University General Course Catalog 2024-2025 
    
    Dec 11, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2024-2025

Music, B.A.


The University of Nevada, Reno School 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 school provides high quality, accredited, undergraduate and graduate degree programs in performance, education, and research. The school 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.

Program Learning Outcomes


Students will be able to:

  • describe and integrate theoretical analysis, the study of music history and society, and music performance skills through writing, speaking, discussion, and musical performing, as exemplified through successful completion of coursework. (C, CT)
  • describe and analyze music compositions through the application of analytical techniques in music theory, as exemplified through successful completion of coursework. (QR)
  • demonstrate musical performance skills and knowledge commensurate with a broad study of music, as evidenced through  successful completion of musical ensemble and applied lesson components. 

Contact Information


School 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

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. World Language Requirement (0-14 units)


Students seeking this bachelor’s degree must demonstrate proficiency in a world language other than English equal to a fourth semester course level through one of the following options:

  1. complete a fourth semester college course in a world language other than English;
  2. demonstrate proficiency through a means determined by the Department of World Languages and Literatures including but not limited to minimum standardized test scores (CBAPE, SAT II, or IB), attaining a minimum aptitude on an accredited world language assessment test, or providing transcript evidence of a high school or equivalent diploma in which English was not the language of instruction; or,
  3. participate in a study abroad language program pre-approved by the Department of World Languages and Literatures to meet the world language requirement. 

Note: Four years of high school world language instruction does not automatically satisfy this 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 School of Music 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)