Undergraduate Degrees
Graduate Degrees

The School of Music offers professional and academic degrees at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. These degrees are summarized below.

Bachelor of Music Students working toward this professional degree have a wide choice of specializations: composition, electroacoustic media, theory, music education, music industry, instrumental performance, jazz studies, and vocal arts. Students can take either a single major program or double majors in several combinations such as organ and harpsichord or piano, composition and theory, music education and wind, string, or percussion instrument. The degree is granted by the School of Music.

Bachelor of Arts This degree is for students with a strong music background but who wish to combine professional music training with substantial study in other disciplines. For the Bachelor of Arts with a major in music, students enroll in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences for completion of pre-major courses, including general education requirements. Major courses are taken that correspond with the curriculum of the Bachelor of Music degree.

Bachelor of Science Offered by the School of Music in the specialized areas of music industry and music recording.

Combined Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music Students wishing to fulfill the requirements for both the Bachelor of Arts (with a major in music) and the Bachelor of Music degrees may take a combined curriculum totaling approximately 160 units.

Master of Music This degree allows specialization in several areas. It requires a minimum of 30 graduate units, of which 15 must be at the 500 level or higher. Students complete either a thesis or recital(s) as part of the degree requirements. The degree can be earned in choral music, church music, composition, conducting, music education, keyboard collaborative arts, guitar, harpsichord, jazz studies, organ, piano, voice or instrumental performance. The degree is granted by the School of Music.

Master of Music Education This degree is offered jointly by the Schools of Music and Education. It is intended for persons who are now, or who plan to be, school or community music specialists.

Master of Arts This degree, offered through the Graduate School in conjunction with the School of Music, stresses music history, early music performance or music theory, with emphasis on scholarly research.

Doctor of Musical Arts The D.M.A. is the highest professional degree offered by the School of Music. Students may specialize in choral music, church music, composition, music education, vocal or instrumental performance.

Doctor of Philosophy Offered through the Graduate School, this is an academic degree in the fields of historical musicology or music theory. A substantial background in music, research and languages is required.

California Single Subject Credential in Music The state of California requires five years of study for a clear teaching credential in any field. Students who wish a teaching credential in music must first complete a music degree. After completing the fifth year of study, including directed teaching and other professional courses, the student will be recommended for the credential. Interested students should consult the music education faculty as early as possible before completing their degrees.

Entrance to the Degree Programs

Admission to a degree program is granted through USC's admission process, described in the Admission section of this catalogue. A supplementary application form is also required for students seeking admission to the School of Music, which can be obtained from the School of Music Office of Admissions.

Applicants to a program within the school are screened by appropriate faculty selection committees that hold auditions, interviews and examine supportive materials. Letters of acceptance are issued by the USC Office of Admission.

Audition

A personal audition or recent video or cassette tape recording is required of applicants to most curricula offered by the School of Music including the Bachelor of Arts degree. Details may be found on the supplementary application form. If a tape is submitted, it should contain representative selections in the applicant's repertoire and should accompany the supplementary application. Tapes will not be returned unless return postage is supplied.

All new students should be prepared to audition in their principal performance medium during their initial registration period prior to planning a program for the first semester. Sight reading may be included in the audition.

Graduate Record Examinations

Scores from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are required for application and admission to the Master of Arts, Doctor of Musical Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. (The Music Subject Test is not required.) Test scores on the GRE that are more than five years old at the time of application are not accepted.

Placement Tests

Undergraduate transfer students who have had formal study in any of the following areas must take the appropriate placement examination prior to their first registration: aural skills, theory, music history, conducting, analysis, counterpoint, orchestration and performance. The results of these examinations determine placement in appropriate sequential courses.

Music Graduate Entrance Examinations

Achievement tests in basic musical skills and areas of study are required of all entering graduate students during the first semester or summer session in residence. A list of required examinations for each major can be obtained from the Office of Music Admissions. Examination dates are announced each semester in the Schedule of Classes. A passing grade in each required examination or a minimum grade of B- in corresponding remedial courses is a prerequisite to formal classification for any graduate study. Also see Admission to Graduate Standing.

Advanced Standing Credit for Music Taken in Accredited Schools of Music

Music courses completed with satisfactory grades in a member institution of the National Association of Schools of Music are acceptable for transfer. The university reserves the right, however, to require a student to take a placement test (at no cost) to determine the level of achievement in any given aspect of music, and to review the student's credentials at the end of one semester at USC to determine what credit will in fact be transferred.

Advanced Standing Credit for Music Not Taken in Accredited Schools of Music

Students who wish credit for music taken in institutions not accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music must provide the Office of Admissions with information on their prior work, showing the subjects studied, the number of lessons in each subject, the length of each lesson, number of years of study and the names of instructors. Such special requests are dealt with on an individual basis. Examinations or continuation work or both may be required before credit allowance is considered.

General Requirements

All curricula leading to the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees require proficiency in performance. This is accomplished by individual instruction in the areas best suited to the student's ability and interests.

Proficiency in piano is required in all curricula and may be achieved through class and/or individual instruction. Some curricula require competency in one additional performance medium.

Attendance at recitals in the field of the student's major is a regular part of the work in applied music for all music majors. Students also must enroll in either composition or performance forums (depending on the student's major) presented by the school. Attendance at recitals is recommended for non-music majors who take individual instruction as an elective.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum requirements for each major are listed under each degree. The USC course classification and numbering system is explained on here. In addition, music courses sometimes carry the following abbreviations: CD = Conducting; CG = Classical Guitar; HC = Harpsichord; OR = Organ; P = Piano; SG = Studio Guitar; VA = Viola; VC = Voice Coaching; VO = Voice.

Change of Curriculum

To change from one curriculum to another, a student must obtain written approval of all of the following: the department chair in the curriculum which the student is leaving, the department chair for the new curriculum and the dean of the School of Music.

Non-Degree Programs

Students who have highly specialized interests which may not be met through degree programs may apply for admission to one of the following non-degree programs.

Advanced Studies

This program is designed for students who have a basic education in music, have a focused educational goal and do not wish to pursue an academic degree. It is particularly appropriate for non-U.S. citizens (as well as U.S. citizens whose prior musical education does not qualify them for admission to American degree programs), postgraduates who wish to complete special educational or scholarly projects, and working professionals who wish to enhance or expand their qualifications.

Artist Diploma

This program is designed for young artists of exceptional ability and musical sensitivity who plan careers as solo performers. The Artist Diploma Program provides young artists the opportunity to devote their full time to concentrated study and practice for the duration of their assigned programs.

Advanced Studies Certificate Program in Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television

This one-year program is designed for students who hold the Bachelor of Music in Composition or its equivalent. Persons who complete the Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television non-degree curriculum will be awarded an Advanced Studies Certificate from the School of Music.

Honor Society

Pi Kappa Lambda

Pi Kappa Lambda is a national honor society established in 1918 for the promotion and recognition of scholarship and performance in music. Students of the School of Music are eligible for election to Eta chapter at the University of Southern California, established in 1923.

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