or MDE 208 Skills Lab IV: American Song Traditions
MKP 140Keyboard Studies I (MSJ 103 if enrolled in MSJ theory)1
MKP 141Keyboard Studies II (MSJ 104 if enrolled in MSJ theory)1
MCY 140Experiencing Music3
MCY 341Music of the Mediaeval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods (AWC)3
MSP 250Essential Technologies for Musicians3
MIN 310Music Business and Entrepreneurship for Musicians3
MIP/MSJ/MDE XXXEnsembles (semesters 1-6, 1 credit hour)6
Total credits for EMC Core courses = 54
Courses in the MUS Major with Required Minor
MIP/MSJ/MDE XXX Ensembles (semesters 7-8, 1 credit hour)2
MXX XX3(Level 3) Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (semesters 7-8, 2 credit hours)4
MCY 342Music of the Classical, Romantic, and Modern Periods3
MCY/MTC 300+Elective (AWC)3
Additional Degree Requirements
Non-Music Arts Elective 6
Non-Music Humanities Elective (AWC)6
Modern Language (AWC)6
Non-Music Minor 15
Total credits for courses in the major = 45
Total Credit Hours128
1

EMC core courses require a grade of “C” or higher.  Lessons require a grade of "B-" or higher.

Suggested Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredit Hours
MCY 7 B.A. in Music Forum 1
MXX XX1 (Level 1) Principal Instrument/ Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
Ensemble 1
MKP 140 or MSJ 103 Keyboard Studies I
or Jazz Piano I
1
MTC 140, MSJ 140,
Experiential Musicianship I
or Experiential Musicianship I
or Experiential Musicianship I
3
MTC 107, MSJ 107,
Skills Lab I
or Skills Lab I
or Skills Lab I
1
MCY 140 Experiencing Music 3
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
UMX 100 The University of Miami Experience 0
 Credit Hours15
Spring
MCY 7 B.A. in Music Forum 1
MXX XX1 (Level 1) Principal Instrument/Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
Ensemble 1
MKP 141 or MSJ 104 Keyboard Studies II
or Jazz Piano II
1
MTC 141, MSJ 141,
Experiential Musicianship II
or Experiential Musicianship II
or Experiential Musicianship II
3
MTC 108, MSJ 108,
Skills Lab II
or Skills Lab II
or Skills Lab II
1
MTH 113 Finite Mathematics 3
WRS 106 or ENG 106 First-Year Writing II
or Writing About Literature and Culture
3
 Credit Hours15
Year Two
Fall
MCY 7 B.A. in Music Forum 1
MXX XX1 (Level 1) Principal Instrument/Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
Ensemble 1
MSP 250 Essential Technologies for Musicians 3
MTC 240, MSJ 240,
Experiential Musicianship III
or Experiential Musicianship III
or Experiential Musicianship III
3
MTC 207, MSJ 207,
Skills Lab III
or Skills Lab III
or Skills Lab III: American Song Traditions
1
Non-Music Minor 3
People & Society Cognate 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring
MCY 7 B.A. in Music Forum 1
MXX XX1 (Level 1) Principal Instrument/Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
Ensemble 1
MTC 241, MSJ 241,
Experiential Musicianship IV
or Experiential Musicianship IV
or Experiential Musicianship IV
3
MTC 208, MSJ 208,
Skills Lab IV
or Skills Lab IV
or Skills Lab IV: American Song Traditions
1
Non-Music Minor 3
Non-Music Arts Elective 3
STEM Cognate 3
 Credit Hours17
Year Three
Fall
MCY 7 B.A. in Music Forum 1
MXX XX3 (Level 3) Principal Instrument/Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
Ensemble 1
MCY 341 Music of the Mediaeval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods 3
Non-Music Minor 3
Modern Language 3
People and Society Cognate 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
MCY 7 B.A. in Music Forum 1
MXX XX3 (Level 3) Principal Instrument/ Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
Ensemble 1
MCY 342 Music of the Classical, Romantic, and Modern Periods 3
Non-Music Minor 3
Modern Language 3
STEM Cognate 3
 Credit Hours16
Year Four
Fall
MCY 7 B.A. in Music Forum 1
MXX XX3 (Level 3) Principal Instrument/ Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
Ensemble 1
MIN 310 Music Business and Entrepreneurship for Musicians 3
Non-Music Minor 3
Non-Music Humanities Elective 3
People & Society Cognate 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
MCY 7 B.A. in Music Forum 1
MXX XX3 (Level 3) Principal Instrument/ Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
Ensemble 1
MCY/MTC 300+ Elective (AWC) 3
Non-Music Arts Elective 3
Non-Music Humanities Elective 3
STEM Cognate 3
 Credit Hours16
 Total Credit Hours128

Mission

The mission of the Bachelor of Music Degree (BAM) in Music at the Frost School of Music is to:

  • Provide students the highest quality of education available in their principal academic programs as instrumentalists and vocalists;
  • Enhance the development of foundational musicianship that will serve as the foundation for graduate degree auditions, national/international competitions, and entry-level careers as musicians;
  • Stimulate student awareness and artistic creativity within the fields of music composition as well as music ensemble performance, while providing students public performance opportunities in a supportive and encouraging environment.

In addition, the requirement to acquire a minor degree, dual degree, or a second major within the University of Miami system enables students to present as a musician who excels in other academic areas. The discipline and academic rigor endemic to achieving excellence in diverse fields equips students to better confront challenges encountered entering the competitive professional world of employment.

Goals

  • Students will acquire a thorough knowledge of music theory and music history, and develop advanced competence in musical performance.
  • Students will develop the ability to think, speak, and write clearly with the capacity to explain and defend their views effectively and rationally based on substantive knowledge of the liberal arts.
  • Students will acquire competency in a selected non-music academic area that includes a broad understanding of the area and contemporary thought within the area.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate intellectual/scholarly aptitude and oral skills in interdisciplinary discussions.
  • Students will demonstrate mastery of their secondary area of study (minor, double major, or dual degree) outside of music, and be able to connect this knowledge to their music studies. 
  • Students will be able to perform, create, improvise, analyze, and sight-read music in styles outside their normal performance practice.