Nov 12, 2024  
2024-2025 University Catalog 
    
2024-2025 University Catalog

Music: General Music Studies Concentration, BA

Location(s): West Lafayette


About the Program


The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music is an academic degree that includes the study of a broad range of subjects covering music theory, history, music technology and performance. All students entering the program must take a number of core music classes and select a concentration in either Music Technology or General Music Studies to complete the major. Depending upon which ensembles one enrolls in, the number of credits for the major may vary.

College of Liberal Arts Major Change (CODO) Requirements 

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Auditions and Interviews


Students who are admitted to the University have up to one full year to pass an audition and/or interview. The audition/interview expectations vary somewhat from one concentration to another. See the Auditions and Interviews page on the Division of Music website for more information.

Departmental/Program Major Courses (42-46 credits)


Required Major Courses (24-28 credits)


Foundational Studies (15 credits)


Students may test out of various levels of music theory and other credits may be substituted.

Discovery Forum (0 credits)


Music majors are required to attend a number of weekly events of their peers and faculty each semester for six semesters. Students receive a pass or no pass grade in Discovery Forum, MUS 10100 depending upon the required number of Forums offered each semester. Consult with the Chair of Music to determine the exact number of required Forums needed to pass. Students may substitute up to 4 semesters of performance in band, orchestra, choir or other approved ensembles for MUS 10100.

Symposia (Non-course Requirement)


Students must perform or present their research, compositions, arrangements or other creative work in their chosen style in two 30-minute presentations or Symposia over the course of their undergraduate career at Purdue. This may involve performing music, presenting their research, compositions, arrangements or other musically based work in a public forum. Students will work with a faculty member of their choice in preparing for the presentations.

Music Making Studies (6-10 credits)


Studio Courses (6 credits)

Studio courses provide private and group instruction on individual instruments or voices in a masterclass setting. Students with a concentration in Music Technology must take 3 semesters of MUS 35100 Studio Piano to fulfill the course requirements. However, those whose concentration is General Music Studies may take any studio classes. Availability of approved studio classes to fulfill the requirement may vary somewhat from one semester to the next. Music Majors are given first priority for enrollment. Non-Music Majors are required to get instructor approval to enroll in the course. Please check the current schedule of classes or the Music Division website for new offerings.

Ensemble Participation (0-4 credits)

University Bands and Orchestras offers 2 credits for each of their performance ensembles and PMO and the Black Cultural Center do not offer credit for their performing groups. The zero-credit listed above is for performance in those ensembles. A minimum of two semesters of ensemble participation is required for this degree.

For students who perform in groups that do not receive official university credit for their musical activities, they must submit an Attendance Verification Form which can be obtained in the Division of Music main office. Forms must be signed by the Director of the ensemble each semester in attendance.

Required General Music Studies Concentration (18 credits)


Other Departmental - Liberal Arts Core For BFA, Professional, & Education (25-34 credits)


The College of Liberal Arts Other Departmental area is designed to be experiential, informative, and relevant to life in a rapidly changing universe. It combines courses that fulfill University Core foundational outcomes, discipline diversity, social diversity, and other languages to produce a well-rounded background for students. Coursework is integrative and collaborative and fosters insight, understanding, independence, initiative, and the desire to reach across divides and redefine our relationship to the peoples and the worlds that surround us.

Core III: Linguistic Diversity (3-4 credits)


Proficiency through Level IV in one world language. Courses may be required to reach Level IV proficiency; these courses will be counted toward electives. (fulfills Humanities for core)

Foundational Requirements (21-30 credits)


Students must complete approved coursework that meet the following foundational outcomes. Many of these can also be used to fulfill Core I, Core II, or Core III.

  • Humanities - all approved courses accepted (fulfills Humanities for core).
  • Behavioral/Social Science - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Behavioral/Social Science for core)
  • Information Literacy - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Information Literacy for core)
  • Science #1 - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science for core)
  • Science #2 - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science for core)
  • Science, Technology, and Society - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science, Technology, Society for core)
  • Written Communication - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Written Communication for core)
  • Oral Communication - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Oral Communication for core)
  • Quantitative Reasoning - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Quantitative Reasoning for core)

Notes


  • 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Arts degree.
  • 32 credit hours at 30000 level or higher required for Bachelor of Arts degree.
  • Liberal Arts offers a streamlined plan of study for students pursuing a second degree outside CLA. Contact the CLA Advising Office for more information. 

Electives (40-53 credits)


The following list of courses is only to show the music courses available to a student to assist in meeting the 32-hour 300-level university requirement. Students are in no way required to choose these courses as part of their electives.

GPA Requirements


  • 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Arts degree.

College of Liberal Arts Pass/No Pass Option Policy


  • P/NP cannot be used to satisfy Liberal Arts Core, Liberal Arts major, minor, or certificate requirements.

University Requirements


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the University Senate Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC) 

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement


The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry. For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

To obtain the Civics Literacy Proficiency, students will complete an educational activity as part of their chosen Civics Literacy Pathway and pass the Purdue Civics knowledge test.  The knowledge test can be completed at any time while the pathway is being perused.  There are three different pathways:

  • Civics Event pathway - Attend six approved civics-related events and pass the required exam; or
  • Civics Literacy Podcast pathway - Complete 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement that use C-SPAN material and pass the required exam; or
  • Approved course pathway - Complete  one of the following approved courses and pass the required exam.

More details about each pathway and how to complete the requirement can be found on the Civics Literacy Student Dashboard in myPurdue.

Upper Level Requirement


  • Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
  • Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.

Additional Information


  • Liberal Arts offers a streamlined plan of study for students pursuing a second degree outside CLA. Contact the CLA Advising Office for more information. 

Sample 4-Year Plan


Fall 1st Year


15-16 Credits


Spring 1st Year


15-17 Credits


Fall 2nd Year


17-18 Credits


Spring 2nd Year


14-15 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


14 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


15 Credits


Fall 4th Year


​​​​

15 Credits


Spring 4th Year


​​​​​​​

15 Credits


Pre-Requisite Information


For pre-requisite information, log in to mypurdue.purdue.edu and click here.

World Language Courses


World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor. (ASL-American Sign Language; ARAB-Arabic; CHNS-Chinese; FR-French; GER-German; GREK-Greek(Ancient); HEBR-Hebrew(Biblical); HEBR-Hebrew(Modern); ITAL-Italian; JPNS-Japanese; KOR-Korean; LATN-Latin; PTGS=Portuguese; RUSS-Russian; SPAN-Spanish)

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major. Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful. These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program.”

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.