Musical Arts, BMA
Offered in: Chicago
The Bachelor of Musical Arts degree is an interdisciplinary honors program with significant curricular flexibility. The program is designed to prepare students for advanced study and careers in a number of areas. Students have gone on to graduate programs in musicology, music theory, music therapy, and arts administration, among other fields, and have pursued music entrepreneurial ventures as well as diverse areas such as music librarianship or public arts advocacy,
The degree is designed for the student with a strong academic background who believes that music and cultural engagement are integral elements in a just, healthy and productive society, and who wishes to combine the study of music with a second field outside of music. The outside field may be an established minor program offered by the university, selected courses in a single discipline, or a self-designed course of study that combines several disciplines as desired (e.g. History and Political Science). Students' programs are individualized according to their interests and culminate in a senior project that melds their work in music with their second discipline.
At the conclusion of the program, students are expected to have the capability to formulate and complete a capstone project that combines their knowledge and ability in music with the material, methodology, and perspectives of the second discipline. The nature of the project is not defined, as it will vary according to the student's interests and studies.
Admission
Students will present the audition requirements for their major performance area (instrument or voice). Please consult the CCPA Admission and Audition Information web page for the requirements.
Grade and other requirements
Admission to the BMA includes admission to the Honors Program. Please consult the Honors Program section of this catalog for grade and other requirements
At least 6 of the student's earned credits in core requirements, second emphasis, or music electives must be in courses with an Honors attribute.
The second emphasis may include courses in any non-music discipline, chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor in accordance with the student's interests. It may be a formal minor offered by the university or an interdisciplinary array of courses,
The minimum passing grade in Applied Music 201, 202, and 203 is C-. The minimum passing grade in Applied Music 204 is B-. These minimum grades apply to both the lesson and the jury components of the courses.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| ARTL 101 | THE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN IN SOCIETY | 3 |
| MATH 110 | QUANTITATIVE LITERACY (or higher) | 3 |
| Two Life or Physical Science courses (including one lab course) | 7 | |
| COMMUNICATION | 9 | |
| HUMANITIES/FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | 6 | |
| SOCIAL SCIENCE | 6 | |
| Music Requirements | ||
| Applied Music 201-204 | 8 | |
| Ensemble (2 semesters) | 2 | |
| MUHL 210 | THE VERNACULAR MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| MUHL 251 | HISTORY OF WESTERN MUSIC I | 3 |
| MUHL 252 | HISTORY OF WESTERN MUSIC II | 3 |
| MUHL 253 | HISTORY OF WESTERN MUSIC III | 3 |
| MUSC 121A & MUSC 121B & MUSC 121C | MUSICIANSHIP I:WRITTEN SKILLS and MUSICIANSHIP I:AURAL SKILLS and MUSICIANSHIP I:PIANO SKILLS | 5 |
| MUSC 122A & MUSC 122B & MUSC 122C | MUSICIANSHIP II:WRITTEN SKILLS and MUSICIANSHIP II:AURAL SKILLS and MUSICIANSHIP II:PIANO SKILLS | 5 |
| MUSC 221A & MUSC 221B & MUSC 221C | MUSICIANSHIP III:WRITTEN SKILLS and MUSCIANSHIP III:AURAL SKILLS and MUSICIANSHIP III:PIANO SKILLS | 5 |
| MUSC 222A & MUSC 222B & MUSC 222C | MUSICIANSHIP IV:WRITTEN SKILLS and MUSICIANSHIP IV:AURAL SKILLS and MUSICIANSHIP IV:PIANO SKILLS | 5 |
| MAS 301 | BMA COLLOQUIUM (eight semesters) | 16 |
| MAS 310 | BMA CAPSTONE (Senior Honors Thesis) | 3 |
| Music Electives | 9 | |
| Second Emphasis outside music (six courses) | 18 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 122 | |
Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).
Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different.
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| ARTL 101 | 3 | ENG 102 | 3 |
| ENG 101 | 3 | MATH 110 (or higher) | 3 |
| MAS 301 | 2 | MAS 301 | 2 |
| MUSC 121A | 2 | MUSC 122A | 2 |
| MUSC 121B | 1 | MUSC 122B | 1 |
| MUSC 121C | 2 | MUSC 122C | 2 |
| Applied Music 201 | 2 | Applied Music 202 | 2 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| MAS 301 | 2 | MAS 301 | 2 |
| Core Requirement | 3 | Core Requirement | 3 |
| MUHL 210 | 3 | MUHL 251 | 3 |
| MUSC 221A | 2 | MUSC 222A | 2 |
| MUSC 221B | 1 | MUSC 222B | 1 |
| MUSC 221C | 2 | MUSC 222C | 2 |
| Applied Music 203 | 2 | Applied Music 204 | 2 |
| Ensemble | 1 | Ensemble | 1 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| MAS 301 | 2 | MAS 301 | 2 |
| MUHL 252 | 3 | MUHL 253 | 3 |
| Science | 3 | Science with Lab | 4 |
| Core requirement | 3 | Second Emphasis #2 | 3 |
| Core requirement | 3 | Core requirement | 3 |
| Second Emphasis #1 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| MAS 301 | 2 | MAS 301 | 2 |
| Music Elective | 3 | MAS 310 | 3 |
| Music Elective | 3 | Music Elective | 3 |
| Second Emphasis #3 | 3 | Second Emphasis #5 | 3 |
| Second Emphasis #4 | 3 | Second Emphasis #6 | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Total Credit Hours 122 | |||