Bachelor of Arts: Music
VCU
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Music is designed for students who want a degree that combines a breadth of general studies with a major in music. Included are courses in basic theory, aural skills, applied performance, music history and foreign language, as well as music and open electives.
The Bachelor of Arts in Music program prepares students for wide variety of professional and entrepreneurial careers in music or interdisciplinary fields as well as post-graduate study in an area of chosen specialization. VCU Music graduates utilize their skills and musical knowledge in various fields including music publishing, music criticism, arts administration, performance, teaching, songwriting, film scoring, arranging, conducting, music therapy, concert management and promotion, audio consulting, and media production.
- Market Research Analyst in Music Industry
- Music Editor
- Music Journalist
- Music Program Coordinator
- Musician
- Showroom Coordinator
- Composer
- Music Director
- Music Therapist
- Secondary School Teacher
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
Successful outcome on audition with VCU music faculty
- MATH 131
- Core only
- Yes
- Yes
- 2.0
Bachelor of Arts: Music
Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Fine Arts: Music)
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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Explore | Year 1 |
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Experience | Year 2 |
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MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Attend Tyler Orientation.
- Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
- Register for SDV course.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
- Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
- Apply to the John Tyler Pathways Program.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the VCU Arts application process for VCU.
- Review the Music department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers.
- Attend an event sponsored by the Music department.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
- Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
- Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Browse careers related to Music through the career coach.
- Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Use the career coach to take a career assessment.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Understand how you will fund your education. Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Meet with your academic advisor.
- Use Navigate to remain on your pathway.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
- Explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Explore the Music department website to become familiar with the B.A. degree.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Review VCU Arts application information and schedule an audition date for prospective music transfer students.
- Schedule a "Shadow a Student" day at VCU.
- Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a current issue through ConnectVA or HandsOnRVA.
- Attend an event sponsored by the Music department.
- Research housing for next year.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
- Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
- Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Find out about VCU REAL.
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
- Create, upload and update your resume to the College Central Network.
- Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Bachelor of Arts: Music
Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Fine Arts: Music)
Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
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SDV 100 | College Success Skills | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
ENG 111 | College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
MTH 154 | Quantitative Reasoning (or MTH 161 or MTH 263) | MATH 131 | 3 | General education |
MUS 111 | Music Theory I | MHIS 1XX | 4 | Elective |
MUS 141 | Class Piano I | APPM 173 | 2 | Major |
MUS 136 | Applied Music-Voice | APPL 3XX | 2 | Major |
Ensemble | Select 1: MUS 129, 137, 143, 144, 148 | APPM 3XX | 2 | Major |
ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
MUS 112 | Music Theory II | MHIS 1XX | 4 | Elective |
MUS 142 | Class Piano II | APPM 174 | 2 | Major |
Applied Music | Select 1: MUS 136, 145, 155, 165, 175, 185 | APPL/APPM | 2 | Major |
Ensemble | Select 1: MUS 137,143, 144, 148 | APPM 3XX | 1 | Major |
MUS 131 | Class Voice I | APPM 1XX | 2 | Elective |
History of PSY 230 | Select 1: HIS 111, 112, PSY 230 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
MUS 221 | History of Music I | MHIS 321 | 3 | Major |
MUS 211 | Advanced Music Theory | MHIS 2XX | 4 | Elective |
Applied Music | Select 1: MUS 136, 145, 155, 165, 175, 185 | APPM | 2 | Major |
Ensemble | Select 1: MUS 137, 143, 144, 148 | APPM 3XX | 1 | Major |
Laboratory Science | Laboratory Science (select 1): BIO 101,CHM 101, PHY 101 | VCU equivalent | 4 | General education |
MUS 222 | History of Music II | MHIS 322 | 3 | Major |
MUS 212 | Advanced Music Theory II | MHIS 2XX | 4 | Elective |
Applied Music | Select 1: MUS 136, 145, 155, 165 175, 185 | APPL/APPM | 2 | Major |
Ensemble | MUS 137, 143,144, or 148 | APPM 3XX | 1 | Major |
ENG | Any 200-level ENG literature course (select 1): ENG 241, 242, 243, 244, 251, 252 | ENGL | 3 | General education |
Ensemble | Select 1: MUS 143, 144, 148, 149 | APPM 3XX | 1 | Major |
Depending on the audition results and discretion of the VCU music department faculty, JTCC transfer courses in ensembles and private applied study that articulate as APPM/APPL music electives may be articulated as equivalent to required music courses. Students with transfer credit in MUS 111 and MUS 112 may choose to apply these courses towards required music theory courses or as electives, depending upon their academic needs. Students will consult with their academic advisor after acceptance into the department to determine which equivalencies, if any, will take place. | ||||
John Tyler credits transferred to VCU | 63 |
Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
---|---|---|---|
Foreign language through the 102 level. (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) | 0 to 8 | General education | |
Approved social/behavioral science course (see VCU advisor for course options) | 3 | General education | |
HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 | General education |
Two general education courses from the College of Humanities and Sciences | 6 | General education | |
APPL 311 | Applied Lessons | 2 | Major |
APPL 312 | Applied Lessons | 2 | Major |
APPL 313 | Applied Lessons | 2 | Major |
APPL 314 | Applied Lessons | 2 | Major |
APPM 199 | Recital/Convocation Attendance (four semesters) | 0 | Major |
APPM 299 | Master Class (four semesters) | 0 | Major |
APPM 492 | Senior Project: Portfolio Review (capstone) | 1 | Major |
MHIS 120 | Introduction to World Musical Styles | 2 | Major |
MHIS 145 | Theory and Aural Skills I | 4 | Major |
MHIS 146 | Theory and Aural Skills II | 4 | Major |
MHIS 245 | Theory and Aural Skills III | 4 | Major |
MHIS 256 | Musicianship Practicum | 2 | Major |
APPM | Ensemble requirement | 6 | Major |
Music electives | 9 | Major | |
Open electives | 7 | Elective | |
Credits completed at VCU | 57 | ||
Bachelor's degree total | 120 |