University General Course Catalog 2021-2022 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2021-2022 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.

Music, B.A.


The University of Nevada, Reno Department of Music provides education in the history, performance, theory, and pedagogy of music. Its mission is to help students acquire the skills and knowledge to enable them to successfully contribute as performers, scholars, and educators. To this end, and following the mission of the university as a whole, the department provides high quality, accredited, undergraduate and graduate degree programs in performance, education, and research. The department offers courses, ensembles, and concerts that reflect the diversity and richness of the world’s cultures, and maintains a learning environment where student performers and scholars may regularly interact with professional teacher/mentors.

Student Learning Outcomes


Students will be able to:

  • perform on an instrument or voice at a minimum semi-professional level.
  • master basic musicianship skills (piano, rhythm, pitch discrimination).
  • demonstrate knowledge of basic musical arranging/composing concepts.

Contact Information


Department of Music
Virginia Street Gym 100
(775) 784-6145 

College of Liberal Arts Advising: http://www.unr.edu/liberal-arts/student-resources/academic-advising

Transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno


Use the transfer agreement  and the degree planner (available by clicking Print degree planner icon at the top right of this page) to build your plan for graduation with your advisor. Course substitutions not identified on the transfer agreement require UNR advisor approval.

If a major-to-major transfer agreement is not available for your transfer institution, please check the General Core agreement  if available. If neither is available, access Transferology to assist in your planning.

Graduation Requirements


  • Total Units | 120
  • Cumulative GPA | 2.0
  • University GPA | 2.0
  • Major GPA | 2.0
  • Residency Requirement | 30 Upper-Division Units at UNR
  • Major Residency Requirement | 15 Upper-Division Units in the major at UNR
  • Upper-Division Requirement | 42 Upper-Division Units
  • Half Program Units/4 Year Institution | 60 Units

I. Core General Education Requirements (24-27 units)


NOTE: Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter of this catalog for information regarding the “Core English and Math Completion Policy  .”

Students in this major must meet all Core Objectives (CO1 through CO14). Courses satisfying Core Objectives are designated (e.g., CO9) in General Catalog curricula and course descriptions.

A. Composition & Communication; Critical Analysis & Use of Information (3-6 units) - CO1, CO3


B. Quantitative Reasoning (3 units minimum) - CO2


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO2 courses .

C. Physical & Natural Phenomena (6 units minimum) - CO4, CO4L


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO4/CO4L courses .

D. Cultures, Societies, & Individuals (3 units) - CO6


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO6 courses .

E. Artistic Composition, Interpretation, & Expression (3 units) - CO7


Music majors will satisfy the Fine Arts requirement through the Ensemble requirement.

F. History & Culture; Constitution (6 units) - CO5, CO8


Refer to the Core Curriculum   chapter in this catalog.

II. Additional Core Requirements (18 units maximum)


Students must take courses that satisfy the following Core Objectives. Some or all of these Core Objectives may be satisfied in the Major Requirements (Section IV).  Refer to the Core Curriculum  chapter in this catalog.

A. Science, Technology & Society - CO9


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter in this catalog for a list of approved CO9  courses.

B. Diversity & Equity - CO10


The following recommended course can also be used in the Major Requirement:

C. Global Context - CO11


The following recommended course can also be used in the Major Requirement:

D. Ethics - CO12


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter in this catalog for a list of approved CO12  courses.

E. Capstone Integration & Synthesis Course - CO13


The following recommended courses can also be used in the Major Requirement:

F. Application Course - CO14


The following recommended course can also be used in the Major Requirement:

III. Additional College Requirements (6-20 units)


Units may vary depending on initial course placement in foreign language coursework.

A. Foreign Language (0-14 units)


Successful completion of the foreign language requirement may be accomplished through one of four options:

  1. complete a fourth semester college course in a foreign language or in American Sign Language;
  2. demonstrate proficiency through placement examination or other means determined by the Department of World Languages and Literatures, including minimum CBAPE, SAT II, or IB scores;
  3. show transcript evidence of successful completion of four years of high school coursework in the same foreign language; or
  4. participate in a Studies Abroad program pre-approved by the college to meet the foreign language requirement.

B. College Breadth Requirement (6 units)


Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree in the college shall be required to take, within the College of Liberal Arts, 6 units that are outside the departments in which they major or minor, and that exclude courses taken to fulfill the Core General Education requirements (Core Objectives 1 through 8).

IV. Major Requirements (35-38 units)


A. Required (0 units)


B. Applied Individual Instruction (6 units)


No more than one applied music unit per semester may count toward section B. Must be on a single instrument or voice. All students enrolled in applied lessons must also co-register for an appropriate ensemble (see advisor).

C. Music Literature (3 units)


D. Music Core Courses (22 units)


E. Major Ensemble (3 units)


 An additional 3 units of Ensemble coursework is counted in the Core Curriculum Fine Arts section above.

F. Elective courses in Theory or History/Literature (4 units)


Course work must be numbered 300 - 499.

V. Minor Requirements (18-21 units)


The Music Department accepts any minor approved by the College of Liberal Arts.

VI. Electives (0-19 units)


VII. Recommended Schedule


A. First Year


Fall Semester (15 units)


Spring Semester (15 units)


B. Second Year


Fall Semester (16 units)


Spring Semester (16 units)


C. Third Year


Fall Semester (16 units)


  • Foreign Language 211 (3 units)
  • Minor (3 units)
  • (0 units)
  • MUSA (Applied Lessons) (1 unit)
  • (3 units)
  • MUS (Elective in Theory/Literature) (2 units)
  • MUSE (Major Ensemble) (1 unit)
  • Science, Technology & Society (3 units) CO9

Spring Semester (15 units)


  • Foreign Language 212 (3 units)
  • Minor (3 units)
  • (0 units)
  • MUSA (Applied Lessons) (1 unit)
  • MUS (Music History Elective) (1 units)
  • (3 units)
  • MUSE (Major Ensemble) (1 unit)
  • MUSE (Secondary Ensemble) (1 unit)
  • MUS (Elective in Theory/Literature) (2 units)

D. Fourth Year


Fall Semester (12 units)


  • Diversity & Equity (3 units) CO10
  • Minor (3 units)
  • Minor (300-400 level) (3 units)
  • Ethics (3 units) CO12
  • (0 units)

Spring Semester (15 units)


  • Capstone Integration & Synthesis (3 units) CO13
  • Global Contexts (3 units) CO11
  • Minor (300-400 level) (6 units)
  • Application (3 units) CO14
  • (0 units)