Music | Bachelor of Arts: Performing Arts (Music)
Interested in a variety of musical experiences and topics? The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree is a liberal arts degree for students who desire to pursue music studies combined with a second area of study. While not a professional music degree, students will find flexibility in the program to develop practical, innovative, creative, and synthesizing abilities that can be applied to a variety of careers and/or graduate programs.
FHSU is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
Program Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34 | |
| Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement | 10 | |
| Required Courses | ||
| Performing Arts Core | 12 | |
| Music Core Curriculum | 22 | |
| Directed Choices | ||
| Applied Lessons | 4 | |
| Large Ensemble | 4 | |
| Directed Electives | 4 | |
| Open Electives 1 | 30 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Open electives are the credit hours required to reach a minimum of 120 total hours and 45 upper division hours. The number listed assumes all courses are completed at FHSU as listed. This number may vary if students transfer courses, or have individual substitutions allowed. Students should speak with their advisor if either situation applies to determine if the number will vary, and to ensure they enroll in a minimum of 45 upper division hours.
Students entering within 1 year of high school graduation will take UNIV 101 Freshman Seminar and may apply that hour in the open elective category.
Program Requirements
General Education
All undergraduate degrees require completion of the Kansas Systemwide General Education.
Courses identified with GE on this page may satisfy a general education requirement in addition to the identified degree requirement. Students who apply a degree requirement to satisfy a general education requirement will typically add an equal number of hours to the university elective category. This flexibility may allow you to complete a minor or certificate within the 120 hour degree. Transfer students are especially encouraged to select these courses in completing General Education requirements to maximize the likelihood of completing the degree with 120 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34-35 | |
Effective in Fall 2025 the math pathway course identified below is required for this degree.
The General Education Math Pathways course identified for this major is MATH 101 Contemporary Mathematics . All students pursuing this degree program will be required to complete this course or the corequisite support course. Students who place into a higher level math course may be able to satisfy this requirement; consult with your Academic Advisor for additional information.
Placement measures for MATH 101 Contemporary Mathematics include:
- Math ACT: 19 or higher OR
- Math SAT: 510 or higher OR
- ALEKS PPL: 30 or higher OR
- Accuplacer QAS: 255 or higher OR
- HS GPA and Course Grade: 3.00 cumulative GPA (unweighted) and C- or higher in Second Semester Algebra 2 or Integrated Math 3 OR
- Institutional Measure
Students who do not meet any of the placement measures listed above will need to register for the corequisite support course: MATH 100 Contemporary Mathematics with Review
Students can satisfy the Art and Humanities area of the general education curriculum (6 hours) with courses specifically required in the major.
BA Language Requirement
All FHSU students pursuing a BA degree are required to take two consecutive non-English language classes. These classes total 10 hours at FHSU. Courses accepted in transfer must be a minimum of 8 credit hours and determined to be equivalent to the FHSU sequence or additional credit hours must be taken. Students taking beginning Spanish or French classes may be able to apply the first class to the Arts and Humanities area of the general education requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement | 10 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Performing Arts Core | ||
| MUS 161 | Listening to Music GE | 3 |
| or MUS 192 | Music Styles and Context | |
| MUS 361 | World Music | 3 |
| THTR 120 | Introduction to Theatre GE | 3 |
| COMM 125 | Introduction to Motion Pictures GE | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music Core | ||
| MUS 121 | Group Piano I | 1 |
| MUS 122 | Group Piano II | 1 |
| MUS 181 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 182 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| MUS 183 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 184 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| MUS 291 | Rock Music Styles | 3 |
| MUS 491 | Music History I | 3 |
| MUS 492 | Music History II | 3 |
| MUS 391 | Jazz | 3 |
| Total Hours | 22 | |
Ensembles & Applied Lessons
All students must complete 4 credit hours of ensemble credit. Students must participate in ensembles for 4 semesters. Students also take lessons each semester and must complete 4 credit hours in Applied Lessons. They take the lower division lessons for the first two years, and upper division lessons the second two years. Specific registrations are noted in the areas when required for the concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ensembles | 4 | |
| Concert Choir | ||
| FHSU Bands | ||
| Symphonic Band/Wind Ensemble | ||
| Hays Symphony | ||
| Applied Lessons II | 4 | |
| Applied Lessons II: Bassoon | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Cello | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Clarinet | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Double Bass | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Electric Bass | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Euphonium | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Flute | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Guitar | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Harpsichord | ||
| Applied Lessons: Horn | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Lute | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Oboe | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Organ | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Percussion | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Piano | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Saxophone | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Trombone | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Trumpet | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Tuba | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Violin | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Viola | ||
| Applied Lessons II | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Voice | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music Directed Electives | 4 | |
| Select four credit hours from the following: | ||
| Jazz Improvisation I | ||
| Music Theory III | ||
| Aural Skills III | ||
| Music Theory IV | ||
| Aural Skills IV | ||
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts Degree Language Requirement | ||
| Two consecutive semesters of a non-English Language | ||
| All bachelor degrees require: | ||
| GPA of 2.0 on FHSU courses & 2.0 on all coursework (Higher program requirements prevail over the 2.0 when set) | ||
| A minimum of 30 hours earned from FHSU with a grade of D, C, B, or A | ||
| Successful completion of an upper division Writing and Information Literacy course (Most majors contain a course designated) | ||
| A minimum of 45 hours of recognized upper division credit | ||
| A minimum of 120 hours of recognized college credit | ||
| Sophomore | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| Modern Languages | 5 | |
| SGE050 - Social Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Personal and Professional Development | ||
| FIN 205 | Principles of Personal Finance 1, GE | 3 |
| Directed Electives | 2 | |
| MUS 2XX | 1 | |
| MUS 6XX | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Modern Languages | 5 | |
| SGE050 - Social Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE040 - Natural Physical Science Discipline Area | 4 | |
| MUS 2XX | 1 | |
| MUS 6XX | 1 | |
| Directed Electives | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| MUS 361 | World Music | 3 |
| BCOM 201 | Introduction to Corporate Communication | 3 |
| INF 346 | Beginning Video Production | 3 |
| MGT 301 | Management Principles | 3 |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMM 125 | Introduction to Motion Pictures | 3 |
| MUS 291 | Rock Music Styles | 3 |
| MUS 271 | Songwriting | 3 |
| ENTR 301 | Discovering Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| INF 348 | Beginning Audio Production | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| MUS 391 | Jazz | 3 |
| MKT 610 | Social Media Marketing | 3 |
| INF 322 | Topics in Informatics | 3 |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Writing & Information Literacy Requirement | 3 | |
| MUS 388 | Advanced Music Technology | 3 |
| MUS 684 | Literature | 3 |
| MUS 677 | Internship in Music | 3 |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| COMM 100 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
| MUS 121 | Group Piano I | 1 |
| MUS 181 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 182 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| MUS 2XX | 1 | |
| MUS 6XX | 1 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| SGE030 - Math Statistics Discipline Area | 3 | |
| THTR 120 | Introduction to Theatre | 3 |
| MUS 122 | Group Piano II | 1 |
| MUS 184 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| MUS 161 or MUS 192 |
Listening to Music or Music Styles and Context |
3 |
| MUS 2XX | 1 | |
| MUS 6XX | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Spring | ||
| Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement - suggested Gen Ed | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Suggested General Education course that also fulfills a major requirement
Academic Degree Maps are term-by-term sample course plans that specify milestones, courses, and special requirements that are necessary for facilitating on-time completion. Degree Maps are examples and are not prescriptive. Individualized choices such as concentration options, transfer credits, optional minors, advisory programs (certificates), etc. can alter the recommended coursework. Course offerings are subject to change. Students should consult with their academic advisors for additional guidance on course planning.
To determine courses to take in the directed choices (often listed as Program Elective Course) and directed elective course blocks see the overview tab for courses. Open electives indicate the student is free to choose courses from any subject, but students should discuss with their advisor how many of these hours must be upper division. To locate approved courses in General Education areas (Undergraduate Programs) see the general education section of the catalog.
The undergraduate course maps typically advise the most efficient route for students to complete the general education requirements. Courses that are required in the major may be listed as fulfilling relevant general education requirements. This will result in more open elective course hours in some maps than is listed on the degree overview page.