The BA is a general Music degree designed for Music students interested in combining a Music major with a second major or minor in a non-music degree program. 

Requirements

University Core

¹

See General Education Requirements for more information.

²

Credits may be utilized in required curriculum areas.

³

OWC Part A and QL Part A should be completed within the first two semesters of pursuing a Music program.

⁴

9 credits are required in 3 of the 4 other departments in PSOA, outside of the student's discipline: Art and Design, Dance, Music, Theatre, or Film, Video, Animation, and New Genres.

Major Requirements

The minimum number of credits required to complete the Bachelor of Arts is 120. Students who need background preparation courses in math, English, foreign language, and chemistry may need additional credits.

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Additional semesters of Principal Instrument study may be taken as Music electives.

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Can be completed concurrently with 200 level lessons. Based on audition results, students enroll in MUSPERF 1 (Levels I & II) for up to two semesters to attain piano proficiency and/or MUSPERF 101 up to two semesters if you elect to take piano. MUSPERF 1 will not be counted toward degree requirement. 

 Music Theory Electives

Music History Electives

Bachelor of Arts in Music Curriculum

Recommended course order.

¹

Music Performance Courses. 12 cr can be satisfied by six semesters in a single Principal Instrument study at the 300 level and two semesters of Piano at the 100 level. Additional semesters of Principal Instrument study may be taken as Music electives.

²

MUSIC 225 will serve a successful completion for the University QL-B requirement.

³

MUSIC 310 will serve as successful completion for the University OWC-B requirement.

Music History or Music Theory Electives

Music BA Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a BA in Music will be able to: 

• recognize and distinguish music from all periods of European art music history, and to recognize and distinguish the music from a variety of other world cultures and traditions, based on musical and stylistic features.  
• will be able to recognize assumptions, concepts, models, and various methods in musicological and ethnomusicological work and in their own thinking, and will be able to choose the most appropriate analytical tools and concepts to examine specific musics. 
•  to interpret, analyze, critique, and reflect on art music from different critical perspectives and aesthetic viewpoints. 
• to express ideas about music in written form demonstrating a mastery of factual knowledge, bibliographic resources, analytical method, critical thinking, and the ability to construct a coherent and well-organized argument. 
• to perform solo instrumental or vocal repertoire, chamber music, and large ensemble music in public, in a practical demonstration of their understanding of period or cultural aesthetic ideals. 

Degree Requirements

All Music curricula for the BFA require 125-130 credits, distributed as follows: music courses as specified in each curriculum: 75-80 credits; core curriculum: 45 credits; general electives: 0-9 credits. The BA in Music requires 120 credits, distributed as follows: music courses, 48 credits; core curriculum, 45 credits; general electives, 27 credits.

Performance Ensemble Requirement

All Music majors are required to participate in performing organizations during the course of their study. All Performance and Music Education majors must be registered in an approved major performing organization concurrent with each semester of private study. The director of bands, the director of choral activities, and the director of orchestras make ensemble assignments at the beginning of each semester. Only one approved ensemble credit per semester can apply toward degree requirements. For the purpose of fulfilling the Performance Ensemble requirement, the Department of Music recognizes the following approved major performing Ensembles: University Advanced Women’s Choir, Concert Chorale, Women’s Chorus, University Men’s Chorus, University Band, Symphony Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra, and University Community Orchestra. (Other performance ensembles may be approved in certain degree programs; see individual degree programs below for specific requirements in each area.)

Performance Ensemble Requirement for Transfer Students

Credits from an accredited college/university for performing organizations may be granted as follows:

• All transfer students to UWM, regardless of entry level, must take at least two semesters of an approved major performing organization. The performing organization must conform to the individual degree requirements: instrumentalists take band or orchestra, vocalists take choral ensembles;
• Entering sophomores with 30 or more earned credits may only transfer up to two completed semesters of an approved performing organization from another university; and
• Entering juniors with 60 or more earned credits may only transfer up to four completed semesters of an approved performing organization from another university.

Recital Attendance and Music Convocation Requirements

All Music majors must attend weekly Music Convocation meetings for a minimum of five semesters. All students entering the Music Department as freshmen are required to take one semester of MUSIC 106 during their freshman year.

All Music majors, excluding transfer students and second degree candidates, must earn 80 recital attendance credits for graduation. This requirement may be met by attending:

• Campus recitals (one attendance credit per recital),
• Weekly departmental Music Convocation (five attendance credits per semester), and
• Off-campus recitals (one attendance credit per recital to a maximum of three per semester).

Transfer students and second degree candidates must earn 10 recital credits (including weekly Music Convocation) for each semester on the UWM campus, to a total of 80, or until the completion of the degree.

Music Performance Course Enrollment Requirements

The study of music performance in private lessons, master classes, and seminars is governed by four special conditions:

• Performance courses (lessons) cannot be dropped after the second week of each semester;
• Eligibility for undergraduate Music major private lessons requires a minimum of 4 credits in Music Department courses. Only one ensemble credit can be applied to the 4-credit minimum;
• All Music majors are required to enroll in an approved ensemble concurrent with each semester of Performance lessons; and
• Students enrolled in Music Performance lessons at the 200 level or above must enroll in the appropriate Performance Master Class. Music Education Majors are not required to take Performance Master Class, but may enroll in Performance Master Class as music electives.

Music Theory and History Requirements

The Music Theory core comprises a three-semester sequence of Materials of Theory concurrently with three semesters of Aural Theory. This is followed by a semester of Form Analysis. The Music History core comprises a three-semester sequence of the General History of Western Music. Additional Music Theory and Music History courses are required in all Music degree programs. See individual programs for details.

Laptop Requirement

Preparing for a future defined by digital technology is an important step in developing artists. Our digitally integrated curriculum helps you achieve a professional level with leading art-related software and practices.

Laptop ownership is strongly recommended for all undergraduates. However, it’s required for the programs below. For more information please visit the Peck School of the Arts admission page. 

• Art & Design (BA and BFA Programs)
• Dance (BA and BFA Programs) 
• Film, Video, Animation & New Genres (BA and BFA Programs)
• Music (Composition & Technology Program)
• Theatre (BFA Production and BA Theatre Education Programs)

Advising

Location: Theatre 120
Hours: M–Th 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Fri. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed on university holidays)
Contact: 414-229-4763 | Contact Form 

Academic advising is an important aspect of long-term academic success. At the Peck School of the Arts, we offer professional advising in the undergraduate disciplines of art, dance, film, music and theatre.

Our advisors provide students with individualized appointments to assist them in areas such as: degree requirements, major options, course selection, campus resources, college success strategies, graduation assessment, academic policies and procedures, and more.

For more information please visit the Peck School of the Arts advising and student services page. 

Honors in the Major

Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a GPA of 3.500 or greater in the major and the academic department's recommendation.

High Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or greater and the academic department's recommendation.

Departmental Honors are granted to students recommended by their academic department for Honors excellence in performance not reflected in the GPA.

Dean's Honors are granted to students with major achievements in one or more of the arts.

College of the Arts and Architecture Dean's Honor List

GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.

Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction

Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.

Commencement Honors

Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).

Final Honors

Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.