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College of Fine Arts & Communication
School of Music

Undergraduate Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Music 

This program provides a general liberal arts overview of music studies and is combined with a minor or second major of the students choosing to lead to careers in a variety of fields. Potential careers opportunities/fields including music business, music therapy (NOTE: This degree is not the equivalent of a Bachelors degree in Music Therapy. Students must transfer to a full degree granting program prior to graduation and/or complete additional certifications through another institution in order to receive a Music Therapy degree or accreditation.), music history/ethnomusicology, entertainment law, music ministry, arts administration, and music journalism, just to name a few.

Degree plan semester-by-semester outline

Bachelor of Music in Music Studies (with all-level teacher certification)

This program leads to teacher certification for public schools, grades K-12. Areas of concentration include choral, band, and orchestra with all areas achieving elementary competencies.

Degree plan semester-by-semester outlines

  • Choral
  • Instrumental (band or orchestral) 
    • An optional minor in Jazz (18 hours) can be added to this concentration only. Courses in jazz theory and improvisation, jazz ensemble participation, jazz history, and jazz pedagogy make up the Jazz minor.
    • An optional minor in Mariachi (18 hours) can be added to this concentration only. Courses in mariachi ensemble, arranging, vihuela & guitarron techniques, mariachi history, and other mariachi techniques make up the Mariachi minor.

 

Bachelor of Music in Performance

This program provides preparation for performance and studio teaching careers as well as graduate studies in all music areas. Concentrations include classical guitar, instrumental - all standard concert ensemble instruments and strings, keyboard, and vocal as well as jazz.

Degree plan semester-by-semester outlines

 

Bachelor of Science in Sound Recording Technology

The Sound Recording Technology (SRT) program is the only one of its kind in the Southwest. It trains students to enter into the recording industry in various capacities.  Potential careers include music producers, live sound technicians, post-production editors, and much more. Please visit the SRT website for complete information.

Degree plan semester-by-semester outline

 

Minor in Music (General)

This program covers the main areas of music – basic music theory & literature, performance, and a variety of music electives (performance or lecture based courses). The music minor does not require an audition and is declared through the advising center of the student’s major.

Minor outline

 

FOR ALL MUSIC DEGREES


In order to claim one of the music degrees described above as the student's major at Texas State University, students must first be accepted to Texas State University and then audition and be accepted by the performance faculty. Visit Becoming a Music Major for the audition dates and full details on performance requirements and supporting materials required for the audition.

Transfer Students – visit the university's admission website for transfer students to determine which music courses will transfer towards your degree at Texas State.

In general, all 1000- & 2000-level courses are taken during the Freshman & Sophomore years. The 3000- & 4000-level courses, in most cases, can only be taken upon passing the upper level competency review in the student's chosen music degree program at the end of their fourth semester or music study.

General education core curriculum components must be completed for all degrees. These requirements can be completed in any order (with the exception of the Music Studies degree), at any Texas institution, or through AP/CLEP exams. The course requirements can be found in the University College section of the undergraduate catalog.

 

Special General Studies Requirements for specific music degree programs:

  • BS-Sound Recording Technology
    • Pre-Calculus (MATH 2417)
    • General Physics I & II (PHYS 1410, 1420)
    • Intro to Fine Arts (MU 2313)
  • BM-Music Studies
    • C or higher in
      • College Writing I & II (ENG 1310, 1320)
      • Philosophy (PHIL 1305 or 1320)
      • MATH Component
      • History (HIST 1310, 1320)
      • Political Science (POSI 2310, 2320)
    • B or higher in
      • Communications (COMM 1310)


All music degrees have minimum requirements to graduate:

  • Minimum Texas State GPA: 2.00
  • Minimum Major GPA: 2.25 (music studies students are required to have a 2.85 per the Texas State Music Studies area)
  • Minimum Minor GPA (if applicable): 2.00
  • Minimum Grades: C or higher or CR in each music course required for major or minor
  • Minimum hours: 120 hours (the music studies degree requires more than 120 hours to complete course requirements due to the College of Education Teacher Certification courses)
  • Advanced hours (3000 & 4000-level): 36 hours
  • Foreign Language proficiency: Completion of at least 2 years of the same language in High School or at the university level
  • Computer proficiency: Completion of at least 1 year of a computer-based course in High School or at the university level