Program Overview 

The Bachelor of Music in Performance degree is for students who aspire to become professional performers. Students study privately under the direction of our artist-faculty and are held to the highest performance expectations, and classroom instruction with low student-to-teacher ratios in the core areas of music theory, ear training, and music history provide the fundamental background necessary for success as a well-rounded musician.

Students perform in our large ensembles (symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, choir, jazz band) as well as have the opportunity to grow through the chamber music experience each semester. These ensembles are coached by faculty and include multiple performance opportunities in our world-class facilities and throughout Columbus and the surrounding region. Celebrated guest artists from around the world come to the Schwob School of Music to teach and perform with and for our students. Students can also elect to take courses in areas that supplement their performing skills such as music business, audio technology, and body mapping, creating well-equipped performers for the 21st century marketplace.

Career Opportunities

The Bachelor of Music in Performance degree is for students who aspire to become professional performers.

• music performance
• production
• studio instruction and related areas

Program of Study

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core IMPACTS Area : Institutional Priorities		7
PERS 1506	Perspectives 1-hour
RIVR 1101	Taking the Plunge
RIVR 2101	Navigating Deeper Waters
Core IMPACTS Area : Mathematics & Quantitative Skills 1		3-4
DATA 1501	Introduction to Data Science
MATH 1001	Quantitative Skills and Reasoning
MATH 1101	Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
MATH 1111	College Algebra
MATH 1113	Pre-Calculus
MATH 1125	Applied Calculus
MATH 1131	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
MATH 1132	Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
MATH 1165	Computer-Assisted Problem Solving
MATH 1401	Introduction to Statistics
MATH 1501	Calculus I
MATH 2125	Introduction to Discrete Mathematics
STAT 1401	Elementary Statistics
Core IMPACTS Area : Political Science and U.S. History		6
HIST 2111	U. S. History to 1865
or HIST 2112	U. S. History since 1865
POLS 1101	American Government
Core IMPACTS Area : Arts, Humanities, and Ethics		6
Select one Fine Arts course
ARTH 1100	Art Appreciation
ARTH 2125	Introduction to the History of Art I– Prehistoric through Gothic
ARTH 2126	Introduction to the History of Art II– Renaissance through Modern
MUSC 1100	Music Appreciation
THEA 1100	Theatre Appreciation
ITDS 1145	Comparative Arts 1
Select one Humanities course
ENGL 2111	World Literature I
ENGL 2112	World Literature II
ITDS 1155	The Western Intellectual Tradition
ITDS 1774	Introduction to Digital Humanities
PHIL 2010	Introduction to Philosophy
ITDS 1145	Comparative Arts 1
Core IMPACTS Area : Communicating in Writing		6
ENGL 1101	English Composition I
ENGL 1102	English Composition II
Core IMPACTS Area : Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences 2		7-8
ANTH 1145	Human Origins
ASTR 1105	Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System
ASTR 1106	Descriptive Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies
ASTR 1305	Descriptive Astronomy Lab
ATSC 1112	Understanding the Weather
ATSC 1112L	Understanding the Weather Lab
BIOL 1125	Contemporary Issues in Biology Non-Lab
BIOL 1215K	Introductory Biology
BIOL 1225K	Contemporary Issues in Biology with Lab
CHEM 1151 & 1151L	Survey of Chemistry I and Survey of Chemistry I Lab
CHEM 1152 & 1152L	Survey of Chemistry II and Survey of Chemistry II Lab
CHEM 1211 & 1211L	Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry I Lab
CHEM 1212 & 1212L	Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry II Lab
CPSC 1105	Introduction to Computing Principles and Technology
CPSC 1301K	Computer Science I
ENVS 1105	Environmental Studies
ENVS 1105L	Environmental Studies Laboratory
ENVS 1205K	Sustainability and the Environment
GEOG 2215	Introduction to the Geographic Information Systems
GEOL 1110	Natural Disasters: Our Hazardous Environment
GEOL 1121	Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology
GEOL 1121L	Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology Lab
GEOL 1122	Introductory Geo-sciences II: Historical Geology
GEOL 1322	Introductory Geo-sciences II: Historical Geology Lab
GEOL 2225	The Fossil Record
PHYS 1111 & PHYS 1311	Introductory Physics I and Introductory Physics I Lab
PHYS 1112 & PHYS 1312	Introductory Physics II and Introductory Physics II Lab
PHYS 1125	Physics of Color and Sound
PHYS 1325	Physics of Color and Sound Lab
PHYS 2211 & PHYS 2311	Principles of Physics I and Principles of Physics I Lab
PHYS 2212 & PHYS 2312	Principles of Physics II and Principles of Physics II Lab
Total Credit Hours		36

¹

ITDS 1145 Comparative Arts, though listed under both Fine Arts and Humanities, may be taken only once. 

²

At least 4 of the credit hours in this area must be in a lab science course.

Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Requirements
Complete the core requirements for this program		36
Core Total		36
Field of Study Requirements
Minimum grade of C is required
Take one of the following courses 4 times for a total of 12 hours		12
MUSA 2231	Applied Music
MUSA 2331	Applied Music
MUSA 2313	Keyboard Class I	1
MUSA 2314	Keyboard Class II	1
MUSC 1214	Music Theory I	2
MUSC 1215	Music Theory II	2
MUSC 1314	Music Skills I	1
MUSC 1315	Music Skills II	1
Select the appropriate course four times:		4
MUSP 1070	Orchestral Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1080	Wind Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1321	Guitar Ensemble
Field of Study Requirements Total		24
Required for the Major
Minimum grade of C is required
MUSA 2315	Keyboard 3/Proficiency	1
MUSA 3305	Half Recital	0
Take one of the following coures 4 times		12
MUSA 4231	Applied Music
MUSA 4331	Applied Music
MUSA 4305	Full Recital	2
MUSC 1000	Music Convocation (6 semesters)	0
MUSC 2201	Music Theory 3	2
MUSC 2202	Music Theory IV	2
MUSC 2301	Music Skills 3	1
MUSC 2302	Music Skills 4	1
MUSC 3116	Techniques and Structures of Music Since 1945	2
MUSC 3117	Instrumentation and Transcription	2
MUSC 3228	Music History to Mozart	3
MUSC 3229	Music History Beethoven to Present	3
MUSE 3201	Basic Conducting	2
Select the appropriate course four times:		4
MUSP 3070	Orchestral Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3080	Wind Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3321	Guitar Ensemble
Required for the Major Total		37
Major Electives
Select one of the following options:		23
Wind, Brass, and Percussion
Guitar
String
Major Electives Total		23
Total Credit Hours		120

Wind, Brass, and Percussion Students

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Select 23 hours of MUSA, MUSC, MUSE, MUSP courses; at least 8 hours must be 3000 level or above		23
Total Credit Hours		23

Guitar Students

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
MUSA 1215	Secondary Applied Music	1
MUSC 5223U	Guitar Literature I	2
MUSC 5224U	Guitar Literature II	2
MUSE 3217	Guitar Pedagogy	2
MUSC 3307	Fretboard Harmony	2
Select 14 hours from MUSA, MUSC, MUSE, MUSP courses		14
Total Credit Hours		23

String Students

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
MUSC 5236U	String Literature	2
MUSP 3359	Small Ensemble (take this course seven times)	7
Select 10 hours of MUSA, MUSC, MUSE, MUSP courses		10
Select one group of pedagogy courses from the following:		4
MUSE 3261 & MUSE 3262	Cello Pedagogy I and Cello Pedagogy II
MUSE 3281 & MUSE 3282	Violin Pedagogy I and Violin Pedagogy II
MUSE 3283 & MUSE 3284	Viola Pedagogy 1 and Viola Pedagogy 2
String bass option
MUSE 3216	String Bass Pedagogy (2)
Complete 2 hours chosen from the folllowing courses
MUSC 1221	Jazz Theory and Improvisation I (2)
MUSP 3060	Jazz Band (1 hour, may be repeated for credit)
MUSP 3358	Jazz Workshop (1 hour, may be repeated for credit)
Total Credit Hours		23

Admission Requirements

Prospective music majors must demonstrate basic aptitude in a performance medium through a placement audition and interview. Specific audition requirements are listed here:  https://music.columbusstate.edu/admissions/audition-dates.php  Transfer students: Please note that placement in music courses is based on audition and testing results and not necessarily on previous college credit.

Additional Program Requirements

In order to be accepted as a music major, each student must demonstrate aptitude in his/her major instrument or voice through a placement audition and interview with a member of the music faculty. All newly admitted music majors also must take placement examinations in music theory and piano. Music majors who take time off before completing degree requirements will be required to re-audition if they have missed a full academic year (fall and spring, or spring and fall).

Transfer students: Please note that placement in music courses is based on audition and testing results and not necessarily on previous college credit.

General Requirements

All music majors are required to attend all master classes in their major instrument and must perform at least once each semester in a recital or master class. All students enrolled in applied music must be concurrently enrolled in the major music ensemble activity that corresponds to their major instrument (Strings-Orchestra, Winds/Percussion – Wind Ensemble, Voice-Choral Ensemble).