Bachelor of Arts in Music: Composition, Performance, Music Production and Engineering

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At Colorado Christian University students passionate about music have the opportunity to pursue their interests in Performance, Composition, or Music Production and Engineering through a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. This music degree prepares students for a broad range of careers and is excellent preparation for further graduate study in music.

The focus of CCU’s School of Music is to impact our culture for Christ, to honor Him, and to share the love of Christ on campus and around the world through excellence in the art of music. Integrated offerings combine classical, jazz, contemporary, and world music with a progressive and distinctly Christian worldview to develop students who are leaders - both in the world and in the Church. Music majors receive personal attention by an exceptional, creative, and caring faculty who are themselves active performers and clinicians, who desire to not only teach but to also mentor students.

General Education Requirements (48 credit hours)

Arts and Humanities (9 credit hours)

Take one course from each of the following three academic disciplines:

Philosophy (3 credit hours)

PHL 202 - Introduction to Philosophy (3)

Fine Arts (3 credit hours)

MUS 110 - Musical Perspectives (3) (Required)

Literature (3 credit hours)

Choose one course from the following:

Biblical Studies (12 credit hours)

Take the following four courses (some courses are cross-listed and only one prefix needs to be taken):

BIB 111 - Old Testament (3) OR
HIS 111 - Old Testament (3)
BIB 114 - New Testament (3) OR
HUM 114 - New Testament (3)
PHL 315 - World Religions and Systems of Belief (3)
THE 201 - Introduction to Theology (3)

Communication (6 credit hours)

COM 103 - Public Speaking (3)
ENG 102 - English Composition (3) OR
ENG 105 - Advanced English Composition (3)

Integrative Studies (3 credit hours)

* Please see the First-Year Integration (FYI) page for specific information information about this required course.

INT 101 - First-Year Integration (3)

Mathematics (3 credit hours)

MAT 112 - Mathematics for Liberal Arts (3) (or higher)

Science (3 credit hours)

SCI 230 - Integrated Physical Science with Lab (3)

Social Sciences (12 credit hours)

Take each of the following four courses:

Music Major

The Bachelor of Arts in Music requires completion of the following 120 credit hours:
General Education (48 credit hours)
Music Core (43 credit hours)
Primary Instrument Core (5 credit hours)
Electives Core (24 credit hours)

Music Core (43 credit hours)

MUA 130 - Piano Class I (1) Average 2 credit hours AND
MUA 132 - Piano Class II (1)
OR
MUA 115 - Piano (1-2) Average 2-4 credit hours
Students may take either (or a combination of) MUA 130 - Piano Class I and MUA 132 - Piano Class II or MUA 115 - Piano until they pass MUA 230 - Piano Proficiency . Required number of semesters varies per student.
MUA 175 - Music Convocation (0) (eight semesters)
MUA 230 - Piano Proficiency (0)
MUA 231 - Performance Proficiency (0)
MUE 100 - University Women’s Choir (1) (eight semesters) OR
MUE 101 - University Choir (1) (eight semesters) OR
MUE 102 - University Symphonic Band (1) (eight semesters) OR
MUE 103 - Chamber Orchestra (1) (eight semesters)
MUE 109 - Chamber Strings (1) (eight semesters) OR
MUE 114 - Handbell Ensemble (1) (eight semesters)
MUS 111 - From Sight to Sound - Music Fundamentals (2)
MUS 112 - Music Theory I: Elements of Music (3)
MUS 113 - Sight-Singing and Ear Training I (1)
MUS 212 - Music Theory II: Diatonic Harmony and Tonicization (3)
MUS 213 - Sight-Singing and Ear Training II (1)
MUS 214 - Music Theory III: Chromatic Harmony and Forms (3)
MUS 215 - Sight-Singing and Ear Training III (1)
MUS 312 - Music Theory IV: The Twentieth Century and Beyond (3)
MUS 313 - Sight-Singing and Ear Training IV (1)
MUS 323 - History of Music I (2)
MUS 324 - History of Music II (2)
MUS 410 - World Music (2)
MUS 326 - Conducting (2)
MUS 426 - Music Business (2)
MUS 470 - Senior Thesis (2)
Music Electives (3) Instrumental Majors only

OR

Vocal Majors only
MUS 325 - Singer’s Diction and Literature (2) AND
MUS 356 - Vocal Methods (1)

Primary Instrument Core (5 credit hours)

Each student will take 5 credit hours in the instrument on which they auditioned and have been accepted.

Electives Core (24 credit hours)

General Electives - 24 credit hours

Composition Emphasis (13 credit hours)

The Bachelor of Arts in Music: Composition Emphasis requires completion of the following 120 credit hours:
General Education (48 credit hours)
Music Core (40 credit hours)
Emphasis Core (13 credit hours)
Elective Core (19 credit hour)

In replacement of MUA 231 Performance Proficiency (0), Electives in Music Core (3), Primary Instrument Core (5), and Electives Core (5), Composition students will take the following 13 credit hours:

MUA 119 - Songwriting (1-2) (2 credits)
MUA 105 - Composition (1-2) (8 credits)
MUS 355 - Improvisational Techniques (1)
MUS 411 - Scoring and Arranging (2)
MUS 360 - Half Recital (0)
MUS 460 - Full Recital (0)

Performance Emphasis (13 credit hours)

The Bachelor of Arts in Music: Performance Emphasis requires completion of the following 120 credit hours:
General Education (48 credit hours)
Music Core (40 credit hours)
Emphasis Core (13 credit hours)
Electives Core (19 credit hours)

In replacement of MUA 231 Performance Proficiency (0), Music Electives in Music Core (3), Primary Instrument Core (5), and Electives Core (5), Performance students will take the following 3 credit hours in the Emphasis Core plus 10 credit hours in Primary Instrument:

MUA 325 - Literature of Primary Instrument (2) [Instrumentalists] OR
MUS 325 - Singer’s Diction and Literature (2) [Vocalists]
MUS 360 - Half Recital (0)
MUS 460 - Full Recital (0)
MUS 351 - Brass Techniques and Pedagogy (1) OR*
MUS 352 - Woodwind Techniques and Pedagogy (1) OR*
MUS 353 - String Techniques and Pedagogy (1) OR*
MUS 354 - Percussion Techniques and Pedagogy (1) OR*
MUS 356 - Vocal Methods (1) OR*
MUS 357 - Fretted Techniques (1)
*MUA 351, 352, 353, 354, 356, 357 - Students take course in their area of emphasis. Piano students take directed study in Piano Pedagogy.
For Piano Performance Majors, replace two (2) semesters of Primary Ensemble with MUE 301. It will be taken for two (2) semesters.
MUE 301 - Collaborative Piano (1)

Primary Instrument (10 credit hours)

Each performance student will take 10 credit hours of primary instrument in the instrument on which they auditioned and have been accepted.

Music Production and Engineering Emphasis (18 credit hours)

The Bachelor of Arts in Music: Music Production and Engineering Emphasis requires completion of the following 120 credit hours:
General Education (48 credit hours)
Music Core (40 credit hours)
Emphasis Core (18 credit hours)
Electives Core (14 credit hours)

In replacement of MUA 231 Performance Proficiency , Music Electives in Music Core (3), Primary Instrument Core (5), and Electives Core (10), Music Production and Engineering students will take the following 18 credit hours:

Additional Information

Those selecting the music major must take MUS 110 - Musical Perspectives as part of the general education requirements.
MUS 111 - From Sight to Sound - Music Fundamentals is a prerequisite for entrance into MUS 112 - Music Theory I: Elements of Music
MUA 175 - Music Convocation is required for all music majors each semester at CCU (up to 8 semesters).
Piano and Piano Class requirements vary in order to pass Piano Proficiency. Students must take MUA 130 - Piano Class I OR MUA 115 - Piano in consecutive semesters until MUA 230 - Piano Proficiency is passed.
Only one ensemble credit each semester counts toward the requirements for the major.
Suggested electives to include with the B.A. Music-Performance: THR 220 - Acting ,
MUE 132 - Stage Movement/Dance
, Multiple Languages.
Suggested electives to include with the B.A. Music-Composition: MUS 271 Music Production and Engineering I , MUS 272 Music Production and Engineering II

Graduation Requirements for Bachelor of Arts in Music

The faculty recommends students in the B.A. in Music to the Board of Trustees as candidates for graduation when they have completed the following requirements.

Completion of a total of 120 credits, including all general education, electives and Music major program requirements.
A letter grade of D or better and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all CCU coursework, and a GPA of 2.0 or higher for all courses specified for the major.
Completion of 180 hours of ministry/community service and 180 chapel credits. Transfer students are required to complete 45 hours of ministry/community service and 45 chapel credits each year of attendance at CCU. For further details on ministry/community service, see the Life Directions Center (LDC) section of this catalog. For further details on chapel credits, see the Student Life section of this catalog.
Meet the CCU Residency requirements .
Completion of eight semesters of MUA 175 - Music Convocation .
Acceptable performance on exit exams, as required by the faculty.
Formal and timely application for graduation by the date specified by the University Registrar.
No outstanding financial obligation to the University.