2023-2024 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

Music, B.A.

The CCSU Department of Music is dedicated to the development of competent and aesthetically sensitive musicians, intellectually deepened by a broad liberal arts education. Within the context of our music degrees, we prepare musicians for careers as educators, performers, composers, music technology specialists, and scholars while providing all students with strategies to cultivate artistic leadership in their chosen fields. We strive to foster in all students life-long connection and involvement with the art of music. The performance and scholarship of our faculty serves as an artistic and intellectual resource for Connecticut.

A minor is not required for any student pursuing a concentration in the Music, B.A.

Major Requirements (60 Credits)

MUS 102 and three semesters of major ensemble are double counted in Study Area I.

Required Music Courses (42 credits)

MUS 090Concert/Forum Attendance

0

MUS 102Fundamentals of Musicianship

3

MUS 114Introduction to Music Technology

1

MUS 237Diatonic Harmony

2

MUS 115Aural Skills I

1

MUS 318Chromatic Harmony I

2

MUS 116Aural Skills II

1

MUS 319Chromatic Harmony II

2

MUS 215Aural Skills III

1

MUS 178Applied Music for Majors

1

MUS 278Applied Music for Majors II

1

MUS 235Music History I

3

MUS 334Music History II

3

MUS 335Music History III

3

MUS 250Piano Class I

1

MUS 251Piano Class II

1

MUS 350Piano Class III

1

MUS 351Piano Class IV

1

Music Electives - 8 credits

Other Requirements

Ensembles required for all Music B.A. students: 4 credits in Ensembles from the course range MUS 141, MUS 142, MUS 143, or  MUS 147A.

MUS 178 Applied Lessons for Majors I, and MUS 278 Applied Lessons for Majors, II (two semesters each;1 credit, 1 contact hour)

8 credits of Music Electives required of all Music B.A. students.

Students in any Music B.A. concentration (Performance, Theory and Composition, Jazz Studies, Music Technology, or Flexible Exploration) must take MUS 216 Aural Skills IV (1 credit, 2 contact hour) and MUS 408 Form and Analysis (previously MUS 222 Music Theory IV) (2 credits; 3 contact hours) as part of those 8 elective credits. The B.A. option for Music with an External Minor is exempt from this requirement.

Major Requirements, Ensembles

All Music B.A. students are required to take 4 credits of major ensembles, MUS 141, MUS 142, MUS 143, or MUS 147A.

MUS 141Chorus

1

or

MUS 142Wind Band

1

or

MUS 143Sinfonietta

1

or

MUS 147ATraditional Jazz Ensemble

1

Concentrations

Jazz Studies Concentration (18 credits)

MUS 378Applied Music for Majors III

1

MUS 478Applied Music for Majors IV

1

MUS 147ATraditional Jazz Ensemble

1

and/or

MUS 147BImprovisatoryJazz Ensemble

1

MUS 213Jazz Styles and Chronology

3

MUS 273Jazz Improvisation I

2

MUS 274Jazz Improvisation II

2

MUS 380Advanced Notation, Sequencing, and Sound Synthesis

2

MUS 400Project in Music

1-4

Students in the Jazz Studies Concentration will take:

2 credits of MUS 378, and 1 credit of MUS 478

1 semester of MUS 400 (senior jazz recital), for 2 credits.

Jazz Studies Concentration: Ensembles

Students in the Jazz Studies Concentration will take 4 additional credits of Jazz Ensembles, MUS 147A or  MUS 147B.

MUS 147ATraditional Jazz Ensemble

1

or

MUS 147BImprovisatoryJazz Ensemble

1

Performance Concentration (18 credits)

MUS 378Applied Music for Majors III

1

MUS 478Applied Music for Majors IV

1

MUS 177Applied Music

.5

MUS 201Listening to Western Art Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries

2

MUS 367Choral Conducting

2

MUS 380Advanced Notation, Sequencing, and Sound Synthesis

2

MUS 400Project in Music

1-4

MUS 404Topics in Performance

1-3

Performance students will take 2 semesters of MUS 177 Applied Music, lessons on a secondary instrument; .5 credit, 30 minutes contact.

Performance students will complete MUS 400 (senior recital) and MUS 404 (program notes), each for 2 credits.

2 credits of MUS 378, and 1 credit of MUS 478.

Performance Concentration: Ensembles

Students in the Performance Concentration will take 4 additional credits of ensembles, in MUS 140, MUS 141, MUS 142, or MUS 143.

MUS 140Ensemble

1

or

MUS 141Chorus

1

or

MUS 142Wind Band

1

or

MUS 143Sinfonietta

1

Music Technology Concentration (18 credits)

MUS 140Ensemble

1

MUS 214Electro-Acoustic Music and Sonic Art

3

MUS 380Advanced Notation, Sequencing, and Sound Synthesis

2

MUS 400Project in Music

1-4

Students in the Music Technology Concentration will complete one semester of MUS 400 (capstone), for 2 credits.

Music Technology Concentration: Ensembles

Students in the Music Technology Concentration will take MUS 140Q iPad Ensemble (2 credits)

and

1 or 2 additional credits of ensembles from the MUS 14X course range.

MUS 140Ensemble

1

Music Technology Electives from CCSU

MUS 112Computer Applications to Music

3

and/or

MUS 273Jazz Improvisation I

2

and/or

MUS 274Jazz Improvisation II

2

and/or

MUS 301Coding for Music

3

MUS 378Applied Music for Majors III

1

Students in the Music Technology Concentration are required to take a total of 9 credits of electives, which may be completed at CCSU, Capital Community College, or Middlesex Community College, as listed here. 

As part of the Music Technology electives (9 credits total), students may take (in addition to the academic courses listed):

One or both of the following, for 2-4 credits: MUS 273 (2 credits) and/or MUS 274 (2 credits)

1-3 additional credits of MUS 378 (Music Technology composition lessons)

 

MUS 301 Coding for Music is a newly-proposed course (3 credits; 3 contact hours). This is listed on the curriculum sheet for the Music Technology Concentration.

 

 

Courses Completed at Capital Community College or Middlesex Community College

Students in the Music Technology Concentration are required to take a total of 9 credits of electives, which may be completed at CCSU, Capital Community College, or Middlesex Community College, as listed here. 

Proposed new course numbers for CCSU Music to align with existing courses at the two Community Colleges and will be able to be registered at CCSU but completed at the community colleges are as follows:

MUS 117 Audio Production (3 credits)

MUS 118 Electronic Music (3 credits)

MUS 223 Search in Music: Technology & Music Business (students may take 3 - 9 credits of this course.)

MUS 224 Electronic Music Composition & Audio Technology I (3 credits)

MUS 225 Electronic Music Composition & Audio Technology II (3 credits)

MUS 226 Music for Film, TV, Video Gaming and Other Media (3 credits)

MUS 227 Principles of Sound Recording (3 credits)

MUS 228 Audio Mixing and Processing (3 credits)

Theory and Composition Concentration (18 credits)

MUS 201Listening to Western Art Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries

2

MUS 295Beginning Composition

2

MUS 395Composition

2

MUS 378Applied Music for Majors III

1

MUS 380Advanced Notation, Sequencing, and Sound Synthesis

2

MUS 390Orchestration

3

MUS 400Project in Music

1-4

Theory and Composition students will take:

3 semesters of MUS 378, for 1 credit each. 

1 semester of MUS 400 (composition), for 2 credits.

 

*Requirement Type: Theory and Composition: Ensembles*

Students in the Theory and Composition Concentration will take 2 additional credits of ensembles from the course range MUS 14X.

Music with an External Minor (18 credits)

Students pursing the option of Music with an External Minor will complete 18 credits, as required by their selected Minor outside of the Music Department.

Flexible Music Concentration (18 credits)

MUS 378Applied Music for Majors III

1

MUS 367Choral Conducting

2

MUS 380Advanced Notation, Sequencing, and Sound Synthesis

2

Music electives

5-13

Students in the Flexible Music Concentration will take:

2 semesters of MUS 378, for 1 credit each 

8 additional credits of Music electives (MUS XXX), including courses, lessons, and/or ensembles beyond the basic requirements. These are not outlined in the course list, due to the numerous options available.

Flexible Music Concentration: Ensembles

Students in the Flexible Music Concentration will take 4 additional credits of Music ensembles from the course range MUS 14X.

Music with an External Minor (18 credits)

Students pursing the option of Music with an External Minor will complete 18 credits, as required by their selected Minor outside of the Music Department.

Additional Requirements

All students in the BA in Music program with concentrations in Performance, Theory/Composition, and Jazz Studies must successfully pass the Piano Proficiency as detailed. Students doing an external Minor, the Music Technology Concentration, and the Flexible Music Concentration do not have to pass the piano proficiency. 

Total Credit Hours: 60

Note: Students enrolled in MUS 177 must pay an extra fee of $200 each semester. Students enrolled in MUS 178, MUS 278, MUS 378, or MUS 478 must pay an extra fee of $400 each semester. This fee is non-refundable and subject to change. All students enrolled in MUS 178, MUS 278, MUS 378, or MUS 478 must perform in one student recital per year.

All music majors are required to enroll in MUS 090 every semester.

All students must be enrolled in a major ensemble every semester in which they are enrolled as full-time music major. All part-time students must be enrolled in a major ensemble for six semesters. The Department of Music reserves the right to assign students to major ensembles.

The piano proficiency exam may be taken a total of four times, and students must demonstrate a minimum proficiency in all 8 categories to pass. Most students should begin taking this exam during their sophomore year. 

The piano proficiency exam consists of the following:

  • Playing major and harmonic minor scales (up to 4 sharps and flats), two octaves, hands together;
  • Playing a prepared intermediate-level piece  from the recommended list, piece using a score;
  • Playing a prepared intermediate-level piece  from the recommended list, memorized;
  • Playing the Star-Spangled Banner;
  • Harmonizing a simple melody;
  • Transposing the same melody up or down a major/minor second; 
  • Sight-reading a simple piano piece; and
  • Sight-reading a simple accompaniment.