Music Degree Plan

Degree Options

  • Bachelor of Music
  • Music Education: Choral, Instrumental, General
  • Performance: Instrumental (including jazz), Vocal
  • Composition
  • Music Business
  • Bachelor of Arts in Music
  • Music and Pre-Health Professions

Minors

  • Music
  • Jazz Studies
  • Music Technology
  • Program Strengths
  • Education-based, award-winning faculty members who are active as presenters, clinicians, and guest conductors. Several faculty have significant K-12 teaching experience.
  • Award-winning performers and composers, including American Prize and London International Prize winners and Fulbrighters
  • Active, supportive, and high-achieving student leadership
  • International collaborations throughout Europe, South America, and Asia
  • A Power Five athletic bands program including the Cougar Marching Band, WSU Basketball and Volleyball Pep Bands, WSU Women’s Basketball Drumline, and club activities including Winter Guard
  • WSU Recording label, featuring albums from national-level artists as well as faculty and students
  • Professional-quality recording studio, production shop, piano repair shop, and two concert venues including the historic Bryan Hall Theatre
  • Student internship and employment opportunities
  • Strong record of alumni career successes: high placement rate into teaching positions and graduate programs, national/international performers and competition winners

Ensembles

Chamber Music, Concert Choir, Cougar Marching Band, Crimson Ties World Music Ensemble, Drumline, Jazz Big Band and Combos, Opera Workshop, Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Treble Choir, University Singers, Wind Ensemble

Student Clubs

  • Allegro
  • Collegiate National Association for Music Education (CNAfME)
  • Music Teachers National Association Collegiate (MTNA)
  • Student National Association for the Teaching of Singing (SNATS)
  • Kappa Kappa Psi, Mu Phi Epsilon, Phi Mu Alpha, Tau Beta Sigma
  • Crimson Flutes, Double Reed Corp, Horn Society, Jazz Society, Low Brass Collective, Society of Composers

Requirements for Continuation in the Major

A student will be considered a music major after declaring their intent to the School of Music and successfully completing an audition into an applied studio.

Suggested Classes for First-Year Students

  • MUS 251: Materials and Structure of Music I
  • MUS 252: Applied Theory I
  • MUS 181: Class Piano I
    OR other keyboard course pending placement exam
  • Private lessons in primary instrument/voice
  • Approved ensemble
  • UCORE courses such as: ENG 101, HIST 105, [QUAN]

Suggested Classes for Transfer Students

Music theory placement is determined by transfer course credits, and the WSU Transfer Music Theory Exam. Placement in piano class will take place as needed after evaluation by piano faculty.

  • MUS 251: Materials and Structure of Music I
  • MUS 252: Applied Theory I
  • MUS 181: Class Piano I
    OR other keyboard course pending placement exam
  • MUS 164: Introduction to Music Technology
  • Private lessons in primary instrument/voice
  • Approved ensemble
  • UCORE courses based on completed transfer credit

Math Requirement

Any UCORE Math

Core Music Courses

  • MUS 164
  • MUS 251-254, 351-354
  • MUS 359, 360, 461
  • MUS 181, 182, 281 as needed for piano proficiency
  • Private lessons in primary instrument/voice
  • All music majors must be a member of a performing ensemble that is appropriate for their instrument and skill level.

Career Options

  • Teach music in universities, colleges, public schools, and private studios
  • Conduct professional, school, and community ensembles
  • Perform music professionally including concerts, theatrical productions, tours, shows, nightclub appearances, and recording sessions
  • Compose music for live performances, recordings, and multimedia
  • Work for music-oriented companies in music sales, for musical product and instrument manufacturers, in arts administration, and in music promotion, production, and management
  • Prepare for graduate studies in music and many fields outside of music

For more information

music.wsu.edu
music@wsu.edu
509-335-3898

Download this degree plan (PDF)

Advisors

Troy Bennefield
troy.bennefield@wsu.edu
Kimbrough 344
509-335-4545

Martin King
martin.king@wsu.edu
Kimbrough 466
509-335-8046