Music – B.A. | �þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ�

Music - B.A.

�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� State's Bachelor of Arts in Music program provides students with a well-rounded education in music theory, history and performance. With a variety of performance opportunities, experienced faculty and state-of-the-art facilities, this program prepares graduates for careers in music and beyond.

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College of the Arts
School of Music
www.kent.edu/music

Undergraduate Studies Coordinator:
Gerrey Noh
hnoh@kent.edu
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Bachelor of Arts in Music - B.A.

Music majors have an opportunity to study music and liberal arts with an optional minor, available in most academic areas of the university, or as a dual degree program with a major in another field. Students can also select the Stark Campus-only concentration in Contemporary Popular Music. Although not as music intensive as the Bachelor of Music degree programs, this degree includes study on a main instrument and ensemble participation throughout the program.

Undergraduate Audition Information

Program Information for Music - B.A.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music gives students an opportunity to earn a degree in music that aligns with their future musical and career goals and explore interdisciplinary opportunities by declaring a minor of their choice.

The Music major includes the following optional concentration:

The Jazz Studies concentration provides students who are focused on jazz the opportunity to take coursework in improvisation, composing and arranging, and fully explore their creativity in music making.

Students in this program are encouraged to craft their major to serve their professional futures. Musicians may pair this major with a minor in areas that include, but are not limited to, media, digital music production, psychology, audiology, entrepreneurship, music technology and more.

Admissions for Music - B.A.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Admission to this major is selective. Students are required to do a program/scholarship audition. Information regarding audition days and requirements can be found at /music/undergraduate-audition, or inquiries can be sent to musicadmission@kent.edu.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at �þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

Work conceptually, aurally and creatively with elements of music such as melody, harmony, form, rhythm and texture.
Interpret and perform music from a multitude of diverse musical styles, composers and eras through solo, small group and large group performances.
Apply their musical knowledge/skills in an interdisciplinary fashion with an area/areas of their choice.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements
Graduation Requirements

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C grade required in all courses)
MUS 11121	THEORY I ¹	4
MUS 11122	THEORY II	4
MUS 17013	FUNDAMENTALS OF JAZZ PIANO	1
or MUS 17112	PIANO CLASS II
MUS 17111	PIANO CLASS I ²	1
MUS 21111	THEORY III	4
MUS 21112	THEORY IV	4
MUS 32211	WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY I	3
MUS 32212	WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY II (WIC) ³	3
MUS 38599	RECITAL (ELR) ⁴	1
or MUS 48598	MUSIC RESEARCH (ELR)
Music Elective, choose from the following:		3
MUS 41291	SEMINAR IN POST-TONAL AND RECENT MUSIC
MUS 41391	SEMINAR IN TONAL AND PRE-TONAL MUSIC THEORY
MUS 42131	MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES
MUS 42221	SYMPHONIC LITERATURE
MUS 42227	WIND BAND LITERATURE
MUS 42241	PIANO LITERATURE
MUS 42261	VOCAL LITERATURE
MUS 42271	CHORAL LITERATURE
MUS 42291	SEMINAR IN MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE
MUS 48610	SINGER'S DICTION
Non-Western and Small Ensemble Electives, choose from the following:		3
MUS 45131	KENT STATE OPERA THEATRE WORKSHOP
MUS 45151	KENT STATE UNIVERSITY GOSPEL CHOIR
MUS 45231	JAZZ ENSEMBLE
MUS 45251	PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
MUS 45271	NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE
MUS 45301	AFRICAN ENSEMBLE (DIVG)
MUS 45302	CARIBBEAN STEELBAND (DIVG)
MUS 45311	CHAMBER MUSIC
MUS 45313	NOVA JAZZ SINGERS
MUS 45315	ASIAN MUSIC ENSEMBLE (DIVG)
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
CA 20005	INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS IN THE ARTS	2
or CA 31300	MUSIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
UC 10001	FLASHES 101	1
		6
		3
		9
		6
		6-7
		6
Minor and Non-Music Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 121 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) ⁵		27
Additional Requirements or Concentration
Choose from the following:		23
Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration
Jazz Studies Concentration
Minimum Total Credit Hours:		120

¹: Music Theory Placement Test score of 02 is required.
²: Placement test required. Students who pass the placement exam will replace MUS 17111 with a 1-credit hour music (MUS) elective.
³: A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
⁴: Students must complete six semesters of applied music in their auditioned area before taking MUS 38599 or MUS 48598.
⁵: Students in the B.A Music program are required to declare and complete a minor. The number of credit hours required to complete the minor depends on the minor selected.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Additional Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C grade required in all courses)
Applied Music Electives, choose from the following: ¹		12
MUS 31211	COMPOSITION
MUS 36111	APPLIED MUSIC PIANO
MUS 36311	APPLIED MUSIC VOICE
MUS 36411	APPLIED MUSIC VIOLIN
MUS 36412	APPLIED MUSIC VIOLA
MUS 36413	APPLIED MUSIC CELLO
MUS 36414	APPLIED MUSIC DOUBLE BASS
MUS 36511	APPLIED MUSIC FLUTE
MUS 36512	APPLIED MUSIC OBOE
MUS 36513	APPLIED MUSIC CLARINET
MUS 36514	APPLIED MUSIC BASSOON
MUS 36515	APPLIED MUSIC SAXOPHONE
MUS 36611	APPLIED MUSIC TRUMPET
MUS 36612	APPLIED MUSIC HORN
MUS 36613	APPLIED MUSIC TROMBONE
MUS 36614	APPLIED MUSIC EUPHONIUM
MUS 36615	APPLIED MUSIC TUBA
MUS 36711	APPLIED MUSIC PERCUSSION
MUS 36912	APPLIED MUSIC GUITAR
Creative Music Elective, choose from the following:		3
MUS 21113	MUSIC PRODUCTION I
MUS 21213	CLASS COMPOSITION I
MUS 34111	INTRODUCTION TO CONDUCTING
MUS 41341	JAZZ IMPROVISATION I
MUS 41351	JAZZ IMPROVISATION II
Large Ensemble Electives, choose from the following: ²		8
MUS 45141	KENT STATE UNIVERSITY CHORALE
MUS 45142	CORO CANTARE
MUS 45143	CANTIQUE
MUS 45212	ORCHESTRA
MUS 45221	SYMPHONY BAND
MUS 45223	WIND ENSEMBLE
Minimum Total Credit Hours:		23

¹: Bachelor of Arts students are restricted to taking 2-credit hour applied music sections, which include a 60-minute group practice and 60-minute private lesson. Students not declaring a concentration will need to take a total of six semesters and 12 credit hours of applied music in the auditioned area. Students must meet the B.A. Applied Music Proficiency Threshold by the end of the sixth semester of applied music.
²: Students must enroll in a large ensemble appropriate to their performance area.

Jazz Studies Concentration Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C grade required in all courses)
MUS 34111	INTRODUCTION TO CONDUCTING	1
MUS 36011	APPLIED MUSIC JAZZ (taken three times)	6
MUS 41341	JAZZ IMPROVISATION I	1
MUS 41342	JAZZ COMPOSING AND ARRANGING	2
MUS 41351	JAZZ IMPROVISATION II	1
MUS 42162	JAZZ STYLES AND ANALYSIS	3
Applied Music Elective, choose from the following: ¹		2
MUS 36111	APPLIED MUSIC PIANO
MUS 36311	APPLIED MUSIC VOICE
MUS 36411	APPLIED MUSIC VIOLIN
MUS 36412	APPLIED MUSIC VIOLA
MUS 36413	APPLIED MUSIC CELLO
MUS 36414	APPLIED MUSIC DOUBLE BASS
MUS 36511	APPLIED MUSIC FLUTE
MUS 36512	APPLIED MUSIC OBOE
MUS 36513	APPLIED MUSIC CLARINET
MUS 36514	APPLIED MUSIC BASSOON
MUS 36515	APPLIED MUSIC SAXOPHONE
MUS 36611	APPLIED MUSIC TRUMPET
MUS 36612	APPLIED MUSIC HORN
MUS 36613	APPLIED MUSIC TROMBONE
MUS 36614	APPLIED MUSIC EUPHONIUM
MUS 36615	APPLIED MUSIC TUBA
MUS 36711	APPLIED MUSIC PERCUSSION
MUS 36912	APPLIED MUSIC GUITAR
Ensemble Electives, choose from the following:		7
MUS 45231	JAZZ ENSEMBLE
MUS 45312	JAZZ COMBO DEVELOPMENT
MUS 45313	NOVA JAZZ SINGERS
Minimum Total Credit Hours:		23

¹: Bachelor of Arts students are restricted to taking 2-credit hour applied music sections, which include a 60-minute group practice and 60-minute private lesson. Students declaring the Jazz Studies concentration must take one semester and 2 credit hours of applied music in the auditioned area during their freshman year.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements Summary
Minimum Major GPA	Minimum Overall GPA
2.250	2.000

Minimum C grade required in all music (MUS) courses
Students in the B.A Music program are required to declare and complete a minor. The number of credit hours required to complete the minor depends on the minor selected. Students may select any minor available at �þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ�. However, the following minors are strongly recommended:

Roadmap

On This Page

Music Major (No Concentration)
Jazz Studies Concentration

Roadmaps

Music Major (No Concentration)

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester One		Credits
MUS 11121	THEORY I	4
UC 10001	FLASHES 101	1
Applied Music Elective		2
Large Ensemble Elective		1
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
	Credit Hours	14
Semester Two
MUS 11122	THEORY II	4
MUS 17111	PIANO CLASS I	1
Applied Music Elective		2
Large Ensemble Elective		1
Non-Western and Small Ensemble Elective		1
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
	Credit Hours	15
Semester Three
MUS 17013 or MUS 17112	FUNDAMENTALS OF JAZZ PIANO or PIANO CLASS II	1
MUS 21111	THEORY III	4
Applied Music Elective		2
Large Ensemble Elective		1
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
	Credit Hours	14
Semester Four
MUS 21112	THEORY IV	4
Applied Music Elective		2
Large Ensemble Elective		1
Non-Western and Small Ensemble Elective		1
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
Minor or Non-Music Elective		1
	Credit Hours	15
Semester Five
MUS 32211	WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY I	3
Applied Music Elective		2
Creative Music or Minor Elective		3
Large Ensemble Elective		1
Music or Minor Elective		3
Non-Western and Small Ensemble Elective		1
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
	Credit Hours	16
Semester Six
MUS 32212	WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY II (WIC)	3
MUS 38599 or MUS 48598	RECITAL (ELR) or MUSIC RESEARCH (ELR)	1
Applied Music Elective		2
Creative Music or Minor Elective		3
Large Ensemble Elective		1
Music or Minor Elective		3
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
	Credit Hours	16
Semester Seven
CA 20005 or CA 31300	INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS IN THE ARTS or MUSIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP	2
or Non-Music Elective
Creative Music or Minor Elective		3
Large Ensemble Elective		1
Music or Minor Elective		3
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
Minor or Non-Music Elective		3
	Credit Hours	15
Semester Eight
CA 20005 or CA 31300	INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS IN THE ARTS or MUSIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP	2
or Non-Music Elective
Creative Music or Minor Elective		3
Large Ensemble Elective		1
Music or Minor Elective		3
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
Minor or Non-Music Elective		3
	Credit Hours	15
	Minimum Total Credit Hours:	120

Jazz Studies Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Semester One		Credits
MUS 11121	THEORY I	4
MUS 41341	JAZZ IMPROVISATION I	1
UC 10001	FLASHES 101	1
Applied Music Elective		2
Ensemble Elective		1
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
	Credit Hours	15
Semester Two
MUS 11122	THEORY II	4
MUS 17111	PIANO CLASS I	1
MUS 36011	APPLIED MUSIC JAZZ	2
MUS 41351	JAZZ IMPROVISATION II	1
or Non-Western and Small Ensemble Elective
Ensemble Elective		1
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
	Credit Hours	15
Semester Three
MUS 17013 or MUS 17112	FUNDAMENTALS OF JAZZ PIANO or PIANO CLASS II	1
MUS 21111	THEORY III	4
MUS 36011	APPLIED MUSIC JAZZ	2
Ensemble Elective		1
Non-Western and Small Ensemble Elective		1
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
	Credit Hours	15
Semester Four
MUS 21112	THEORY IV	4
MUS 36011	APPLIED MUSIC JAZZ	2
MUS 41351	JAZZ IMPROVISATION II	1
or Non-Western and Small Ensemble Elective
Ensemble Elective		1
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
Minor or Non-Music Elective		1
	Credit Hours	15
Semester Five
MUS 32211	WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY I	3
MUS 34111	INTRODUCTION TO CONDUCTING	1
MUS 41342	JAZZ COMPOSING AND ARRANGING	2
or Non-Music Elective
Ensemble Elective		1
Music or Minor Elective		3
Non-Western and Small Ensemble Elective		1
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
	Credit Hours	14
Semester Six
MUS 32212	WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY II (WIC)	3
MUS 42162	JAZZ STYLES AND ANALYSIS	3
or Non-Music Elective
Creative Music or Minor Elective		1
Ensemble Elective		1
Music or Minor Elective		3
Non-Music Elective		1
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
	Credit Hours	15
Semester Seven
CA 20005 or CA 31300	INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS IN THE ARTS or MUSIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP	2
or Non-Music Elective
MUS 41342	JAZZ COMPOSING AND ARRANGING	2
or Non-Music Elective
Ensemble Elective		1
Music or Minor Elective		3
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
Minor or Non-Music Electives		4
	Credit Hours	15
Semester Eight
CA 20005 or CA 31300	INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS IN THE ARTS or MUSIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP	2
or Non-Music Elective
MUS 38599 or MUS 48598	RECITAL (ELR) or MUSIC RESEARCH (ELR)	1
MUS 42162	JAZZ STYLES AND ANALYSIS	3
or Non-Music Elective
Music or Minor Electives		4
�þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Core Requirement		3
Minor or Non-Music Elective		3
	Credit Hours	16
	Minimum Total Credit Hours:	120

Program Delivery

Delivery:
- In person
Location:
- �þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� Campus

Accreditation for Music - B.A.

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Music

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Music - B.A.

Those who complete the Bachelor of Arts in Music at �þ��ҹ��ӰԺ��ѹۿ� can benefit from specialized career opportunities in the music industry.

Your future career and advanced study possibilities are wide, with several recent alumni pursuing post-graduation paths in:

Arts Management and Administration
Entrepreneurship
Music Therapy
Music Performance or Academic Music Studies

Musicians and singers

0.9%

little or no change

175,600

number of jobs

$N/A

potential earnings

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

3.8%

about as fast as the average

1,050,800