Description
The Music Minor is a 20-credit hour curriculum designed for undergraduate students who wish to engage in the study of music through one of three curricular tracks: (1) Performance, (2) Composition, (3) General Studies. Students take four required courses (8 credit hours) in music theory, aural skills, class piano, and Western music history, and an additional 12 credit hours of required courses and electives in their area of specialization.
General Requirements for the Music Minor
- A total of 20 hours is required for the Music Minor.
- A maximum of 6 transfer credit hours may be applied to the Music Minor, as approved by the Music Minor Advisor and Department Head.
- A grade of C- or better is required in each course used toward the minor.
- No course for the minor may be taken for S/U credit.
- For students majoring in Arts Studies-Music, a maximum of one 3-credit course may be used (double-counted) toward both departmental major requirements and minor requirements.
- Certain courses allow for a placement test or audition; students who test out of a course must make up those credits by taking another approved MUS course.
- MUS 120: Introduction to Music Theory is a prerequisite for MUS 103: Theory and Musicianship I and does not count toward completion of the 20 hours required for the music minor. Students may elect to take the Music Theory Placement Test to test into MUS 103.
Required Courses
For all Tracks (8 required credit hours):
- MUS 103: Theory and Musicianship I (3 cr)
- MUS 104: Theory and Musicianship Lab I (1cr)
- MUS 107: Class Piano I (1cr), required for students in the General Studies and Composition Tracks only
- MUS 202: Introduction to Music Literature II (3 cr)
- MUS 207: Class Piano II (1 cr), required for students in the Performance Track. However, Performance students who test out must take MUS 154.
Performance Track (12 additional credit hours):
- MUS 193 : Applied Music Lessons I (2 semesters at 1 cr each semester) (2 cr)
- MUS 293 : Applied Music Lessons II (2 semesters at 1 cr each semester) (2 cr)
- MUS XXX: One 3-hour advised elective (3 cr)
- MUS 393: Recital (1 cr)
- MUS XXX: Ensemble (4 semesters at 1 cr each semester) (4 cr). Piano minors fulfill this requirement by taking 2 semesters of ensembles (2 cr) and MUS 208 (Piano Pedagogy) (2 cr).
Composition Track (12 additional credit hours):
- MUS 153: Theory and Musicianship II (3 cr)
- MUS 154: Theory and Musicianship Lab II (1cr)
- MUS 320: Music of the 20th Century (3 cr)
- Either MUS 305: Music Composition (3 cr) or MUS/ARS 306: Music Composition with Computers (3 cr)
- MUS 270 and 370: Songwriting using Digital Audio and Intermediate Songwriting using Digital Audio Workstations (each 2 cr) Note that this option provides 1 additional free elective cr. Students must take both courses, or take one of MUS 270 or 370 and another of MUS 305 or 306
- MUS 498: Independent Study in Music (2 cr) (1 additional free elective cr if the composition is performed publicly)
General Studies Track (12 additional credit hours):
- MUS 200: Understanding Music: Global Perspectives (3 cr)
Electives: Choose 9 credit hours of electives from the following list; two courses must be 3 credit hours each:
- MUS XXX: Ensemble (up to 3 semesters at 1cr each semester) (1-3 cr)
- MUS 150: Vocal Techniques (1cr)
- MUS 201: Introduction to Music Literature I (3 cr)
- MUS 153: Theory and Musicianship II (3 cr)
- MUS 154: Theory and Musicianship Lab II (1cr)
- MUS 105: Introduction to Music in Western Society (3 cr)
- MUS 206: America’s Music (3 cr)
- MUS 207: Class Piano II (1cr)
- MUS 210: Introduction to Popular Music: 1950s-1970s (3 cr)
- MUS 211: Introduction to Popular Music: 1980s-present (3 cr)
- MUS/AFS 230: Introduction to African-American Music (3 cr)
- MUS 240: Introduction to the Music Industry (3 cr)
- MUS/AFS 260: History of Jazz (3 cr)
- MUS 270: Songwriting using Digital Audio Workstations (2 cr)
- MUS 305: Music Composition (3 cr)
- MUS/ARS 306: Music Composition with Computers (3 cr)
- MUS 310: Music of the 17th and 18th Centuries (3 cr)
- MUS 315: Music of the 19th Century (3 cr)
- MUS 320: Music of the 20th Century (3 cr)
- MUS 330: Music Drama (3 cr)
- MUS 350: Music of Asia (3 cr)
- MUS/WGS 360: Women in Music (3 cr)
- MUS 370: Intermediate Songwriting using Digital Audio Workstations (2 cr)
Admissions
For all students:
- Students may apply for the Music Minor electronically via the Music Minor Application or in person at the Music Department Office, 203 Price Music Center. Based on their chosen track, students will be assigned the appropriate minor advisor, who will then schedule a meeting to discuss a plan of study and the expectations established for the minor.
- For students in the Performance Track, admission is through a preliminary audition. Upon recommendation, students are assigned an advisor and applied instructor and enroll in MUS 193. The jury exam at the end of their first semester of MUS 193 determines eligibility for continuation in the Performance Track.
- For students in the Composition and General Studies Tracks, admission to the Music Minor is granted upon the completion and processing of a Minor Declaration Form.
- During each semester’s registration period, students must schedule an appointment with their minor advisor to have their plan of study reviewed. This should take place before students meet with their Academic Advisor and enroll for the following semester’s courses.
Performance Track Requirements:
- Students preparing to enter their second semester of MUS 193 must first pass the Music Theory Placement Test or enroll concurrently in MUS 120.
- Students who have not taken any of MUS 103, MUS 104, or MUS 202 by the end of their second semester of MUS 193 must enroll concurrently in one of these courses during their first semester of MUS 293.
Composition Track Requirement:
- Students must enroll in MUS 498 (Independent Study in Music) during the registration period preceding the final semester of the minor. At this time, a Course Agreement contract is completed by the student and the student’s applied composition instructor. The goals and timeline for completing the composition project should be approved by the student’s minor advisor.
Certification
The Music Department Head or their designee will certify the Music Minor prior to graduation. The minor must be completed no later than the semester in which the student expects to graduate from his or her degree program. Paperwork for certification should be completed no later than the registration period prior to the student’s final semester at NC State.
Contact Person/Music Minor Advisor
Daniel Monek
203 Price Music Center
919.515.1692
dgmonek@ncsu.edu
SIS Code: 24MUM