Music BA
Program Purpose
This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions approval. Please see the college advisement center for information regarding requirements for admission to this major.
The Bachelors of Arts degree offers a broad liberal arts education with a concentration in music. If appropriate music electives or tracks are chosen, it also offers excellent preparation for a variety of professional music careers or graduate work in music theory, musicology, music education or music business.
Curricular Structure
Students in the BA program complete the core of classes common to all bachelors programs as well as other academic courses in music. In addition, they prepare a junior recital.
Learning Outcomes
As reviewed and approved by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), all music students, through the core requirements of all music degrees, show proficiency in music theory, music history, performance, ensemble playing, conducting, sight singing and music dictation. In the B.A. (Music) degree program, the courses assess the application of these core proficiencies.
Music History and TheoryShow mastery of the basic cultural and historical background of Western civilization, and the important musical styles that have emerged therefrom.
Show proficiency in performance on an instrument or voice.
Demonstrate ability to connect their music training to their broader personal goals whether in music or in another discipline.
Evidence of Learning
The evidences of learning used to assess the BA include:
- multiple choice exam questions dealing with factual, objective knowledge
- short and long exam essays that require synthetic and analytic thinking
- transcriptions and in-class interactive exercises
Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement
The BA program has just recently undergone an extensive and thorough review and realignment. In addition, this program, along the rest of the programs in the School of Music, undergoes regular review and adjustments each year. An in-depth external review occurs every ten years through the NASM review process as well as an internal review every five years by BYU. Any need for and plans for improvement are tracked through the School of Music committees and passed on to the College Curriculum Committee for approval. This would occur on an annual basis.