Exploring Music Education at UNC Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill boasts a vibrant Department of Music, offering a comprehensive range of programs designed to cater to diverse musical interests and career aspirations. From undergraduate degrees to minors, the department provides a cutting-edge curriculum within a top-tier research university, fostering a tight-knit community of faculty, staff, and students from around the world. With multiple degree options and dozens of course offerings, the UNC Department of Music offers a wealth of musical resources for students looking to incorporate music into their educational careers.

Undergraduate Degree Programs: A Customizable Approach

The Department of Music offers two distinct undergraduate degree programs: the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Music and the Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.). These programs, along with two minor degree programs in music and musical theater performance, are designed with flexibility in mind, allowing students to customize their studies to emphasize specific areas of music or integrate their musical pursuits with other academic disciplines.

Bachelor of Arts in Music: Versatility and Interdisciplinary Study

The Bachelor of Arts in Music is a versatile degree designed for students who wish to combine their passion for music with studies in other fields. This program offers maximum flexibility, making it ideal for students pursuing double majors in areas such as biology, chemistry, history, economics, pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy, pre-dentistry, global studies, psychology, and more. With fewer course requirements than the Bachelor of Music degree, the B.A. in Music allows students to study music at the collegiate level while also pursuing another area of study. The B.A. requires at least 35 credit hours in music and at least 75 outside the major, with 120 total credit hours in the degree. Given the ample opportunity to explore the breadth of the University’s course offerings, many B.A.

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Music, students must fulfill several core requirements, including:

Foundations: MUSC 120 Foundations in Music.
Musicianship: MUSC 128 Improvisation Without Borders, plus one additional course chosen from MUSC 129 Aural-based Musicianship or MUSC 130 Tonal Musicianship Skills I.
Music Theory: Two courses chosen from MUSC 131 Tonal Theory I (requires a grade of C or better), MUSC 132 Tonal Theory II (requires a grade of C or better), MUSC 135 Jazz Theory, MUSC 137 Patterns in Music, MUSC 156 Beat Making Lab, MUSC 166 Introduction to Composition, MUSC 234 World Musics in Theory and Practice, or MUSC 381 Inside the Song: Analysis of Songcraft.
Critical Approaches to Music: MUSC 270 Critical Approaches to Music: Object Lessons, MUSC 271 Critical Approaches to Music: Critical Moves, or MUSC 351 Critical Approaches to Music: Guided Research.
Individual/Group Lessons: Chosen from MUSC 100 Individual Keyboard Lessons, MUSC 102 Individual Voice Lessons, MUSC 103 Individual String Lessons, MUSC 104 Individual Woodwind Lessons, MUSC 105 Individual Brass Lessons, MUSC 106 Individual Percussion Lessons, MUSC 107 Applied Instruction, MUSC 110 Group Lessons in Piano, MUSC 111 Group Lessons in Voice, MUSC 112 Group Lessons in Strings, MUSC 113 Group Lessons in Woodwinds, MUSC 114 Group Lessons in Brass, MUSC 115 Group Lessons in Percussion, MUSC 156 Beat Making Lab, MUSC 157 Rap Lab, MUSC 200 Advanced Individual Lessons in Keyboard, MUSC 202 Advanced Individual Lessons in Voice, MUSC 203 Advanced Individual Lessons in Strings, MUSC 204 Advanced Individual Lessons in Woodwinds, MUSC 205 Advanced Individual Lessons in Brass, MUSC 206 Advanced Individual Lessons in Percussion, MUSC 207 Advanced Applied Instruction, MUSC 266 Composition, or MUSC 381 Inside the Song: Analysis of Songcraft.
Ensemble Performance: Four hours chosen from MUSC 211 Ensemble I, MUSC 212 Ensemble II, MUSC 213 Ensemble III, or MUSC 214 Chamber Music.
Music Electives: Nine hours chosen from MUSC courses. Students may count no more than three additional hours from MUSC 211 - MUSC 214 towards their music major, and they may count as credit hours for graduation, subject to the overall limit on music hours.

Bachelor of Music: Intensive Training for Aspiring Professionals

The Bachelor of Music is the department's most intensive degree program, designed for students who aspire to pursue music at the graduate and professional levels. This program offers a more extensive component in performance, history, ethnomusicology, theory, composition, or music education.

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Students pursuing the B.Mus. must complete at least 64 credit hours in music, combined with an additional 56 credit hours for a total of 120 credit hours.

The core requirements for the Bachelor of Music degree include:

Foundations: MUSC 120 Foundations in Music.
Musicianship: MUSC 128 Improvisation Without Borders, plus two additional courses chosen from MUSC 129 Aural-based Musicianship or MUSC 130 Tonal Musicianship Skills I and MUSC 133 Tonal Musicianship Skills II.
Music Theory: MUSC 131 Tonal Theory I (requires a grade of C or better), plus two courses chosen from MUSC 132 Tonal Theory II (requires a grade of C or better), MUSC 135 Jazz Theory, MUSC 137 Patterns in Music, MUSC 156 Beat Making Lab, MUSC 166 Introduction to Composition, MUSC 232 Theory III, MUSC 234 World Musics in Theory and Practice, or MUSC 381 Inside the Song: Analysis of Songcraft.
Critical Approaches to Music: MUSC 270 Critical Approaches to Music: Object Lessons, MUSC 271 Critical Approaches to Music: Critical Moves, or MUSC 351 Critical Approaches to Music: Guided Research.
Individual Lessons: Twelve hours chosen from MUSC 200-MUSC 207 taken over six semesters (or the equivalent for students whose primary focus is composition).
Ensemble Performance: Eight hours chosen from MUSC 211 Ensemble I, MUSC 212 Ensemble II, MUSC 214 Chamber Music.
Keyboard Skills: Two hours chosen from MUSC 135 Jazz Theory, MUSC 136 Keyboard Skills I, MUSC 200 Advanced Individual Lessons in Keyboard, or MUSC 236 Keyboard Skills II. Students may also choose MUSC 300 Advanced Keyboard Lessons and Recital, MUSC 302 Advanced Voice Lessons and Recital, MUSC 303 Advanced String Lessons and Recital, MUSC 304 Advanced Woodwind Lessons and Recital, MUSC 305 Advanced Brass Lessons and Recital, MUSC 306 Advanced Percussion Lessons and Recital, MUSC 307 Advanced Composition/Recital, MUSC 308 Intermediate Lessons in Conducting, or MUSC 309 Advanced Lessons in Conducting.
Senior Presentation.
Music Electives: Fifteen hours chosen from MUSC courses. Students may count no more than six additional hours from MUSC 211 - MUSC 214 towards their music major, and they may count as credit hours for graduation, subject to the overall limit on music hours.

In addition to the program requirements, students must:

Earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000.
Complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC-Chapel Hill courses.
Take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements.

Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses. Courses listed more than once can be counted for only one category.

Minor Degree Programs: Enhancing Your Academic Profile

The Department of Music offers two minor degree programs: a general music minor and a minor in musical theatre performance.

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The music minor is an easily attainable supplement to an undergraduate career.
The minor in musical theatre performance, a joint program in the Department of Music and the Department of Dramatic Art, provides students with opportunities to improve their abilities in musical theatre performance.

Sample Plans of Study

The Department of Music provides sample plans of study for both the B.A. and B.Mus. degrees. These plans serve as guides to help students identify the courses required to complete the major and other requirements needed for degree completion within the expected eight semesters. However, the actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected, such as a second major or a minor. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to create a degree plan that is specific and unique to their interests. The sample plans represented in the catalog are intended for first-year students entering UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall term.

A sample plan for the Bachelor of Music degree includes the following courses:

First Year

Fall Semester: IDST 101 College Thriving (1 hour), ENGL 105 English Composition and Rhetoric (3 hours), First-Year Seminar or First-Year Launch (3 hours), Global Language through level 3 (varies hours), MUSC 120 Foundations in Music (3 hours), Keyboard Skills (1-3 hours), MUSC 20x Individual Lessons (2 hours), Ensemble (1 hour).
Spring Semester: MUSC 131 & MUSC 130 Tonal Theory I and Tonal Musicianship Skills I (4 hours), Keyboard Skills (1-3 hours), MUSC 20x Individual Lessons (2 hours), Ensemble (1 hour).

Second Year

Fall Semester: Theory (3 hours), MUSC 270 Critical Approaches to Music: Object Lessons (3 hours), MUSC 2xx Lessons (2 hours), Ensemble (1 hour).
Spring Semester: Theory (3 hours), MUSC 271 Critical Approaches to Music: Critical Moves (3 hours), MUSC 20x Individual Lessons (2 hours), Ensemble (1 hour).

Junior Year

Fall Semester: MUSC 351 Critical Approaches to Music: Guided Research (3 hours), MUSC 20x Individual Lessons (2 hours), Ensemble (1 hour), MUSC --- Music Elective (3 hours).
Spring Semester: MUSC 20x Individual Lessons (2 hours), Ensemble (1 hour), MUSC --- Music Elective (6 hours).

Senior Year

Fall Semester: MUSC 30x Senior Presentation (or in spring semester) (3 hours), Ensemble (1 hour), MUSC --- Music Elective (3 hours).
Spring Semester: Senior Presentation (if not completed in Fall Semester), Ensemble (1 hour), MUSC --- Music Elective (3 hours).

The total hours for the Bachelor of Music degree are 72-76.

Special Opportunities

The Department of Music at UNC Chapel Hill offers several special opportunities for students to enhance their musical education and broaden their horizons.

Honors in Music

Students interested in pursuing a degree with honors in music should consult the regulations governing departmental honors in the College of Arts and Sciences and consult the honors advisor of the department toward the end of their sophomore year.

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Study Abroad

The department actively encourages students to participate in study abroad programs to pursue their musical and other interests in an international context.

A Thriving Musical Community

The UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Music is a unique place that fosters a diverse and tight-knit community. With internationally recognized faculty, supportive staff, and engaged students from all over the world, the department provides a superb musical education within the context of a top-tier research university. The department invites prospective students to explore its offerings and discover the wealth of musical resources available.

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