Jacksonville University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. The requirements for entrance and for graduation are in accordance with the published regulations of this association.
Music Courses Offered to All Students
General music courses open to all students, regardless of major, include:
Auditions, Placement & Scholarships
Students expecting to major in any of the above programs must audition in person or forward a video recording, or via electronic media, on their principal instrument or voice (principal applied area) and meet admission criteria prior to enrolling at JU.
Auditions in person may be arranged throughout the academic year and are conducted on University- scheduled audition dates. Those who cannot appear in person must submit a video-recorded performance. Auditions are used to determine a student’s level of placement and possible music scholarships and music service grant awards. Audition appointments may be arranged with the Admissions Department, or with the applied faculty member.
Placement and Exemption Exams in theory and keyboard are administered at announced times during the academic year. Contact the Music Division office for the current schedule of exams. Students who have taken the Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory exam and receive a score of 5 will be given credit for MUS 141 and MUS 157; these students should enroll in MUS 142 and MUS 158. Students with a score of 4 or lower will be assessed for advanced placement upon completion of the Placement and Exemption Exam administered by the Music Division.
Students planning to major in music education, music performance, jazz, or composition and theory must enroll in piano each semester until the keyboard proficiency examination has been passed.
Attendance and Sophomore Qualifying Exam
Attendance Requirements
More than 80 student and faculty recitals, concerts, and lectures are presented each year. Students majoring in programs in the Department of Music are required to attend a designated number of performances each semester. Consult the Division of Music Student Handbook for details.
Sophomore Qualifying Exam
Students are required to pass an applied comprehensive examination – the Sophomore Qualifying Exam before enrolling in upper-division (400) applied instruction and after completing eight credit hours of lower-division (200) applied instruction or credit by examination. This usually occurs at the end of the second year. Further information concerning the Sophomore Qualifying Exam is available in the Music Division office, or from the student’s advisor.
Applied Music
The Department of Music offers applied instruction in Voice, Composition and All Instruments.
Students majoring or minoring in music are required to take applied music lessons to meet their curriculum requirements. Students who are not majoring or minoring in music require the consent of the Department of Music to take private music lessons.
In addition to tuition fees, a $175 Applied Music Fee is applied per credit hour, per semester.
In summer terms, lesson time and amount of credit will vary according to the length of the term. Students may enroll in only one applied course on a given instrument or voice per term.
Applied Music (Private Music Lessons)
The following courses are available to majors and minors in music and to other students with consent of the Department of Music:
All students registered in MUS 202, 402 or 404 are required to sign up for the following two courses:
Applied Music Important Notes:
- In the summer terms, the lesson time and the amount of credit given will vary according to the length of the term.
- BA and BS students take MUS 205 (one credit) or MUS 405 (one credit).
- BM, BME and BFA students take MUS 202 (two credits) or MUS 402 (two credits) in the fall or spring term.
- All music majors or minors registered in applied lessons (MUS 202, 203, 205, 402, 404, or 405) are required to attend MUS 100 and a specified number of on-campus recitals and concerts each fall and winter semester. Students should consult their applied instructor for the exact number required for their particular major or status.
- With the exception of music business majors, all music majors taking applied lessons are expected to perform on a performance laboratory at least once each year. Performance laboratories are held at regularly scheduled times during the fall and spring terms.
- BME and BM degree students are required to pass a piano proficiency examination before graduation. Students must enroll in piano secondary applied study until this requirement has been fulfilled. Specific requirements may be obtained from the piano faculty.
- All students enrolled in Applied Music MUS 202, 402, and 404 must schedule an applied music jury examination at the end of each fall and spring term.
- Students may enroll in only one applied course on a given instrument or voice per term.
Ensembles
Most music ensembles are open to all students by audition. Students majoring in music are required to enroll and participate in at least one of the ensembles listed below during each fall and spring semester of full-time study for the number of semesters required by their major. Students are encouraged to participate in ensembles of varying size and nature, both within and outside of their field of specialty. Music Scholarship recipients are required to participate in additional ensembles beyond degree requirements per semester.
Ensemble course options:
MUS 327: Music Ensembles includes small ensembles such as brass quintet, guitar ensemble, jazz combo, African/Latin hand drumming, drum line, percussion ensemble, string quartet, and woodwind quintet.
Audition is required for these courses:
MUS 327: Music Ensembles includes small ensembles such as brass quintet, guitar ensemble, jazz combo, African/Latin hand drumming, drum line, percussion ensemble, string quartet, and woodwind quintet.
No audition is required for these courses:
Bachelor of Arts in Music
Major Requirements
University Core
| Core | University Core Requirements | 37 |
In addition to the University Core Curriculum, the following courses are required for the BA in Music degree:
| MUS 100 | Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 111 | Essential Keyboard Skills | 1 |
| MUS 112 | Advanced Keyboard Skills | 1 |
| MUS 141 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 157 | Music Theory Lab I | 1 |
| MUS 142 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 158 | Music Theory Lab II | 1 |
| MUS 150 | Introduction to Music Technology | 3 |
| MUS 2xx | Four (4) credit hours in Music Ensembles | 4 |
| MUS 205/208 | Secondary Applied/Applied Lab | 4/0 |
| MUS 241 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUS 257 | Music Theory Lab III | 1 |
| MUS 337 | History of Music I | 3 |
| MUS 338 | History of Music II | 3 |
| MUS 3xx/4xx | Twelve (12) credit hours of any upper-level Music electives | 12 |
| MUS 4xx | Four (4) credit hours in Music Ensembles | 4 |
| MUS 405/408 | Secondary Applied/Applied Lab | 4/0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 52 |
Additionally, students must complete the following two courses to satisfy University General Requirements:
| XXX xxx | Any Speech Intensive (SI) course | 3 |
| XXX xxx | Any Writing Intensive (WI) course | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
General Electives
| General Electives | Requirement | 25 |
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre
Major Requirements
University Core
| Core | University Core Requirements | 37 |
In addition to the University Core Curriculum, the following courses are required for the BFA in Musical Theatre degree:
Notes:
MUS 142: Prerequisite MUS 141 or placement
MUS 158: Prerequisite MUS 157 or placement
MUS 338: Prerequisite MUS 337
MUS 100: Must enroll in Recital Attendance each semester
MUS 332SI: Fulfills SI requirement
THEA xxx Theatre Elective: Choose two from the following three-credit hour courses listed below . Six credit hours required, non-sequential, may be taken in any order.
Required
Bachelor of Music
Major Requirements
University Core
| Core | University Core Requirements | 37 |
In addition to the University Core Curriculum, the following courses are required for the Bachelor of Music degree:
| MUS 100 | Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 111 | Essential Keyboard Skills | 1 |
| | | |
| MUS 112 | Advanced Keyboard Skills | 1 |
| | Or | |
| MUS 306 | Jazz Piano | 1 |
| | | |
| MUS 141 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 157 | Music Theory Lab I | 1 |
| MUS 142 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 158 | Music Theory Lab II | 1 |
| MUS 200 | Sophomore Qualifying Examination | 0 |
| MUS 2xx | Four (4) credit hours in Music Ensembles | 4 |
| MUS 202/208 | Principal Applied/Applied Lab | 8/0 |
| MUS 241 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUS 257 | Music Theory Lab III | 1 |
| MUS 300 | Junior Recital | 0 |
| MUS 337 | History of Music I | 3 |
| MUS 338 | History of Music II | 3 |
| MUS 382 | Conducting I | 3 |
| MUS 400 | Senior Recital | 0 |
| MUS 402/408 | Principal Applied/Applied Lab | 8/0 |
| | | |
| MUS 331WR | 20th and 21st Century Music | 3 |
| | Or | |
| MUS 434SI | American and World Music | 3 |
| | Or | |
| MUS 436SI | Jazz History | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 47 |
And one of the following tracks listed below:
Concentration Tracks
Vocal Performance:
| MUS 116 | Singer's Diction I | 1 |
| MUS 205 | Secondary Applied Piano | 1 |
| MUS 208 | Applied Lab | 0 |
| MUS 242 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUS 258 | Music Theory Lab IV | 1 |
| MUS 316 | Singer's Diction II | 1 |
| | | |
| MUS 328 | Music Theater Or Opera Workshop | 1 |
| | Or | |
| MUS 329 | Musc Theatre Rehearsal & Production | 0-1 |
| | Or | |
| MUS xxx | An SI course in Music | 3 |
| | | |
| MUS 2xx/4xx | Choral Ensembles | 0-1 |
| | Or | |
| MUS 371 | Choral Literature and Arranging | 3 |
| MUS xxx | SI course in Music | 3 |
| | | |
| MUS 341 | Counterpoint | 3 |
| MUS 381 | Applied Pedagogy | 2 |
| MUS 485 | Solo Literature Seminar | 2 |
| MUS 4xx | Four (4) credit hours in Music Ensembles | 4 |
| THEA 113 | Acting I | 3 |
| XX xxx | Six (6) additional credit hours from any combination of French, German, Italian, and/or Spanish language courses | 6 |
Instrumental Performance:
| MUS 242 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUS 258 | Music Theory Lab IV | 1 |
| MUS 327 | Music Ensembles | 0-1 |
| MUS 341 | Counterpoint | 3 |
| MUS 342 | Analysis | 3 |
| | | |
| MUS 354 | Band Literature | 2 |
| | Or | |
| MUS 353 | Orchestral Literature | 2 |
| | | |
| MUS 381 | Applied Pedagogy | 2 |
| MUS 3xx/4xx | Six (6) credit hours of upper division electives | 6 |
| MUS 485 | Solo Literature Seminar | 2 |
| MUS 4xx | Four (4) credit hours in Music Ensembles | 4 |
Piano Performance:
Composition:
Jazz/Commercial Music:
| MUS 120 | Jazz Theory Fundamentals | 3 |
| MUS 240 | Jazz Theory and Improvisation I | 3 |
| MUS 321WR | Entrepreneurship in Music Industry | 3 |
| MUS 324 | Music Production and Songwriting | 3 |
| MUS 346 | Jazz Theory and Improvisation II | 3 |
| MUS 3xx/4xx | Ensembles | 4 |
| MUS 441 | Advanced Jazz Theory and Improvisation | 3 |
| MUS 444 | Commercial Arranging | 3 |
| MUS 446 | Commercial Production | 3 |
| MUS 450 | Film Scoring | 3 |
- Must enroll in Recital Attendance each semester.
- Singers and instrumentalists take (or test out of) Essential Keyboard Skills I until they are able to satisfy their piano proficiency requirements.
- Fulfills Writing Intensive requirement. Students in the Vocal track should consider this course to fulfill the requirement.
- Fulfills Speech Intensive requirement. Students in the Jazz/Commercial Music track should consider this course to fulfill the requirement.
- Fulfills Experiential Learning requirement.
- Students in the Instrumental, Piano and Composition tracks should consider these courses as options to fulfill the applicable Speech Intensive and Writing Intensive requirements.
Bachelor of Music Education
The Bachelor of Music Education program is designed for students preparing to teach choral or instrumental music in a public or private school setting. The curriculum includes the Professional Education Sequence completed jointly through the School of Education and Division of Music and culminates with the Music Education Internship during the final semester of study.
Upon successful completion of degree requirements, candidates are prepared to earn Florida teaching certification through application to the Florida Department of Education for a three-year teaching certificate in music (Grades K-12) leading to the five-year renewable professional certificate. The steps to application and certification may be found at: www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/steps-to-certification.
Music Education Major Requirements
University Core
| Core | University Core Requirements | 37 |
Music Education majors must complete the following courses:
Notes:
MUS 100: Must enroll each semester when not completing internship
MUS 111 and MUS 112: instrumentalists & singers
MUS 235: keyboardists
MUS 116: singers
MUS 212: instrumentalists and keyboardists
MUS 2xx and MUS 4xx: major
AND select one of the following Music Methods/Emphasis Tracks:
Vocal Emphasis Track (four credit hours):
| MUS 205/405 | Secondary Applied Piano | 1 |
| | Or | |
| MUS 328 | Music Theater Or Opera Workshop | 1 |
| | Or | |
| MUS 376 | Guitar Methods | 1 |
| | Or | |
| MUS 381 | Applied Pedagogy | 2 |
| | And | |
| MUS 316 | Singer's Diction II | 1 |
Or
Instrumental Emphasis Track (eight to ten credit hours):
Choose three credits from:
MUS 378: required of string players
AND the following Professional Education Courses:
| EDU 102 | Human Development & Learning | 3 |
| EDU 457 | Mainstreaming & Classroom Management | 3 |
| EDU 486 | Rdng & Lrng Skls Content Mid/Hi TchrsAreas for Middle & High School Teachers | 3 |
| MUS 361 | Methods of Teaching Music in the Elementary School | 3 |
| MUS 363WI | Methods of Teaching Music in the Se | 3 |
| MUS 461 | Measurement, Evaluation, & Assessment in Music Education | 3 |
| MUS MUS 462SL | Music Education Student Teaching | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 30 |
Music Education Major Important Notes:
- Singers and instrumentalists take (or test out of) Class Piano I & II then take Secondary Applied Piano until they are able to satisfy their piano proficiency requirements. Pianists take Accompanying I & II.
- Pianists and instrumentalists take Class Voice I. Singers take Singer’s Diction I.
- Wind and percussion players take MUS 354, string players take MUS 353, and singers take MUS 371. Other music education majors will be advised to take the Literature course best matching their teaching aspirations.
- See the Music Student Handbook for the Applied Pedagogy schedule.
Bachelor of Science in Music (Music Business)
The BS in Music Business features coursework in Music and Intellectual Property Law, Music Industry, and Music Entrepreneurship. The degree also includes ensemble opportunities varying in size and scope; instruction in standard music core subjects such as music theory, aural skills and music history. The 15-credit concentration in Music Technology features courses including, Acoustics and Recording, Music Production and Songwriting, and Commercial Arranging and Production. The alternate 15-credit concentration in Management includes courses from the Davis College of Business such as Leadership, and Information Technology.
Major Requirements
University Core
| Core | University Core Requirements | 37 |
Music Business majors must complete the following courses:
Concentrations
AND one of the following 15-credit hour options listed below:
Management Option:
| DSIM 370 | Management of Info Technology | 3 |
| INB 303 | Competing in the Global Envir | 3 |
| MGT 320 | Leadership | 3 |
| MGT 360 | The Management of Human Resources | 3 |
| MUS ACCT DSIM ECON FIN INB MGT MKG SPO 3XX | 300-level Music or Business Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
OR
Music Technology Option:
| MUS 150 | Introduction to Music Technology | 3 |
| MUS 324 | Music Production and Songwriting | 3 |
| MUS 344 | Acoustics and Recording Techniques | 3 |
| MUS 444 | Commercial Arranging | 3 |
| MUS 446 | Commercial Production | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Music Minors
Music Minor
A Music minor is available and applies to any degree program at JU except those in the Department of Music. An audition is required for acceptance to the Music minor.
Minor Requirements
A minor in music consists of 18 semester credit hours in music courses and must include:
- Four (4) credit hours in applied music (includes co-registration in MUS 100 and MUS 208)
- Four (4) credit hours in ensemble
- One (1) course in music theory
- One (1) course in music appreciation or music history
Jazz Studies Minor
An audition is required for acceptance to the Jazz Studies minor.
Minor Requirements
The minor in Jazz Studies consists of 18 semester credit hours in music courses and must include:
- Four (4) credit hours in Applied Music (includes MUS 100 and MUS 208)
- Four (4) credit hours in Jazz Band
- Three (3) credit hours in Jazz Combos
- Four (4) credit hours in Jazz Theory
- One (1) credit hour in Jazz History