Students seeking a Bachelor’s degree in music may choose:

  • B.A. in Music
  • B.A. in Music Performance:  Vocal, Instrumental or Piano
  • B.S. in Music Education which leads to K-12 licensure in the State of Iowa
  • B.A. in Arts Management

All Bachelor’s degrees in music require completion of the Waldorf Core Curriculum. Exceptions and special requirements are listed within the major requirements of each concentration below. The Music Performance Major requires a minor in a second academic area. 

All music majors must participate in at least one ensemble each semester, engage in MSA applied music lessons and maintain a professional organization membership. All music majors, with the exception of Arts Management, must pass Piano Proficiencies. Those who have not passed piano proficiency exam are required to study piano until doing so. Placement in piano classes or applied lessons is at the discretion of the music department.

All majors will also perform at least one recital on their primary instrument (see major requirements for specifics).

This program is available on campus only.

Degree Requirements

Review the complete list of core requirements for this program.

Music Core for All Performance Emphasis and Music Education* - 42 Credits
Prefix Number Course Credit Hours
MUS 101 Theory I 3
MUS 102 Theory II 3
MUS 103 Aural Skills I 1
MUS 104 Aural Skills II 1
MSA 115 Piano Skills I 1
MSA 116 Piano Skills II 1
MSA 215 Piano Skills III 1
MSA 216 Piano Skills IV 1
MUS 201 Theory III 3
MUS 202 Theory IV 3
MUS 203 Aural Skills III 1
MUS 204 Aural Skills IV 1
MUS 215 Conductor’s Workshop 2
MUS 216 Arranging & Technology 1
MUS 300 World Music 3
MUS 301 Music History: Medieval & Renaissance 3
MUS 302 Music History: Baroque & Classical 3
MUS 318 Music History: Romantic & Contemporary 3
MSA N/A Applied Music Lessons 7-16

*All majors must pass the Piano Proficiency Exam and participate in an Ensemble every semester (except when student teaching).

Vocal Performance Requirements* - 10 Credits
Prefix Number Course Credit Hours
MUS 111A Diction for Singers: English 0.5
MUS 211B Diction for Singers: Italian 0.5
MUS 311A Diction for Singers: German 0.5
MUS 411B Diction for Singers: French 0.5
MUS 315 Conductor’s Workshop II 2
MUS 331 Vocal Pedagogy 3
MUS 382 Seminar: Choral Literature 1
MUS 420 Vocal Literature 2

*An academic minor is also required. A humanities minor or theatre minor is recommended.

Instrumental Performance Requirements* - 10 Credits
Prefix Number Course Credit Hours
MUS 316 Conductor’s Workshop III 2
MUS 384 Seminar: Instrumental Ensemble Literature 1
MSA 333 Instrumental Pedagogy 3
MUS 422 Instrumental Literature 2
MUS 470 Instrumental Repair & Maintenance 1
MUE 363 Voice Skills 1

*An academic minor is also required. A humanities minor is recommended.

Piano Performance Requirements* - 12-13 Credits
Prefix Number Course Credit Hours
MSA 225 Collaborative Piano 2
MUS 315 Conductor’s Workshop II: Choral 2
MUS 382 Seminar: Choral Literature 1
  OR    
MUS 316 Conductor’s Workshop III: Instrumental 2
MUS 384 Seminar: Instrumental Ensemble Literature 1
MUS 332 Piano Pedagogy 3
MUS 421 Piano Literature (guided study) 2
MUE 363 Voice Skills 1

*An academic minor is also required. A humanities minor is recommended.

Music Education Requirements - 7 Credits
Prefix Number Course Credit Hours
MUS 315 Conductor’s Workshop II 2
MUS 316 Conductor’s Workshop III 2
MUS 382 Choral Ensemble Literature 1
MUS 384 Instrumental Ensemble Literature 1
One course from the following:
MSA 313 Half Recital, Voice 1
MSA 314 Half Recital, Piano 1
MSA 316 Half Recital, Instrumental 1
Professional Education Core for Music Education - 48-49 Credits
Prefix Number Course Credit Hours
PSY 144 Human Growth and Development 3
EDU 201 Introduction to Teaching 3
EDU 202 Introduction to Teaching Clinical Experience 0
EDU 230 Educational Media and Computers 1
EDU 240 Educational Psychology 3
EDU 395 Content Area Reading Methods 3
EDU 400 Ethics and Religious Diversity 3
EDU 406 Elementary Music Student Teaching 6
EDU 411 Multicultural Practicum 2
EDU 421 Secondary Music Student Teaching 6
EDU 430 Capstone 1
EDU 460 Developing Classroom Community – Elementary 2
  OR    
EDU 465 Developing Classroom Community – Secondary 3
MUE 341 Methods: General Music in the Public Schools K-12 Assessment 4
MUE 441 Methods: Performance Ensembles in the Schools & Assessment 3
MUE 360 Percussion Skills 1
MUE 361 Woodwind Skills 1
MUE 362 Brass Skills 1
MUE 363 Vocal Skills 1
SPED 220 Exceptional Learners 3
Arts Management Requirements* - 45 Credits
Prefix Number Course Credit Hours
Prefix Number Course Credit Hours
ART 311 History of Modern Art 3
BUS 151 Computer Applications 3
BUS 220 Principles of Accounting 4
BUS 300 Principles of Management 3
BUS 322 Marketing 3
BUS 326 Organizational Theory and Behavior 3
COM 101 Digital Core 3
MUS 101 Theory I 3
MUS 102 Theory II 3
MUS 103 Aural Skills I 1
MUS 104 Aural Skills II 1
MUS 300 World Music 3
MUS 340 History of Rock 3
MUS 302 Music History II 3
MUS 434 Arts Management Internship 6
One course from the following:
MUS 301 Music History: Medieval & Renaissance 3
MUS 302 Music History: Baroque & Classical 3
MUS 318 Music History: Romantic & Contemporary 3

*The Art Management track does not need to complete the Music Core

Music Minor Requirements - 23 Credits
Prefix Number Course Credit Hours
MUS 101 Theory I 3
MUS 102 Theory II 3
MUS 103 Aural Skills I 1
MUS 104 Aural Skills II 1
MSA 115 Piano Skills I 1
MSA 116 Piano Skils II 1
MUS N/A Electives 6
MSA N/A Applied Lessons (NO more than two instruments) 2
MSA N/A Major Ensembles 2
One course from the following:
MUS 300 World Music 3
MUS 301 Music History: Medieval & Renaissance 3
MUS 302 Music History: Baroque & Classical 3
MUS 318 Music History: Romantic & Contemporary 3
MUS 340 History of Rock 3