Getting Started
College: HFA
Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.
How to Explore the Major
Suggested General Education Courses
All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at https://www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing depth of experience.
MUSIC 101 (AT) Introduction to Music Literature is required for minors.
MUSIC 102 (AT,DU) African American Music & Jazz is required for JAAMS (Jazz & African American Music Studies) majors.
All other Music majors must complete one of the following:
- MUSIC 101 (AT) Introduction to Music Literature
- MUSIC 102 (AT, DU) African American Music & Jazz
- MUSIC 103 (AT, DU) History of Jazz
- MUSIC 106 (AT, DG) World Music
- MUSIC 160 (AT) American Popular Music
- MUSIC 170 or 170H (AT) Film Music
- MUSIC 190M (AT, DU) Culture, Society, & the Broadway Musical
PSYCH 100 (SB) is required for Music Education majors.
Suggested Major and Pre-Requisite Courses
Acceptance into the Music Major is by successful audition only.*
*BA Music History and BA Music Theory require an application in place of an audition.
MUSIC 112, 114, 130
How to Declare/Change into the Major
For current & admitted students: This major is restricted, which means students must apply through an on-campus process to be accepted into the major. The majors may have criteria for admission/acceptance into the major (e.g., specific courses, GPA).
Auditions are usually held in the Winter. Contact the Music Admissions Director at 413-545-6048 or musicadmissions@umass.edu with questions, or submit an audition application at www.umass.edu/music.
Summary of Requirements for the Major
Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.
There are many subplans within the Music major to choose from depending on the focus of students’ interest. Total number of credits for the major varies with each subplan. (Students in the Music Education subplan must earn a grade of “C” or higher in required courses.)
The basic core for the majority of the subplans involves the following:
- Five semesters of theory: MUSIC 112, 113, 212, 213, 312
- Four semesters each of the following:
- aural skills: MUSIC 114, 115, 214, 215
- music history/literature: MUSIC 300, 301, 394MI, and one specified MUSIC Gen Ed
- (piano class: MUSIC 130, 131, 132, 133 strongly recommended)
- Six to eight semesters each of applied lessons and ensembles.
Is there a minor? If so, what are the requirements?
Yes! A minor is available! Refer to the Minor page located in the left menu bar to learn more. Acceptance into the Music Minor is by successful audition only.
For further information, contact:
Undergraduate Program Coordinator, 413-545-6065
Fine Arts Center 263C