2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog

Dec 05, 2025

2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Music, BA (MUSIC-BA)

CIP Code: 500901

Program Description

The School of Fine and Performing Arts offers a four-year curriculum designed for students who wish to pursue a career in music. The Bachelor of Arts degree is offered with a major in music. The Bachelor of Arts degree in music is designed for students who want to study music but do not necessarily plan a professional career in music. Students will get a much broader, more general education than students seeking a Bachelor of Music degree. Required courses are kept to a minimum. Consequently, students must work closely with an advisor in selecting course electives. For graduation, students must complete level III in the applied music concentration. Because of the highly individualized nature of the various programs, students are required to consult with an advisor to plan their major program.

The School of Fine and Performing Arts has developed a course of study based on four levels of technical proficiency, musicianship, and repertoire in all areas of applied music. Students should consult regularly with their applied music instructors and advisors to ensure progress through the various levels. Students enrolled in applied music courses are required to attend a specified number of recitals, concerts, and other approved performances. Solo recital performances are also required of music majors. For information regarding applied music requirements and keyboard proficiency requirements, students should refer to the School of Fine and Performing Arts website.

Because of the cost of individual instruction, special fees are charged for applied music and, in certain cases, for accompanists. Applied music is also available to non-majors on a limited basis and subject to instructor availability. A rental fee is charged for use of university-owned instruments in class instruction. There is no charge for use of these instruments in university ensembles.

Any student who fails a required music course a second time must petition in order to continue the program. The petition will go to the Academic Studies Committee, which, along with the applied teacher, the advisor, and the instructor of the class, will make a determination to accept or reject the petition, or to determine/recommend any additional conditions necessary to remain in the program.

All students in the university, as well as members of the community, are eligible to participate in performing groups. Some groups require individual auditions; prospective members should consult the various conductors to arrange auditions. The following instrumental groups are available:

Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Concert Band, Wind Symphony, Pep Band, Saxophone Quartet, Brass Choir, Trombone Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Trumpet Ensemble, and Jazz Band. Choral groups include the Men’s Chorale, Women’s Chorale, and Collegiate Chorale. Students majoring in other academic areas and members of the community may also take music courses especially designed for the non-music major.

Program Accreditation

As an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music, the School of Fine and Performing Arts has designed the requirements for entrance and graduation according to the published standards of that association.

Program Admission Requirements

In addition to fulfilling university admissions procedures, prospective music majors must also complete a School of Fine and Performing Arts application for an audition, perform a satisfactory audition in a major performance area, and meet with an assigned advisor from the music faculty for counseling and registration. Transfer students must submit a transcript of all previous work in addition to completing the above steps. A minimum of one year of full-time study is required of all transfer students working toward a degree.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

Develop a degree of musicianship that will enable him or her to function as a performer.
Develop an understanding of the principles and processes of music as it occurs within a variety of cultural and historical settings.
Demonstrate a broad, general education in music rather than one of intensive musical study leading to a professional degree.
Demonstrate proficiency in pronunciation in a foreign language and expand their appreciation of global perspectives in music.
Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving through a more diverse selection of liberal arts course offerings.
Cultivate an understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

Demonstrate a degree of musicianship that will enable him or her to function as a performer.
Demonstrate an understanding of the principles and processes of music as it occurs within a variety of cultural and historical settings.
Demonstrate a broad, general education in music rather than one of intensive musical study leading to a professional degree.
Demonstrate proficiency in pronunciation in a foreign language and expand their appreciation of global perspectives in music.
Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving through a more diverse selection of liberal arts course offerings.
Demonstrate an understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Honors Program

The School of Fine and Performing Arts encourages students who have demonstrated superior academic ability to participate in the music honors program. In order to enter the program, students must be juniors or seniors with a cumulative 3.00 GPA and a 3.50 GPA in music. For additional information, students should contact the department chair.

For More Information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 36 Credit Hours

As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 3 Credit Hours

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy three additional credit hours in the Additional Core Courses category.

LA 1020 - First-Year Seminar: College of Liberal Arts Credit Hour(s): 3

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100). 
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 3 Credit Hours

Students will select one Element B course from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements list. Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the course chosen.

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)
MUS 1210 - Music Listening Credit Hour(s): 3

Element D - Social and Behavorial Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 7 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Additional Core Courses: 5 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 5 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

MUS 2420 - Comparative Nonwestern Cultures: Music Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI) (IW)
One course to reach the minimum of 36 credit hours required

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

One Global Inquiry (GI) course

Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses

One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Major Requirements: 33 Credit Hours

Applied Music (4 semesters): 8 Credit Hours

Large Ensemble: MUE (4 semesters): 4 Credit Hours

Recitals: 0 Credit Hours

III. Related Requirements: 6 Credit Hours

Students will choose six credit hours from one of the tracks below: Music, Keyboard, or Vocal/Instrumental.

Music Track: 6 Credit Hours

Music Electives 6 credit hours

Keyboard Track: 6 Credit hours

MUS 1550 - Keyboard Musicianship I Credit Hour(s): 1
Elective Courses Credits / Units: 4
MUS 1560 - Keyboard Musicianship II Credit Hour(s): 1

Vocal/Instrumental Track: 6 Credit Hours

MUS 1550 - Keyboard Musicianship I Credit Hour(s): 1
Electives Credits / Units: 4
MUS 1560 - Keyboard Musicianship II Credit Hour(s): 1

IV. College Requirements: 18-22 Credit Hours

Foreign Language: 12-16 Credit Hours

Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one foreign language:

American Sign Language (ASL)*, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Spanish, or other foreign language.

*Note: all language classes above are 3 credit hours each, except for the ASL classes which are 4 credit hours each.

Methods of Inquiry: 6 Credit Hours

PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3
MUS 4140 - Intro to Research in Music Credit Hour(s): 3

V. General Electives: 23-27 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

Students are encouraged to consider adding a minor, certificate, or microcredential.

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.

These guides are valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and are subject to change. These guides are a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.