Music
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Program Requirements
Students must fulfill the Oakland University General Education Requirements, the General College of Arts and Sciences Requirements, the College of Arts & Sciences Exploratory Requirement, and the Major Requirements. Additionally, students must complete a sufficient number of free elective courses to meet the overall credit requirement for their degree. A minimum of 120 credits is required, although some degree programs may require a higher total credit count.
General Education Requirements
In order to graduate on-schedule without taking additional courses, it is highly recommended that students meet with an Undergraduate Academic Adviser concerning the selection of all of their General Education courses.
Each candidate for an Oakland University baccalaureate will need to satisfactorily complete approved courses in each of the following areas: Foundations, Explorations, and Integration. For details, refer to the General Education Requirements section of the catalog.
Requirements for the Liberal Arts Major in Music, B.A.
Admission to Music Degree Programs
Admission to the Music degree programs at Oakland University (OU) is a two-tiered process, except for the B.A. in Music. The first step in the process for all students is the Entrance Audition. These auditions are held several times a year and determine whether or not a student will be admitted to OU in any of these degree programs. For all B.M. programs, the second step is the major standing audition, which determines whether students may continue in the program, and if they can be admitted into a professional program in the school.
Entrance Auditions
Entrance audition days are held several times each year. The audition schedule and downloadable application are available on the school website. Please submit application to the department office. Students should be prepared to demonstrate proficiency in their proposed area of specialization.
Students seeking admission to Oakland University as music majors or auditioned music minors must audition for the music faculty.
Students who audition and do not enroll within 2 semesters must re-audition.
Students who enroll and leave school for at least 2 semesters must re-audition. Music students who enroll and leave school must re-audition and also retake the theory placement exam.
This degree is for students who wish a broad general education without a high degree of specialization in music. Students should consult the Student Resources link and should also meet with the departmental adviser in the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office to plan their degree program. See: Student Resources
course satisfies the General Education Arts requirement for this program.
course, course, course and course count as Writing Intensive in the Major.
course, course, or course count as the General Education Capstone.
Only major courses in which a grade of at least C has been earned will count toward the major.
Applied Music - 16 Credits Minimum (or Placement)
12 credits in a single instrument or 13 credits in voice (must progress to a pass 3000-level applied)
4 credits of an Applied Elective for students whose primary instrument is piano
4 credits of Applied Keyboard for non-pianists (course and course)
Music History, Theory, and World Music - 29 Credits (or Placement)
course Foundations for College Music (1)
course History and Literature of Western Tonal Music (3)
course Music of World Cultures (3)
course History and Literature of Medieval and Renaissance Music (3)
course History and Literature of Western Music from ca. 1850 to the Present (3)
Required Electives - 12 Credits (or Placement)
1 Music History Capstone course selected from:
course The Nineteenth-Century Symphony: History, Performance and Analysis (4)
course Berlin’s Musical Cultures: 1900-1989 (4)
course Seminar in Opera and Drama (4)
plus 2 Courses Selected From the Following (at least 1 of the 2 must be Music Theory)
course The Nineteenth-Century Symphony: History, Performance and Analysis (4)
course Berlin’s Musical Cultures: 1900-1989 (4)
course Seminar in Opera and Drama (4)
course Musical Analysis and Form (4)
course Counterpoint (4)
course Analysis of Music Since 1900 (4)
Language Requirement - 4 Credits
Modern Language course (1150 or higher)
Ensembles - 3 Credits
Must enroll in an ensemble that uses the primary performance area every semester of major (minimum of 3 times for credit) until graduation:
course University Chorus (0 OR 1)
course Oakland Chorale (0 OR 1)
course Chamber Orchestra (0 OR 1)
course Oakland Symphony (0 OR 1)
course Symphonic Band (0 OR 1)
course Wind Symphony (0 OR 1)
Concentration Options for the Major in Music, B.A.
In addition to completing the courses listed under course requirements in the Music (B.A.) program, students who are considering a concentration may elect a concentration below in consultation with their advisor. A minimum of 15 credits of the Major-dependent Concentration must be at the upper division level (course numbers 3000 or above).
Jazz Studies Concentration
Applied Jazz Lessons - 8 credits
8 credits of any Applied Jazz Lessons (MUA ). Must pass to the 3000 level.
Ensembles (may be repeated) - 8 Credits
course Oakland Jazz Singers (0 OR 1)
course Oakland University Jazz Band (0 OR 1)
course Jazz Improvisation Combos (0 OR 1)
course Creative Jazz Ensemble (0 OR 1)
Note: Vocalists should register for course (Jazz singers). Instrumentalists who play non-traditional jazz instruments can register for course (Jazz Combos) and course (Creative Jazz Ensemble).
Other Required Courses - 5 Credits
course Jazz Theory and Improvisation (2)
course Jazz Pedagogy (1)
course Jazz Composing and Arranging (2)
Note: Vocalists can substitute course Piano (jazz) (1 credit) for course Jazz Pedagogy
Music Composition Concentration
Applied Music Lessons - 12 Credits
12 credits of Applied Music Composition Lessons (MUA). Courses may be repeated for credit.
Electives - 8 Credits
Choose 8 credits from the following:
course Creative Composition I (2)
course Creative Composition II (2)
course Musical Analysis and Form (4)
course Counterpoint (4)
course Analysis of Music Since 1900 (4)
course Orchestration and Arranging (2)
Music Technology Concentration
Required Courses - 20 Credits
course Creative Composition I (2)
course Creative Composition II (2)
course Acoustics for Musicians (2)
course Basic Recording Techniques (2)
course Music Technology I: MIDI and Sequencing (2)
course Music Technology II: Audio Design and Processing (2)
course Advanced Recording Techniques (2)
course Orchestration and Arranging (2)
course Interactive Computer Music (2)
course Career Building for Musicians (2)
Music Theory Concentration
Required Courses
course Music Theory IV (3)
course Aural Skills IV (1)
course Musical Analysis and Form (4)
course Counterpoint (4)
course Analysis of Music Since 1900 (4)
course Music Theory Pedagogy (4)
Piano Pedagogy Concentration
Applied Piano Lessons - 7 Credits
course Piano (1 TO 4)
course Piano Technique Seminar (1)
course Keyboard Skills for the Piano Major I (2)
course Keyboard Skills for the Piano Major II (2)
Required Courses - 14 Credits
course Piano Pedagogy I (2)
course Piano Pedagogy II (2)
course Piano Pedagogy III (3)
course Piano Pedagogy IV (3)
course Pedagogy Internship (2)
course Senior Pedagogy Project (2 OR 4)
World Music Concentration
Applied World Music Lessons - 4 Credits
course World Percussion (1 OR 2)
course Applied Indian Raga (1 TO 2)
course World Percussion (1 OR 2)
course Applied Indian Raga (1 TO 2)
course World Percussion (1 OR 2)
course Applied Indian Raga (1 TO 2)
course World Percussion (1 OR 2)
course Applied Indian Raga (1 TO 2)
Ensembles (may be repeated) - 5 Credits
Electives - 4 Credits
course Exploring African Music (4)
course Exploring Caribbean Music (4)
course Exploring Indian Music (4)
Study Abroad / Research - 7 Credits
course Music of World Cultures (3)
course Global Arts Study Abroad (4)
or course Directed Research (2 TO 4)
Note: course will count for the study abroad requirement if student is unable to travel.
Applicable Minors
All Minors are applicable to this major with the exception of the following Minor(s): Child Welfare, International Orientation for EGR/CS, Music, and Sustainability Engineering.