» Music - (Pre-Music Education Certification), Vocal Emphasis (B.M.): Suggested 4-year Plan for 2023-24

How to Use your 4-year Plan

• This is a suggested 4-year plan and not meant to replace regular academic advising.
• The plan is flexible and can be changed to accommodate studying abroad, a second major/minor(s) or AP/IB credits.
• You should work with an academic advisor to develop a plan that meets their interests and goals.
• You must earn a minimum of 120 credits to graduate and 75.5-76.5 major-specific credits to earn a B.M. in Music - (Pre-Music Education Certification), Vocal Emphasis.
• Transfer students and those looking to add as a second major should contact the program advisor for degree planning.
• If you have any questions, please contact music@chapman.edu.

Suggested 4-year Plan

• We encourage you to select your General Education (GE) and minor/second major/Themed Inquiry/Honors program around the plan below. Once you fill your GE classes around your major classes, you will have a better idea of space remaining each semester when choosing your Exploration Focus.
• To be enrolled full time, you must take at least 12 credits a semester.
• In order to graduate within 4 years, we recommend you take 30 credits a year.
• All students with Voice as primary instrument, regardless of major, will take Sight Singing Placement Exam during orientation week. If not passed, students will take MUS 097 Rudiments of Sight Singing during Fall of First Year.
• If you pass the Piano Proficiency Exam before taking the required number of semesters of piano instruction, you do not have to continue with piano lessons. See the Director of Student Affairs to get the remaining credits waived.
• During junior and senior year, for classes with generally low enrollment, the four-year plan will indicate the required course and “(or MUS 493)”. MUS 493 is private instruction that substitutes for the course if enrollment is low, such that you take the class as private lessons.

Year 1

Fall Semester (6 credits for major)

• MUS 104 - Piano (1 credit)
• MUS 106 - Voice (1 credit)
• MUS 133 - Theory I (2 credits)
• MUS 135 - Aural Skills I (1 credit)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 307 - University Choir (1 credit)
  • MUS 309 - University Singers (1 credit)
  • MUS 314 - University Treble Choir (1 credit)

Spring Semester (11.5 credits for major)

• MUS 104 - Piano (1 credit)
• MUS 106 - Voice (1 credit)
• MUS 125 - Woodwind Methods Class (1 credit) [or other offered]
• MUS 134 - Theory II (2 credits)
• MUS 136 - Aural Skills II (1 credit)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 307 - University Choir (0.5 credit)
  • MUS 309 - University Singers (0.5 credit)
  • MUS 314 - University Treble Choir (0.5 credit)
• MUS 231 - Introduction to Music Education (3 credits)
• MUS 244 - Principles of Music Technology (2 credits)

Year 2

Fall Semester (11 credits for major)

• MUS 102A - Compendium of Western Music History I (3 credits)
• MUS 104 - Piano (1 credit)
• MUS 106 - Voice (1 credit)
• MUS 280 - Music Information Literacy (0 credit)
• MUS 124 - String Methods Class (1 credit)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 307 - University Choir (1 credit)
  • MUS 309 - University Singers (1 credit)
  • MUS 314 - University Treble Choir (1 credit)
• MUS 233 - Theory III (2 credits)
• MUS 235 - Aural Skills III (1 credit)
• MUS 238 - Improvisation: Techniques and Experimentals (1 credit) [take once, any semester] or MUS 322G - New Music Ensemble (1 credit) (take twice, any semesters)

Spring Semester (11 credits for major)

• MUS 102B - Compendium of Western Music History II (3 credits)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 103 - Guitar (1 credit)
  • MUS 113 - Beginning Guitar Class (1 credit)
  • MUS 305 - Advanced Guitar (1 credit)
• MUS 104 - Piano (1 credit)
• MUS 106 - Voice (1 credit)
• MUS 126 - Brass Methods Class (1 credit)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 307 - University Choir (1 credit)
  • MUS 309 - University Singers (1 credit)
  • MUS 314 - University Treble Choir (1 credit)
• MUS 234 - Theory IV (2 credits)
• MUS 236 - Aural Skills IV (1 credit)

Year 3

Fall Semester (11 credits for major)

• MUS 127 - Percussion Methods Class (1 credit)
• MUS 306 - Advanced Voice (Non-Performance Majors) (1 credit)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 307 - University Choir (1 credit)
  • MUS 309 - University Singers (1 credit)
  • MUS 314 - University Treble Choir (1 credit)
• MUS 330 - Form and Harmonic Analysis (2 credits)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 457 - Practicum in Choral Literature and Pedagogy (3 credits)
  • MUS 458 - Practicum in Instrumental Literature and Pedagogy (3 credits)
  • MUS 459 - Practicum in Elementary School Literature and Pedagogy (3 credits)
• Upper-Division Music Studies Elective (3 credits)*

Spring Semester (10.5-11 credits for major)

• One of the following:
  • MUS 123A/323A - Jazz Improvisation (1 credit)
  • MUS 318 - Big Band (1 credit)
  • MUS 322I - Jazz Combos (0.5 credit)
  • MUS 322K - Vocal Jazz (0.5 credit)
• MUS 306 - Advanced Voice (Non-Performance Majors) (1 credit)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 307 - University Choir (1 credit)
  • MUS 309 - University Singers (1 credit)
  • MUS 314 - University Treble Choir (1 credit)
• MUS 339 - Principles of Arranging (2 credits)
• MUS 322 - A/B/C Musical Cultures (3 credits) or MUS 496D - Seminar: Topics in World Music and Culture (3 credits)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 457 - Practicum in Choral Literature and Pedagogy (3 credits)
  • MUS 458 - Practicum in Instrumental Literature and Pedagogy (3 credits)
  • MUS 459 - Practicum in Elementary School Literature and Pedagogy (3 credits)

Year 4

Fall Semester (6-7 credits for major)

• MUS 306 - Advanced Voice (Non-Performance Majors) (1 credit)
• One of the following (recommended but not required):
  • MUS 307 - University Choir (1 credit)
  • MUS 309 - University Singers (1 credit)
  • MUS 314 - University Treble Choir (1 credit)
• MUS 450 - Choral Conducting I (2 credits)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 457 - Practicum in Choral Literature and Pedagogy (3 credits)
  • MUS 458 - Practicum in Instrumental Literature and Pedagogy (3 credits)
  • MUS 459 - Practicum in Elementary School Literature and Pedagogy (3 credits)

Spring Semester (8-9 or more credits for major)

• MUS 306 - Advanced Voice (Non-Performance Majors) (1 credit)
• One of the following (recommended but not required):
  • MUS 307 - University Choir (1 credit)
  • MUS 309 - University Singers (1 credit)
  • MUS 314 - University Treble Choir (1 credit)
• MUS 451 - Choral Conducting II (2 credits)
• MUS 435 - Chapman Music Teachers Institute (3 credits)
• MUS 398C - Senior Recital - MusEd Vocal (Half (0 credit)
• MUS 476 - Vocal Pedagogy (2 credits)

* One upper-division Music Studies Elective is required, any time during junior or senior year. Choose from:

• MUS 301 - Music History and Literature I (3 credits)
• MUS 302 - Music History and Literature II (3 credits)
• MUS 303 - Music History and Literature III (3 credits)
• MUS 304 - Music History and Literature IV (3 credits)
• MUS 332A - Musical Cultures of Africa/Middle East (3 credits)
• MUS 332B - Musical Cultures of Asia/Pacific (3 credits)
• MUS 332C - Musical Cultures of the Americas (3 credits)
• MUS 345 - History of Musical Theatre (3 credits)
• MUS 405 - Music History and Literature V (3 credits)
• MUS 456 - Song Literature and History (3 credits)
• MUS 461 - Psychology of Music (3 credits)
• MUS 468 - Guitar Literature and History (3 credits)
• MUS 494 - Piano Literature and History (3 credits)
• MUS 496C - Seminar: Topics in Western Music History and Literature (3 credits)
• MUS 496D - Seminar: Topics in World Music and Culture (3 credits)
• MUS 496E - Opera History and Literature (3 credits)