Music

Interim Department Chairperson: Roxanne Stevenson

The Department of Music offers a Bachelor of Arts in Music, a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in either gospel music or music production, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education K-12.

The department offers courses to all students to broaden their understanding and enjoyment of music as a fine art.

All students who qualify may participate for credit, or without credit, in the various performance groups sponsored by the department.

All students are encouraged to audition as early as possible for scholarship and financial aid consideration.

Admission to the department of music is contingent upon the successful completion of an instrumental, piano, or vocal audition and a written music theory placement examination. Entering students who do not meet the minimum standards to be music majors may be admitted conditionally. Students must remove identified deficiencies within the first year of matriculation before being fully admitted as music majors.

During enrollment in the university, all music majors are required to register for MUSM 1800 Performance Class. This zero-credit course is pass/fail and is based upon attendance at on-campus music recitals, concerts, or master classes. Full-time enrollment requires attendance at a minimum of ten scheduled music events. Part-time enrollment requires attendance at a minimum of five scheduled music events. Students may substitute a maximum of two off-campus events with appropriate documentation.

Students who have no keyboard experience will be expected to acquire some proficiency in piano prior to completion of 60 credit hours.

Completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Music Education qualifies students for an Illinois Special Professional Educator License (PEL) with an endorsement for teaching music grades K-12.

Licensure requires the successful completion of the ACT or SAT (see College of Education Handbook), Music content area test and the edTPA. The program meets Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) standards for music education.