2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog School of Music

FineArts.IllinoisState.edu/Music

Admission/Retention Requirements

All students who intend to major or minor in Music at Illinois State University are expected to have previous music experiences. Prior to acceptance as a Music major or minor, all students must pass a performance audition on their major instrument or voice. Information concerning admission auditions is available from the School of Music. Readmitted students will follow the same requirements as new students.

Course Finder

Piano Requirements

Credit for Acquired Proficiency (CAP) may be earned through proficiency examination.

Performing Ensembles

Only one ensemble per semester will be counted towards the requirements for the completion of any music degree program.

  • Students should enroll in an ensemble on their primary instrument, except for pianists. Pianists need to consult with their academic advisor.
  • Ensembles fulfilling the ensemble requirement for music majors and minors include:
    • Choral: Concert Choir, Belle Voix or University Glee
    • Instrumental: Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, Marching Band or Guitar Ensemble (guitar majors/minors only)

Special Provisions

BM vocal performance students are required to audition for the School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance joint musical/opera productions.

Musical Instrument Storage

In the event that students choose to store musical instruments on campus in any building operated by the University, they hereby waive any and all liability of the University and its employees for the loss of or damage to such musical instruments by any cause whatsoever, including, but not limited to, fire, water, windstorm, or any other casualty, theft, or dampness or dryness of the air.

Major in Music Education

A cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a major GPA of 3.00 must be maintained and a grade of C or better in all courses used for licensure. Students must also complete one of the Music Education Sequences below.

Admission to Professional Studies

All Music Education students planning to become licensed teachers must apply for and be admitted to the University’s Professional Studies program (see the University-Wide Teacher Education section of this Undergraduate Catalog). The student must be in compliance with the following requirements:

  1. Complete all required courses
  2. Meet all requirements in Gateways 1 and 2. (See the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education website)
  3. Earn a grade of C or better in all Music and Professional Education courses
  4. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a major GPA of 3.00

Honors in Music

The Honors Program seeks to facilitate customized learning for Honors students in their disciplines by offering the opportunity for students to engage in Honors education and to have Honors Learning Experiences in upper division courses. Honors students may choose to focus their Honors Learning in their major and pursue the Honors in the Major designation, which is awarded at graduation. Learn more about Honors in the Major.

Music

Degrees Offered: B.A. or B.S. or B.M. or B.M.E.

Major in Music, B.A. or B.S.

Students must complete either the Liberal Arts Sequence or the Music Business Sequence requirements.

Liberal Arts Sequence

The Bachelor of Arts in Music and the Bachelor of Science in Music provide a broad-based academic degree in music.

View Liberal Arts Sequence Course Requirements

Music Business Sequence

The sequence is intended for those who wish to pursue a career in business professions related to music.

View Music Business Sequence Course Requirements

Minor in Music

24 total credit hours required
7 credit hours from:

3 credit hours (1 course) from:

8 credit hours of Applied Music (may include Group Instruction Voice or Piano)
2 semesters of MUS 110 (0 credit hours)
4 credit hours of Performing Ensembles
Electives to complete the required 24 credit hours

Major in Music Education

Music Teacher Education is an Illinois licensure program preparing students to teach music in elementary-, middle-, and secondary-schools. The program culminates in student teaching. One senior recital (30 minutes) is required. Clinical Experiences in Teacher Education

Choral-General-Vocal Sequence

View Choral-General-Vocal Sequence Course Requirements

Choral-General-Keyboard Sequence

View Choral-General-Keyboard Sequence Course Requirements

Instrumental-Band Sequence

View Instrumental-Band Sequence Course Requirements

Instrumental-Orchestra Sequence

View Instrumental-Orchestra Sequence Course Requirements

Major in Music, B.M.

Students must select one of the following sequences and complete requirements of that sequence. A grade of C or better is required in all courses in the major including specific requirements of each sequence.

Music Therapy Sequence

The Music Therapy major imparts students with entry level competencies in three main areas: musical foundations, clinical foundations, and music therapy foundations and principles, culminating in professional practice in music therapy. Students who successfully complete the degree requirements will be eligible to take the Certification Board for Music Therapy, Inc. exam. Students whose major applied instrument is percussion, guitar, piano, or voice are required to substitute other music courses for the required group course representing their major instrument.

View Music Therapy Sequence Course Requirements

The following Music Performance Sequences prepare students to think critically, collaborate and develop the aesthetics and mechanics of music through individual and group performances. All Music Performance Sequence majors must perform one junior recital (30 minutes), and one senior recital (60 minutes).

Band and Orchestra Instruments Performance Sequence

View Band and Orchestra Instruments Performance Sequence Course Requirements

Voice Performance Sequence

View Voice Performance Sequence Course Requirements

Piano Performance Sequence

View Piano Performance Sequence Course Requirements

Classical Guitar Performance Sequence

View Classical Guitar Performance Sequence Course Requirements

Jazz Studies Sequence

Jazz Studies prepares students to develop abilities as jazz performers, composers, and arrangers. This sequence is only available to students whose major instrument is one of the following: saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, bass, and percussion. All Jazz Studies Sequence majors must perform one junior recital (30 minutes) and one senior recital (60 minutes).

View Jazz Studies Sequence Course Requirements

Minor in Jazz Performance

Available only to instrumentalists on the following instruments: saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, keyboard, bass, and percussion. All students pursuing a Minor in Jazz Performance must be accepted into the School of Music by passing a performance audition on the student’s primary instrument.

24 total credit hours required
Required courses:

Drum set players may substitute additional hours  of MUS 138a70 or MUS 238a70 for MUS 228

Music majors taking this minor: Numerous courses required for the minor will have been completed in fulfilling requirements of the major. Therefore twelve credit hours for the minor must be distinct from hours within your major.

Composition/Theory Emphasis Sequence

Majoring in music with a compsition/theory emphasis sequence will prepare a student to write music as a way of understanding its theoretical structure. Students must request consent to register for MUS 205A02 from the composition faculty. When such a request is made, the composition faculty will conduct a review of the student’s academic and artistic progress, including a portfolio of the student’s compositions. The number of students given consent may vary depending on program capacity and qualifications of students in the pool. Students who are not granted consent may be advised to retake MUS 205A01 and request consent again.

View Composition/Theory Emphasis Sequence Course Requirements

Music Composition Sequence

Students will learn the foundations of music including theory, history, literature, and performance while emphasizing the creative process through music composition. Students must request consent to register for MUS 205A02 from the composition faculty. When such a request is made, the composition faculty will conduct a review of the student’s academic and artistic progress, including a portfolio of the student’s compositions. The number of students given consent may vary depending on program capacity and qualifications of students in the pool. Students who are not granted consent may be advised to retake MUS 205A01 and request consent again.

View Music Composition Sequence Course Requirements

New Media Composition Sequence

New Media Composition provides coursework to prepare students to create original music composition content for new media. Students must request consent to register for MUS 205A02 from the composition faculty. When such a request is made, the composition faculty will conduct a review of the student’s academic and artistic progress, including a portfolio of the student’s compositions. The number of students given consent may vary depending on program capacity and qualifications of students in the pool. Students who are not granted consent may be advised to retake MUS 205A01 and request consent again.

View New Media Composition Sequence Course Requirements