Music (BA)

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree offers students a versatile liberal arts education within an extraordinary music school. By fostering intellectual and scholarly engagement in many disciplines, it is particularly well-suited for musically talented students who have additional academic interests and desire a flexible career trajectory.

The BA curriculum provides a comprehensive academic education with rigorous musical training that develops creative and intellectual habits essential for success in careers of all kinds. It encourages the creative spirit and flexibility needed in a quickly evolving global economy. Students will choose a track either from inside the School of Music (audio technology, composition, or jazz) or are encouraged to choose a minor from those offered from other departments at CSU. The various tracks allow students to tailor the degree to their particularly academic or career interests. While studying a wide range of academic disciplines, BA students receive exceptional professional training in musicianship, including private study with our artist faculty in applied music, and are able to participate fully in the musical life of the Schwob School of Music.

Career Opportunities

Music performance
Production
Studio instruction
Fields that link the degree with a minor in another field such as business, health/wellness, and tourism

Program of Study

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core IMPACTS Area : Institutional Priorities ¹		4-5
Choose one of the following communication options		3
COMM 1110	Public Speaking
Foreign Language Course Options
AMSL, ARAB, CHIN, FREN, GERM, GREK, ITAL, JAPN, KREN, LATIN, PORT, SPAN - 1001, 1002, 2001, 2002; SWAH - 1001, 1002.
Take one of the following courses		1-2
ITDS 1779	Scholarship Across the Disciplines
LEAD 1705	Introduction to Servant Leadership
PERS 1506	Perspectives 1-hour
PERS 1507	Perspectives 2-hour
Core IMPACTS Area : Mathematics & Quantitative Skills ¹		3-7
DATA 1501	Introduction to Data Science	3
MATH 1001	Quantitative Skills and Reasoning	3
MATH 1101	Introduction to Mathematical Modeling	3
MATH 1111	College Algebra	3
MATH 1113	Pre-Calculus	4
MATH 1125	Applied Calculus	3
MATH 1131	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I	4
MATH 1132	Calculus with Analytic Geometry II	4
MATH 1165	Computer-Assisted Problem Solving	3
MATH 1401	Introduction to Statistics	3
MATH 1501	Calculus I	4
MATH 2125	Introduction to Discrete Mathematics	3
STAT 1401	Elementary Statistics	3
Core IMPACTS Area : Political Science and U.S. History		6
HIST 2111	U. S. History to 1865	3
or HIST 2112	U. S. History since 1865
POLS 1101	American Government	3
Core IMPACTS Area : Arts, Humanities, and Ethics		6
Select one Fine Arts course		3
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 ²
Select one Humanities course		3
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 ²
Core IMPACTS Area : Communicating in Writing		6
ENGL 1101	English Composition I	3
ENGL 1102	English Composition II	3
Core IMPACTS Area : Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences ^1,3		7-11
ANTH 1145	Human Origins	3
ASTR 1105	Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System	3
ASTR 1106	Descriptive Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies	3
ASTR 1305	Descriptive Astronomy Lab	1
ATSC 1112	Understanding the Weather	3
ATSC 1112L	Understanding the Weather Lab	1
BIOL 1125	Contemporary Issues in Biology Non-Lab	3
BIOL 1215K	Introductory Biology	4
BIOL 1225K	Contemporary Issues in Biology with Lab	4
CHEM 1151 & 1151L	Survey of Chemistry I and Survey of Chemistry I Lab	4
CHEM 1152 & 1152L	Survey of Chemistry II and Survey of Chemistry II Lab	4
CHEM 1211 & 1211L	Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry I Lab	4
CHEM 1212 & 1212L	Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry II Lab	4
CPSC 1105	Introduction to Computing Principles and Technology	3
CPSC 1301K	Computer Science I	4
ENVS 1105	Environmental Studies	3
ENVS 1105L	Environmental Studies Laboratory	1
ENVS 1205K	Sustainability and the Environment	4
GEOG 2215	Introduction to the Geographic Information Systems	3
GEOL 1110	Natural Disasters: Our Hazardous Environment	3
GEOL 1121	Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology	3
GEOL 1121L	Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology Lab	1
GEOL 1122	Introductory Geo-sciences II: Historical Geology	3
GEOL 1322	Introductory Geo-sciences II: Historical Geology Lab	1
GEOL 2225	The Fossil Record	4
PHYS 1111 & PHYS 1311	Introductory Physics I and Introductory Physics I Lab	4
PHYS 1112 & PHYS 1312	Introductory Physics II and Introductory Physics II Lab	4
PHYS 1125	Physics of Color and Sound	3
PHYS 1325	Physics of Color and Sound Lab	1
PHYS 2211 & PHYS 2311	Principles of Physics I and Principles of Physics I Lab	4
PHYS 2212 & PHYS 2312	Principles of Physics II and Principles of Physics II Lab	4
Core IMPACTS Area : Social Sciences		6
Select one Behavioral Science course
ECON 2105	Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 2106	Principles of Microeconomics
PHIL 2030	Moral Philosophy
PSYC 1101	Introduction to General Psychology
SOCI 1101	Introduction to Sociology
Select one World Cultures course		3
ANTH 1107	Discovering Archaeology
ANTH 1105	Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 2105	Ancient World Civilizations
ANTH 2136	Language and Culture
ENGL 2136	Language and Culture
GEOG 1101	World Regional Geography
HIST 1111	World History to 1500
HIST 1112	World History since 1500
ITDS 1156	Understanding Non-Western Cultures
Core IMPACTS Total Hours		42
Health and Wellness		3
KINS 1106	Lifetime Wellness	2
or PHED 1205	Concepts of Fitness
Select one of the following		1
Any PEDS course
MUSC 1206	Body Mapping (Music Majors Only)

¹: The hours applied in the Institutional Priorities; Mathematics & Quantitative Skills; and Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences areas must add to 18 credit hours.
²: ITDS 1145 Comparative Arts, though listed under both Fine Arts and Humanities, may be taken only once.
³: 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		45
Core Total		45
Field of Study Requirements Courses Related to Major
Minimum grade of C is required
Select the appropriate course 4 times:		4
MUSA 2211	Applied Music
or MUSA 2311	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 2201	Music Theory 3	2
MUSC 2202	Music Theory IV	2
Select the appropriate course 4 times:		4
MUSP 1070	Orchestral Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1080	Wind Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1090	Vocal Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1095	Choral Union
Field of Study Requirements Total		18
Required for the Major
Minimum grade of C is required
MUSA 2315	Keyboard 3/Proficiency	1
Select the appropriate course 4 times: ¹		4
MUSA 4211	Applied Music
or MUSA 4311	Applied Music
MUSC 1000	Music Convocation (six semesters)	0
MUSC 1314	Music Skills I	1
MUSC 1315	Music Skills II	1
MUSC 2301	Music Skills 3	1
MUSC 2302	Music Skills 4	1
MUSC 3228	Music History to Mozart	3
MUSC 3229	Music History Beethoven to Present	3
MUSC 4899	Independent Study	2
MUSE 3201	Basic Conducting	2
Foreign Language 1002 ²		3
Foreign Language 2001 ²		3
Select the appropriate course 4 times:		4
MUSP 3070	Orchestral Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3080	Wind Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3090	Vocal Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3095	Choral Union
Select 10 semester hours from one the following options:		10
Option A:
MUSC courses (3000 level or above)
MUSE courses (3000 level or above)
Option B - Composition Track:
MUSC 3115	Counterpoint
MUSC 3116	Techniques and Structures of Music Since 1945
MUSC 3117	Instrumentation and Transcription
MUSC 3311	Electronic Music
MUSC 3312	Digital Signal Processing
MUSC 4101	Composing for Large Ensemble
MUSC 4102	Composing for Chamber Ensemble
MUSC 4555	Special Topics in Music
Required for the Major Total		39
Major Electives
Select 21 semester hours of general electives ^{3, 4}		21
Major Electives Total		21
Total Credit Hours		123

¹

Students may substitute MUSA 1215 Secondary Applied Music or MUSA 1216 Secondary Applied Voice (secondary applied study) for up to three of these courses.

Students taking this option must still graduate with at least 39 hours of upper-division credits.

²

Student may substitute two semester hours in electives if one of the foreign languages is used for Core IMPACTS: Humanities.

³

Eleven semester hours must be at the 3000-level or above; a minor or area of concentration is recommended

⁴

At least 66 semester hours must be earned in disciplines outside of music. These hours may be earned as general education, foreign language, general electives, and courses in a minor.

Program Map

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Credit Hours
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSA 2311	Applied Music (see degree reqs)
MUSA 2211	Applied Music (see degree reqs)
MUSC 1214	Music Theory I (minimum grade of C)	2
MUSC 1314	Music Skills I (minimum grade of C)	1
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSP 1070	Orchestral Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1080	Wind Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1090	Vocal Ensemble Activities
MUSC 1000	Music Convocation	0
Arts, Humanities, and Ethics	Humanities. Of the courses listed in this area, ITDS 1145 Comparative Arts is the recommended course for music majors. Be sure to take the section designated for music majors. ²	3
ENGL 1101	English Composition I (minimum grade of C)	3
Mathematics and Quantitative Skills	Math (minimum grade of C)	3
	Credit Hours	14
Spring
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSA 2311	Applied Music (see degree reqs)
MUSA 2211	Applied Music
MUSC 1215	Music Theory II (minimum grade of C)	2
MUSA 2313	Keyboard Class I (minimum grade of C)	1
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSP 1070	Orchestral Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1080	Wind Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1090	Vocal Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1095	Choral Union
MUSC 1315	Music Skills II (minimum grade of C)	1
MUSC 1000	Music Convocation	0
Arts, Humanities, and Ethics	Fine Arts. Of the courses listed in this area, MUSC 1100 Music Appreciation is the recommended course for music majors. Be sure to take the section designated for music majors. ^1,2	3
ENGL 1102	English Composition II (minimum grade of C)	3
Select one of the following:		1-3
Institutional Priorities	PERS 1507 Perspectives ³
MUSC elective
	Credit Hours	13-15
Second Year
Fall
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSA 2311	Applied Music (see degree reqs)
MUSA 2211	Applied Music (see degree reqs)
MUSC 2201	Music Theory 3 (minimum grade of C)	2
MUSA 2314	Keyboard Class II (minimum grade of C)	1
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSP 1070	Orchestral Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1080	Wind Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1090	Vocal Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1095	Choral Union
MUSC 2301	Music Skills 3 (minimum grade of C)	1
MUSC 1000	Music Convocation	0
Program Electives	Elective (a minor is recommended; see course requirements) (minimum grade of C)	3
CORE	Required Core, one of the following is recommended:	3
POLS 1101	American Government
HIST 2111 or HIST 2112	U. S. History to 1865 or U. S. History since 1865
Institutional Priorities	COMM 1110 Public Speaking or foreign language 1001, 1002, 2001, 2002. Select foreign language if you want to refresh the language you took in high school or want to start a new language.	3
	Credit Hours	15
Spring
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSA 2311	Applied Music (see degree reqs)
MUSA 2211	Applied Music (see degree reqs)
MUSC 2202	Music Theory IV (minimum grade of C)	2
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSP 1070	Orchestral Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1080	Wind Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1090	Vocal Ensemble Activities
MUSP 1095	Choral Union
MUSC 2302	Music Skills 4 (minimum grade of C)	1
MUSA 2315	Keyboard 3/Proficiency (minimum grade of C)	1
MUSC 1000	Music Convocation	0
Foreign Language 1002 (minimum grade of C)		3
Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences	Non-Lab Science	3
Program Electives	Electives (minor or MUSC/MUSE)	3
Select one of the following:		1-3
Helath and Wellness	MUSC 1206 Body Mapping or PEDS 1*** plus KINS 1106 Lifetime Wellness
MUSC elective
End of semester evaluation (which results in advisory for permission to continue in the major) of the fourth semester of Applied Lessons:
MUSA 2311 or MUSA 2211	Applied Music or Applied Music
	Credit Hours	16-18
Third Year
Fall
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSA 4311	Applied Music (see degree reqs)
MUSA 4211	Applied Music (see degree reqs)
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSP 3070	Orchestral Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3080	Wind Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3090	Vocal Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3095	Choral Union
MUSC 1000	Music Convocation	0
MUSC 3228	Music History to Mozart (minimum grade of C)	3
Program Requirements	Music Elective MUSE/MUSC 3000+ (minimum grade of C)	3
Foreign Language 2001 (minimum grade of C)		3
CORE	Required Core (Lab Science recommended)	4
CORE	Required Core (Social Science recommended)	3
	Credit Hours	18
Spring
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSA 4311	Applied Music
MUSA 4211	Applied Music
MUSA 1215	Secondary Applied Music
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSP 3070	Orchestral Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3080	Wind Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3090	Vocal Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3095	Choral Union
MUSC 1000	Music Convocation	0
MUSC 3229	Music History Beethoven to Present (minimum grade of C)	3
MUSE 3201	Basic Conducting (minimum grade of C)	2
Program Requirements	Music Elective MUSE/MUSC 3000+ (minimum grade of C)	3
Program Electives	Elective (MUSC, MUSE or minor)	3
CORE	Required CORE (World Culture recommended)	3
Eleven (11) general elective hours must be at the 3000 level or above
You need a total of 21 general elective hours
	Credit Hours	16
Fourth Year
Fall
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSA 4311	Applied Music
MUSA 4211	Applied Music
MUSA 1215	Secondary Applied Music
Select one of the following (minimum grade of C):		1
MUSP 3070	Orchestral Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3080	Wind Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3090	Vocal Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3095	Choral Union
Program Requirements	Music Elective MUSE/MUSC 3000+ (minimum grade of C)	2
Program Electives	General Elective (minimum grade of C) ⁴	4-6
CORE	Required Core (Math/Science/Tech course suggested and one other core class)	6
See advisor to plan for the following spring course:
MUSC 4899	Independent Study
	Credit Hours	14-16
Spring
Select one of the following:		1
MUSA 1215	Secondary Applied Music
MUSA 4211	Applied Music
MUSA 4311	Applied Music
Select one of the following:		1
MUSP 3070	Orchestral Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3080	Wind Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3090	Vocal Ensemble Activities
MUSP 3095	Choral Union
Program Requirements	Music Elective MUSE/MUSC 3000+ (minimum grade of C)	2
MUSC 4899	Independent Study ⁵	2
Program Electives	General Elective (see degree reqs to complete Program Electives)	5-6
CORE	Required Core (suggest either POLS 1101 or HIST 2111/HIST 2112 whichever you have not previously taken)	3
	Credit Hours	14-15
	Total Credit Hours	123

¹

Must be taken in Year 1, either Fall or Spring.

²

Take section for music majors only.

³

Institutional Priorities: Select 1 or 2 hours of the following courses:

ITDS 1779 Scholarship Across the Disciplines (2 cr)

LEAD 1705 Introduction to Servant Leadership (2 cr)

PERS 1506 Perspectives (1 cr; may be repeated with a different topic)

PERS 1507 Perspectives (2 cr)

⁴

Eleven (11) general elective hours must be at the 3000 level or above. You need a total of 21 general elective hours (cannot be MUSP or MUSA courses)

⁵

See advisor for Independent Study form--must be approved to create your course.

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

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).

Students must complete at least 66 semester hours in disciplines outside of music. These hours may be earned as general education requirements, foreign language, general electives, and courses in a minor.

Academic Catalog 2024-2025