Music Major: Music Liberal Studies Option (B.A.)

Music Major: Music Liberal Studies Option (B.A.)
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What is liberal studies in music?

If you’re serious about your interest in music, but also want a broad liberal arts education, the liberal studies option is the music degree program for you. You’ll study music history and literature, music in world cultures, as well as music theory and analysis. You’ll develop your skills at inquiry, research and writing as you also continue to train your ear and practice through lessons and performing ensembles. As a student of this program, you’ll be prepared for graduate study leading to a master's or doctoral degree.

Why study liberal studies in music at UNH?

As a music student at UNH, you’ll engage with nationally and internationally known faculty musicologists. You’ll be able to participate in the university’s dynamic Undergraduate Research Conference, which each spring highlights student research and creative work, often leading to publication. Our ensembles include touring chamber and choral groups, as well as orchestras and bands that inspire from the stage to the football field. You’ll also be able to engage with the community through our many outreach programs. Take advantage of an exchange program in Cardiff, Wales, or pair music with another major, such as business.

Potential Careers

  • Arts administrator
  • Artistic director
  • Musicologist

Curriculum & Requirements

Students enrolling in the B.A. music liberal studies program — a program that stresses the development of skills in analysis, writing and critical thinking about a wide variety of musics and the larger connection with history, culture and society — are required to submit a writing sample and interview with one of the music liberal studies program faculty members. The writing sample should be non-fiction, preferably an assignment for a course in English, history or a similar subject, 500 words or more in length.

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: Yes

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

The Discovery Program capstone requirement is fulfilled by a final project or a public performance given during the senior year. For students in the music liberal studies option, there is a choice of completing a half recital or comparable final project.

Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.

Major department courses may not be used to satisfy Discovery category requirements except in the case of a second major. B.A. in music majors may use MUSI 502 Musics in Context (a required core course for the major) to satisfy the Inquiry Discovery requirement.

Core Curriculum
MUSI 471
MUSI 472
Theory I
and Theory I
6
MUSI 473
MUSI 474
Ear Training I
and Ear Training I
2
MUSI 475
MUSI 476
Functional Piano I
and Functional Piano I 1
2
MUSI 571
MUSI 572
Theory II
and Theory II
6
MUSI 573
MUSI 574
Ear Training II
and Ear Training II
2
MUSI 575
MUSI 576
Functional Piano II
and Functional Piano II 1
2
MUSI 501
MUSI 502
The Western Musical Canon
and Musics in Context
6
MUSI 515Music in World Cultures4
MUSI 540Recital Attendance0
MUSI 691Music Internship I1-2
Advanced Music History: select one of the following3
MUSI 701
Topics in Music History
MUSI #713
Art Song
MUSI 715
Survey of Opera
Select one of the following:3
MUSI 771
Counterpoint
MUSI 781W
Analysis: Form and Structure
MUSI 791Music Internship II2-4
Performance Study (Applied Lessons): select from the following courses
MUSI 541, MUSI 545, MUSI 546, MUSI 547, MUSI 548, MUSI 549, MUSI #550, MUSI 551, MUSI 552, MUSI 553, MUSI 554, MUSI 555, MUSI 556, MUSI 557, MUSI 558, MUSI 559, MUSI 560, MUSI 561, MUSI 562, MUSI 563, MUSI 564, MUSI 741, MUSI 745, MUSI 746, MUSI 747, MUSI 748, MUSI 749, MUSI 751, MUSI 752, MUSI 753, MUSI 754, MUSI 755, MUSI 756, MUSI 757, MUSI 758, MUSI 759, MUSI 760, MUSI 761, MUSI 762, MUSI 763, MUSI 764
Performing Ensemble: select variable credits from the following courses 2
MUSI 441, MUSI 442, MUSI 448, MUSI 450, MUSI 452, MUSI 453, MUSI 454, MUSI 455, MUSI 456, MUSI 457, MUSI 459, MUSI 460, MUSI 462, MUSI 463, MUSI 464
Total Credits39-42
1

Students will be given the opportunity to test out of MUSI 471 Theory I, MUSI 475 Functional Piano I, MUSI 476 Functional Piano I and MUSI 575 Functional Piano II, MUSI 576 Functional Piano II.

2

A maximum of 8 ensemble credits may count toward graduation for all bachelor of arts in music students.

Music Liberal Studies Option Requirements

Degree program has final approval from the National Association of Schools of Music.

Select 12 credits of the following: 112
MUSI 771
Counterpoint
MUSI 775
Composition
MUSI 776
Composition
MUSI 777
Advanced Composition
MUSI 779
Reading and Writing Musical Scores
MUSI 781W
Analysis: Form and Structure
MUSI 701
Topics in Music History 3
MUSI #713
Art Song
MUSI 715
Survey of Opera
Performance Study/Ensemble: select 8 credits of the following: 28
Performance Study courses:
MUSI 540, MUSI 541, MUSI 545, MUSI 546, MUSI 547, MUSI 548, MUSI 549, MUSI #550, MUSI 551, MUSI 552, MUSI 553, MUSI 554, MUSI 555, MUSI 556, MUSI 557, MUSI 558, MUSI 559, MUSI 560, MUSI 561, MUSI 562, MUSI 563, MUSI 564, MUSI 741, MUSI 745, MUSI 746, MUSI 747, MUSI 748, MUSI 749, MUSI 751, MUSI 752, MUSI 753, MUSI 754, MUSI 755, MUSI 756, MUSI 757, MUSI 758, MUSI 759, MUSI 760, MUSI 761, MUSI 762, MUSI 763, MUSI 764
Performance Ensemble courses:
MUSI 441, MUSI 442, MUSI 448, MUSI 450, MUSI 452, MUSI 453, MUSI 454, MUSI 455, MUSI 456, MUSI 457, MUSI 459, MUSI 460, MUSI 462, MUSI 463, MUSI 464
Total Credits20
1

Any combination of advanced theory and history (12 credits) in addition to the core curriculum.

2

Any combination of performance and/or ensemble study (8 credits total).

3

MUSI 701 Topics in Music History is a rotational topics course and can be repeated.

  • Demonstrate the ability to perform a specialization instrument or voice at an appropriate solo level and/or in small ensemble and large ensemble.
  • Aurally identify, analyze, and work conceptually with the elements of music in a variety of musical styles.
  • Students will demonstrate familiarity with musical literature from the formal concert repertory and from musical traditions outside of that repertory.
  • Demonstrate the ability to develop and defend musical judgments in writing and in oral presentation.
  • Demonstrate collegiate-level skills in the English language, competence in written and oral communication in English, and fluency in communicating and synthesizing musical, historical and analytical concepts in writing.
  • Demonstrate the ability to conduct original research on music with faculty mentoring and independently.
  • Demonstrate in writing the ability to integrate concepts from adjacent disciplines—history, aesthetics, sociology, cultural studies—with musical and stylistic analysis.

Explore Program Details

Use this checklist to track your completion of major requirements. Always check with your advisor if you have any questions.

FOR MAJORS ENTERING FALL OF  2021 AND EARLIER

B.A., Music Major, Liberal Arts

FOR MAJORS ENTERING IN AY 2023

B.A., Music Major, Liberal Arts

FOR MAJORS ENTERING FALL OF 2023 AND LATER

B.A., Music Major, Liberal Arts

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