Bachelor of Arts in Music
Program Coordinator: Dr. Nate Jernigan
Major Overview
The Music major provides the foundation for those students who are preparing for a ministry in music or worship leadership. The major is composed of 54 semester hours of church music and worship courses but no minor. This major will qualify a student to pursue a variety of courses in the graduate program, including the Master of Divinity and a Master of Music in Church Music. This major is only available at the New Orleans campus.
Program Requirements
General Education Core (30 hours)
COURSE | HOURS |
Introduction to College and Vocation | 3 |
English Composition | 3 |
Research and Writing | 3 |
Natural Science or Mathematics: Contemporary Math OR Intro to Statistics OR College Algebra | 3 |
Social or Behavioral Science: Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
Humanities or Fine Arts: Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
Theological and Ethical Classics | 3 |
Philosophical and Scientific Classics | 3 |
Political and Social Classics | 3 |
Religious and Cultural Classics | 3 |
Christian Foundation Core (30 hours)
COURSE | HOURS |
Interpreting the Bible | 3 |
Old Testament Survey | 3 |
New Testament Survey | 3 |
Christian Doctrine | 3 |
Survey of Church History 1 OR 2 | 3 |
Introduction to Discipleship | 3 |
Introduction to Evangelism | 3 |
Introduction to Mission | 3 |
Introduction to Counseling | 3 |
Introduction to Worship | 3 |
Music Major (54 hours)
Basic Musicianship COURSE | HOURS |
Music Fundamentals 1 | 3 |
Music Fundamentals 2 | 3 |
Music Fundamentals 3 | 3 |
Music Fundamentals 4 | 3 |
Music History and Literature 1 | 3 |
Music History and Literature 2 | 3 |
Song Writing in the Church | 3 |
Music Arranging and Orchestration | 2 |
Worship Education COURSE | HOURS |
Worship Ensemble Leadership | 3 |
Worship Planning | 3 |
Teaching Music in the Church | 3 |
Worship Ministry Practicum | 3 |
Worship Ministry Discipleship | 1 |
Performance and Ensemble COURSE | HOURS |
Performance * | 10 |
Ensembles | 8 |
Free Electives (6 hours)
Total (120 hours)
* Program Note: Performance credit includes a capstone recital or paper requirement.
Additional Program Requirements
At the end of the second year and 4 hours of private study in their area of concentration, all students will take a recital proficiency exam (vocal, instrumental, etc.) in order to continue in their field of concentration. The recital proficiency exam will be held during the end-of-semester juries. The student must demonstrate sufficient ability in critical areas of the concentration in order to proceed toward recital.
Students passing the proficiency may continue in their studies under the present program, working toward their senior recital. Students unable to meet recital proficiency requirements will have one additional opportunity to meet these requirements at the beginning of the following semester. Students unable to meet recital proficiency requirements will be required to take 6 hours of music related course work approved by a Music faculty member of Leavell College and moved to the non-recital track.
Students completing the non-recital track of the Bachelor of Music degree will be required to enroll in MUED4001 Senior Music Ministry Paper. The topic of the writing project must be approved by the Leavell College music faculty representative. All students must receive a “C” or higher in MUED4001 to graduate. No credit hours are received for MUED4001.
Students may transfer credit for Music Theory and Music History courses taken at other institutions in which the grade received is a “C” or higher and upon successful completion of the respective proficiency exam. If the transfer student is beyond the second year of study and has completed the 4 hours of study in the area of concentration, the student will take the recital proficiency exam during regular juries. Upon approval, the student will continue toward recital as in the present program. If the student is unable to pass the recital proficiency exam, the student will be subject to the same options before mentioned.
Students completing the non-recital track are encouraged to continue their studies in the Master of Arts in Worship Leading or the Master of Divinity in Worship Ministry degree programs. Only those students completing the recital track may continue toward the Master of Music in Church Music degree and the Master of Divinity in Church Music. Students are encouraged to check the Music Handbook for further explanation about degree requirements.
Recital Laboratory
All students must take at least 6 semesters of MUSS 4001 Recital Laboratory (noncredit).
Piano Proficiency
All students must pass the undergraduate proficiency exam. Information regarding the piano proficiency is located in the Music Student Handbook, which may be obtained in the Music Division Office.
Voice Proficiency
All students will be required to sing two songs, in English, from memory, as an entrance examination. Songs should be of contrasting styles.