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:
- Theory I and II (MUSC 154 and MUSC 164)
- Musicianship I, II, III, and IV (MUSC 153, MUSC 163, MUSC 353, and MUSC 363)
- Introduction to Piano and Keyboard Skills I (MUSC 100 and MUSC 118)
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 118 | Keyboard Skills I 1 | 1 |
| or MUSC 261 | Keyboard Sight Reading I | |
| MUSC 119 | Keyboard Skills II 1 | 1 |
| or MUSC 262 | Keyboard Sight Reading II | |
| MUSC 145 | Applied Music 2 | 4 |
| MUSC 153 | Musicianship I 3 | 1 |
| MUSC 154 | Theory I 4 | 3 |
| MUSC 160 | Essential Technologies for Musicians I | 1 |
| MUSC 163 | Musicianship II 3 | 1 |
| MUSC 164 | Theory II 4 | 3 |
| MUSC 170 | Essential Technologies for Musicians II | 1 |
| MUSC 200 | Performing Arts Forum 5 | 2 |
| MUSC 275 | Music Area Seminar 6 | 0 |
| MUSC 315 | History of Western Art Music I: Medieval through Baroque | 3 |
| MUSC 316 | History of Western Art Music II: Classical through Romantic | 3 |
| MUSC 343 | Form and Analysis | 2 |
| MUSC 353 | Musicianship III 3 | 1 |
| MUSC 354 | Theory III 4 | 3 |
| MUSC 363 | Musicianship IV 3 | 1 |
| MUSC 365 | History and Analysis of 20th Century Music | 3 |
| MUSC 445 | Applied Music 7 | 4 |
| BBST 4658 | Integration Seminar: Redeeming Culture Through Music 8 | 3 |
| 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 Courses | 9 | |
| 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 | ||
or MUSC 002 | Music Ensemble | |
or MUSC 003 | Symphony Orchestra | |
or MUSC 007 | Jazz Ensemble | |
or MUSC 008 | Symphonic Winds | |
or MUSC 010 | Vocal Jazz Ensemble | |
or MUSC 011 | University Chorus | |
or MUSC 012 | Women's Chorus | |
or MUSC 013 | Worship and Popular Music Ensemble | |
or MUSC 014 | Men's Chorus | |
or MUSC 390 | Opera and Musical Production | |
| Introduction to Music Technology | ||
| Music Production I | ||
| Applied Music | ||
or MUSC 445 | 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 | 68 | |
| Total Credits | 124 | |
- 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 385, MUSC 420, or MUSC 430.
String students must take MUSC 430.
Voice students must choose 4 credits from MUSC 156, MUSC 157, MUSC 420, or MUSC 430.
Concentration
Commercial Music
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 102 | Voice Class 1 | 1 |
| MUSC 115 | History of Rock: A Social and Musical Revolution | 3 |
| MUSC 118 | Keyboard Skills I 2 | 1 |
| MUSC 119 | Keyboard Skills II 2 | 1 |
| MUSC 126 | Introduction to Music Technology | 2 |
| MUSC 127 | Music Production I | 2 |
| MUSC 145 | Applied Music 3 | 6 |
| MUSC 153 | Musicianship I 4 | 1 |
| MUSC 154 | Theory I 5 | 3 |
| MUSC 160 | Essential Technologies for Musicians I | 1 |
| MUSC 163 | Musicianship II 4 | 1 |
| MUSC 164 | Theory II 5 | 3 |
| MUSC 200 | Performing Arts Forum 6 | 2 |
| MUSC 275 | Music Area Seminar 7 | 0 |
| MUSC 316 | History of Western Art Music II: Classical through Romantic | 3 |
| MUSC 347 | Music Production II | 2 |
| MUSC 353 | Musicianship III 4 | 1 |
| MUSC 354 | Theory III 5 | 3 |
| MUSC 367 | Pop Theory for Worship and Commercial Music | 2 |
| MUSC 368 | Pop Theory II for Worship and Commercial Music | 2 |
| MUSC 435 | Career Skills for the Entrepreneurial Musician | 2 |
| MUSC 445 | Applied Music 8 | 10 |
| MUSC 490 | Senior Recital | 0 |
| BBST 4658 | Integration Seminar: Redeeming Culture Through Music 9 | 3 |
| 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 | 68 | |
| Total Credits | 131 | |
- 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
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.