Undergraduate Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements
All music majors must complete the Queens College Pathways general education requirements. Four Pathways requirements can be fulfilled through courses required for the music major:
- College Writing 2 (CW2) is satisfied by a designated section of Music 121 (Writing About Music) restricted to music majors.
- World Cultures and Global Issues (WCGI) is satisfied by Music 246 (Music History I).
- Individual and Society (IS) is satisfied by Music 247 (Music History II).
- The Additional Core Course for the College Option is satisfied by Music 377 (Form and Analysis).
Please note that the Creative Expression (CE) requirement is not satisfied by Music 1 (Introduction to Music), a course intended for non-majors; music majors should elect an eligible course in art history, drama, dance, or any other CE course outside of music.
Students who have not already completed the Pathways foreign language requirement are encouraged to do so in German, French, or Italian.
Returning students subject to PLAS requirements (i.e. those who entered Queens College between Fall 2009 and Fall 2013) or LASAR (prior to Fall 2009) should consult an advisor at the School of Music.
Requirements for Specific Music Majors
In addition to the requirements above, students must fulfill the requirements for their specific major: BA in Music, BMus in Music Education, BMus in Performance, or 5-year BMus in Performance plus Teaching Certificate.
See also juries, departmental exams, and other non-curricular requirements.
BA in Music
4-year course planner for BA in General Music
4-year course planner for BA in Music with concentrations in Composition, Theory, or Music History
Core music curriculum required of all BA music majors:
- Music 187-188, 287-288, 387-388 (Individual Study in Performance I–VI)
- Music 121 (dedicated section restricted to music majors): Writing About Music
- Music 246: Music History I: Music from 1200 to 1750
- Music 247: Music History II: Music from 1750 to the Present
- Music 74-75: Piano Skills I-II
- Music 171-172, 271-272: Sight-Singing and Dictation I-II-III-IV
- or Music 371-372: Intensive Sight-Singing and Dictation
- Music 173-174, 273-274: Harmony, Counterpoint, and Keyboard Skills I-II-III-IV
- 4 semesters of large ensemble (Music 156, 158, 253, 258, 259, or 356)
- 2 semesters of a small ensemble (Music 68, 244, 2551, 2561, 2571, 291, or other courses by permission)
- 4 Listening Exams
- 6 semesters of Music 100 (Recital Attendance)
- Senior Concentration Exam
Additional requirement for General Music degree:
- Music 301W (Topics in Musicology) or 302W (Topics in Non-Western Music)
Additional requirements for Music History concentration:
- Music 301W (2 semesters on different topics) or Music 301W and 302W. If Music 302W is not elected, another course in non-Western music (such as Music 122) must be taken in addition to the courses listed here.
- Music 377 (Form and Analysis)
- Music 390 (Senior Project in Music History)
Additional requirements for Music Theory concentration:
- Music 301W: Topics in Musicology
- Music 373: Model Composition and Score Reading
- Music 374: Twentieth-Century Techniques
- Music 377: Musical Form and Analysis
Additional requirements for Composition concentration:
- Music 301W: Topics in Musicology
- Music 329: Composers’ Workshop
- Music 330: Undergraduate Composition Tutorial
- Music 373: Model Composition and Score Reading
- Music 374: Twentieth-Century Techniques
- Music 270 (Conducting I), 276 (Instrumentation), or 381 (Arranging and Composing)
Progress Evaluations (performance juries) are required each May for all BA students enrolled in individual lessons (Music 187-188, 287-288, 387-388). Three Progress Evaluations must be passed prior to graduation.
BMus in Music Education
4-year course planner for BMus in Music Education
There are two possible concentrations in the Music Education major: instrumental and choral. Students must select at least one concentration, but those wanting to obtain the broadest possible professional preparation may elect to take both sequences. See also the suggested course sequence for the Music Education program.
Core music curriculum required of all music education majors:
- Music 148-149, 248-249, 348-349 (Individual Study in Performance I–VI)
- Music 121 (dedicated section restricted to music majors): Writing About Music
- Music 246: Music History I: Music from 1200 to 1750
- Music 247: Music History II: Music from 1750 to the Present
- Music 122 (Writing Musical Culture) or 302W (Topics in Non-Western Music)
- Music 171-172, 271-272: Sight-Singing and Dictation I-II-III-IV
- or Music 371-372: Intensive Sight-Singing and Dictation
- Music 173-174, 273-274: Harmony, Counterpoint, and Keyboard Skills I-II-III-IV
- Music 374: Twentieth-Century Techniques
- Music 377: Musical Form and Analysis
- 7 semesters of large ensemble (Music 156, 158, 253, 258, 259, or 356)
- 4 Listening Exams
- 6 semesters of Music 100 (Recital Attendance)
- Senior Concentration Exam
The following music education courses are required for both the instrumental and choral concentrations.
- Music 270, 370: Conducting I-II
- Music 381: Composing and Arranging for School Ensembles
- SEYS 221: Human Development and Learning I**
- EECE 310W: Children in Cultural Contexts I: Child Development**
- EECE 340: The Early Development of Language and Literacy**
- or SEYS 340: Language, Literacy and Culture in Education**
- ECPSE 350: Foundations of Special Education (taken concurrently with Music 366)
** All School of Education courses require weekly observation/attendance visits at an elementary and/or secondary school.
The following music education courses are required for both the instrumental and choral concentrations.
- Music 267: Introduction to Music Education. Must precede all other music education courses (all courses listed below), with a minimum grade of B– required to continue as a music education major. The final exam for this class will include an interview with the music education faculty and a performance on your primary performance medium (instrument or choral) at the minimum level of a solid "A" for a NYSSMA level V piece or higher.
- Music 365: Seminar in Teaching Music: Elementary (Spring semester only)
- Music 366: Seminar in Teaching Music: Secondary (Fall semester only; taken after Music 365)
- Music 369: Student Teaching (requires minimum 3.0 in Music 365/366)
Additional music education courses for the instrumental concentration:
- Music 161: Group Instruction in Upper Strings
- Music 162: Group Instruction in Lower Strings (recommended)
- Music 163: Group Instruction in Woodwinds
- Music 167: Group Instruction in Brass
- Music 168: Group Instruction in Percussion
- Music 269: The School Instrumental Program (Music 161-168 should be taken before Music 269)
Additional music education courses for the choral concentration:
- Music 75: Piano Skills 2 (must have satisfied the requirements of MUS 74)
- Music 164: Group Instruction in Guitar
- Music 265: Applied Keyboard Skills
- Music 266: Vocal Pedagogy
- Music 268: The School Choral Program
In addition to the degree requirements listed here, students must pass three Progress Evaluations (performance juries) on their major instrument, plus three examinations in keyboard skills. The three Progress Evaluations, held each year in May, must be passed prior to student teaching.
BMus in Performance Program
4-year course planner for BMus Performance (Orchestral Instruments, Guitar, or Percussion)
4-year course planner for BMus Performance (Piano or Organ)
4-year course planner for BMus Performance (Voice)
Core music curriculum required of all performance majors:
- Music 151-152, 251-252, 351-352, 451-452 (Individual Study in Performance I–VIII)
- Music 121 (dedicated section restricted to music majors): Writing About Music
- Music 246: Music History I: Music from 1200 to 1750
- Music 247: Music History II: Music from 1750 to the Present
- Music 301W: Topics in Musicology
- Music 122 (Writing Musical Culture) or 302W (Topics in Non-Western Music)
- Music 74-75: Piano Skills I-II
- Music 171-172, 271-272: Sight-Singing and Dictation I-II-III-IV
- or Music 371-372: Intensive Sight-Singing and Dictation
- Music 173-174, 273-274: Harmony, Counterpoint, and Keyboard Skills I-II-III-IV
- Music 270: Conducting I
- Music 374: Twentieth-Century Techniques
- Music 377: Musical Form and Analysis
- 8 semesters of large ensemble (Music 156, 158, 253, 258, 259, or 356)
- 4 Listening Exams
- 6 semesters of Music 100 (Recital Attendance)
- Senior Concentration Exam
- Senior recital
Additional requirements for orchestral instruments, guitar, and percussion only:
- 6 semesters of Chamber Music (Music 2551) or other small ensembles (68, 244, 2571, 291) by permission)
- 6 semesters of Music 282 (Survey of Repertory) in the appropriate instrumental area. (Note: guitarists are exempted from Music 282.)
Additional requirements for piano majors only:
- 6 semesters of Music 282: Survey of Piano Repertory
- 4 semesters of Music 2551 (Chamber Music) or other small ensembles by permission
- 1 semester of Music 283: The Art of Keyboard Collaboration
- 2 semesters of Music 286: Practical Accompanying
- 1 additional semester of Music 2551 or 286
(Note: Organ and harpsichord majors follow a slightly modified version of these requirements. All keyboard performance majors are exempted from Music 74-75.)
Additional requirements for voice majors only:
- 4 semesters of Music 2561 (Opera Studio), 2551 (Chamber Music), or other small ensembles by permission
- 4 semesters of Music 282: Survey of Vocal Repertory
- Music 129, 130, 229, 230: Italian, German, French, and English Diction, respectively
Progress Evaluations (juries) are required each May for all BMus Performance majors. Students must pass three Progress Evaluations prior to scheduling the senior recital.
Bachelor of Music Degree with the Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certificate (5 years)
This program is for students who have been accepted into the BMus Performance program but also wish to pursue teacher certification. For the first two years, students follow the standard BMus Performance curriculum above, including the Pathways general-education requirements. Beginning in the sophomore or junior year, students add the music education sequence and School of Education courses required for certification. Typically, at least one additional year of study is required to fulfill all requirements. After four years, the student graduates with the Bachelor of Music degree and is automatically admitted to the advanced certificate program. For the fifth year, the student enrolls in the post-baccalaureate certificate program to complete the remaining requirements for initial certification, including student teaching in the final semester.