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Courses | B.A. in Music

Below are the course requirements for this academic program. In addition to these program-specific requirements, all majors include Biola's traditional undergraduate core curriculum. For more program details, including a sample course sequence, visit Biola's academic catalog.

Transfer of Credits

Most courses taken at other regionally accredited colleges and universities in the United States will be accepted on a comparable course basis. The following core courses will transfer directly:

In order to pass out of Theory III (MUSC 354) or Keyboard Skills II (MUSC 119), the student must display proficiency by achieving favorable scores on the Theory and Keyboard placement surveys.  

No credit(s) will be given for waived courses. Waiver of courses on the basis of placement surveys without comparable prior course credit will increase elective credits required.

Credit for courses taken at a non-accredited college or university will be granted only through placement or challenge surveys.

Applied Music

In order to graduate, music students must reach primary applied proficiency level standards designated for each degree program. Applied Music lessons are guided by faculty or studio artists who have expertise and professional experience in either the voice or instrument under study, or in composition. Studio artists are affiliated with Biola via “special employee” contracts and thus do not undergo the same process for hire as do faculty. The studio artists are all highly competent individuals who appreciate Biola and endorse the goals of the Conservatory. For more information, see the Conservatory Office.

GPA Requirements

Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in the major and receive a minimum grade of C in each required music course.

Curriculum Requirements

Integration Seminar Requirement

All students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts music degree program are required to take a Biblical Studies Integration Seminar. This requirement must be fulfilled by taking BBST 4658 Integration Seminar: Redeeming Culture Through Music.

Music majors in the Bachelor of Arts program meet the Core Curriculum requirement of 6 credits in fine arts and integration seminar within the major.
MUSC 118Keyboard Skills I 11
or MUSC 261 Keyboard Sight Reading I
MUSC 119Keyboard Skills II 11
or MUSC 262 Keyboard Sight Reading II
MUSC 145Applied Music 24
MUSC 153Musicianship I 31
MUSC 154Theory I 43
MUSC 160Essential Technologies for Musicians I1
MUSC 163Musicianship II 31
MUSC 164Theory II 43
MUSC 170Essential Technologies for Musicians II1
MUSC 200Performing Arts Forum 52
MUSC 275Music Area Seminar 60
MUSC 315History of Western Art Music I: Medieval through Baroque3
MUSC 316History of Western Art Music II: Classical through Romantic3
MUSC 343Form and Analysis2
MUSC 353Musicianship III 31
MUSC 354Theory III 43
MUSC 363Musicianship IV 31
MUSC 365History and Analysis of 20th Century Music3
MUSC 445Applied Music 74
BBST 4658Integration Seminar: Redeeming Culture Through Music 83
Ensemble Courses
Select 6 credits from the following:6
Biola Chorale
Music Ensemble
Symphony Orchestra
Jazz Ensemble
Symphonic Winds
Handbell Choir
Vocal Jazz Ensemble
University Chorus
Women's Chorus
Worship and Popular Music Ensemble
Men's Chorus
Elective Courses9
Theory & Conducting - Select 3-4 credits from the following courses:
Introduction to Composition
Basic Conducting
Modal and Tonal Counterpoint
Orchestration
Analysis of Post-Tonal Music
Composing for New Media: Advanced Orchestration, Score Preparation
Career Development - Select 2-4 credits from the following courses:
See Special Area Requirements 9
Lyric Diction I
Lyric Diction II
Piano Symposium
Music Literature: Major Performance Area
Pedagogy: Major Performance Area
Career Skills for the Entrepreneurial Musician
Remaining credits may come from:
Biola Chorale
Music Ensemble
Symphony Orchestra
Jazz Ensemble
Symphonic Winds
Vocal Jazz Ensemble
University Chorus
Women's Chorus
Worship and Popular Music Ensemble
Men's Chorus
Opera and Musical Production
Introduction to Music Technology
Music Production I
Applied Music
Applied Music
Performing Arts Forum (up to 2 credits)
Music Education: Brass
Music Education: Percussion
Music Education: Strings
Music Education: Woodwinds
Collaborative Piano
Pop Theory for Worship and Commercial Music
Pop Theory II for Worship and Commercial Music
Composing for New Media: Film, TV, and Audio Production
Composing for New Media: Sound Design, Recording Techniques
Composing for New Media: Scoring for Film and Video Games, Audio Production
Special Studies in Music (Special Studies in Ethnomusicology; Performace Helath; Music History; or Preparation for Graduate Studies)
Music Cultures of the World
Program Course Requirements: 56 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 1068
Total Credits124
1

Keyboard principal students are exempt from MUSC 118 and MUSC 119. Keyboardists must take MUSC 261 and MUSC 262.

Students may take the Keyboard Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of the Keyboard requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in MUSC 100 Introduction to Piano.

2

Must be taken for a total of 4 credits through proficiency: level 224.

3

Students may take the Musicianship Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of the Musicianship requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in MUSC 153 Musicianship I. Musicianship courses already taken at the college/university level will directly transfer for credit.

4

Students may take the Theory Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of their Theory requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in MUSC 098 Introduction to Theory. The first two semesters of Written Theory courses already taken at the college/university level will directly transfer for credit.

5

4 semesters of Performing Arts Forum required for graduation; at least 2 semesters must be taken for 1 credit.

6

Taken every semester in conjunction with Applied Music (MUSC 145 or MUSC 445).

7

Must be taken for a total of 4 credits through proficiency: level 428.

8

Fulfills the BBST 465 Biblical and Theological Studies Integration Seminar requirement.

9

Piano students must choose 3-4 credits from MUSC 385MUSC 420, or MUSC 430.

String students must take MUSC 430.

Voice students must choose 4 credits from MUSC 156MUSC 157MUSC 420, or MUSC 430.

10

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

Concentration

Commercial Music

Music majors in the Bachelor of Arts program meet the Core Curriculum requirement of 6 credits in fine arts and integration seminar within the major.
Concentration Courses
MUSC 102Voice Class 11
MUSC 115History of Rock: A Social and Musical Revolution3
MUSC 118Keyboard Skills I 21
or MUSC 261 Keyboard Sight Reading I
MUSC 119Keyboard Skills II 21
or MUSC 262 Keyboard Sight Reading II
MUSC 126Introduction to Music Technology2
MUSC 127Music Production I2
MUSC 145Applied Music 36
MUSC 153Musicianship I 41
MUSC 154Theory I 53
MUSC 160Essential Technologies for Musicians I1
MUSC 163Musicianship II 41
MUSC 164Theory II 53
MUSC 200Performing Arts Forum 62
MUSC 275Music Area Seminar 70
MUSC 316History of Western Art Music II: Classical through Romantic3
MUSC 347Music Production II2
MUSC 353Musicianship III 41
MUSC 354Theory III 53
MUSC 367Pop Theory for Worship and Commercial Music2
MUSC 368Pop Theory II for Worship and Commercial Music2
MUSC 370Junior Recital0
MUSC 435Career Skills for the Entrepreneurial Musician2
MUSC 445Applied Music 810
MUSC 490Senior Recital0
BBST 4658Integration Seminar: Redeeming Culture Through Music 93
Ensemble Courses
Select 8 credits from the following:8
Biola Chorale
Music Ensemble
Symphony Orchestra
Jazz Ensemble
Symphonic Winds
Handbell Choir
Vocal Jazz Ensemble
University Chorus
Women's Chorus
Worship and Popular Music Ensemble
Men's Chorus
Concentration Course Requirements: 63 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 1068
Total Credits131
1

Voice principal students are exempt from MUSC 102 and are required to complete 62 concentration course credits and a total of 130 credits for the degree.

2

Keyboard principal students are exempt from MUSC 118 and MUSC 119. Keyboardists must take MUSC 261 and MUSC 262.

Students may take the Keyboard Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of the Keyboard requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in MUSC 100 Introduction to Piano.

3

Must be taken for a total of 6 credits through proficiency: level 223.

4

Students may take the Musicianship Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of the Musicianship requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in MUSC 153 Musicianship I. Musicianship courses already taken at the college/university level will directly transfer for credit.

5

Students may take the Theory Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of their Theory requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in MUSC 098 Introduction to Theory. The first two semesters of Written Theory courses already taken at the college/university level will directly transfer for credit.

6

4 semesters of Performing Arts Forum required for graduation; at least 2 semesters must be taken for 1 credit.

7

Taken every semester in conjunction with Applied Music (MUSC 145 or MUSC 445).

8

Must be taken for a total of 10 credits through proficiency: level 428.

9

​Fulfills the BBST 465 Biblical and Theological Studies Integration Seminar requirement.

10

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

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