General Requirements for all B.A., B.S., and B.Mus. Degrees

Minimum Grade Requirement

A music student, either major or minor, must achieve a minimum grade of 'C' in each music course, either resident or transfer, which is applicable to a degree program in music before the student will be eligible for graduation.

Ensemble Participation

An undergraduate music major must:

  1. Earn a minimum of eight credits in ensemble participation to be eligible for graduation, and
  2. Enroll in an ensemble, to be assigned by the student’s studio instructor, during each semester of full-time study on the University of Idaho Moscow Campus.

For curricular purposes, "ensemble" is defined to mean:

MUSA 116/316Concert Choir--Vandaleers1
MUSA 117/317University Choir1
MUSA 118/318Jazz Choir1
MUSA 119/319Marching Band1-3
MUSA 120/320Wind Ensemble1
MUSA 121/321Concert Band1
MUSA 122/322Orchestra1
MUSA 123/323Jazz Ensemble1
MUSA 180/380Opera/Musical Theatre Studio1
MUSA 315Collaborative Piano1
MUSA 365Chamber Ensemble1
  • Transfer students must have a minimum of four semesters of ensemble participation at U of I.

Convocation-Recital Attendance

Because listening experiences constitute an area of major importance in the study of music, all music majors and music minors are required to register for MUSX 140; music majors must attend 10 recitals per semester for seven semesters and music minors must attend 10 recitals per semester for two semesters. Transfer students must pass MUSX 140 during each semester of full-time study on the University of Idaho Moscow Campus.  Students must attend a full concert or program in order for it to be counted toward convocation-recital requirements. Recital credit will not be granted for those performances in which a student participates. In addition, music majors must attend the weekly convocation series (studio class, area recital, and convocation).

Upper-Division Standing (UDS)

For a B.Mus., B.A., and B.S. music major to enroll in MUSA 324, MUSA 334, or MUSC 425, the student must have been granted upper-division standing (UDS). Students applying for UDS must:

  1. Have completed with a 'C' or better, or be currently enrolled in, one semester of MUSA 115 and three semesters of MUSA 124 or MUSA 134 (depending on the student's degree program), MUSA 146, MUSC 140, MUSC 142, MUSH 111, and a grade of 'P' in MUSX 101.
  2. Have passed a special jury examination demonstrating mastery of the fundamentals of the student's major area of performance/composition and the potential to continue improving in a manner that will lead to the successful completion of performance/composition requirements of the degree and major emphasis (the jury examination requirement must be met, regardless of double majors, before a student can enroll in MUSA 324 or MUSA 334).

An Upper Division Standing jury examination presented after the second week will not count towards the semester in which it was presented. Students who fail to pass the UDS requirements within two tries are ineligible to continue to pursue a music major.

Diagnostic Exam in Theory and Aural Skills

The goal of these exams, required for all transfer students whose major is music, is to place transfer students in the appropriate level of music theory, aural skills, and piano according to their abilities regardless of their prior training. Study guides are available on the web. The exams are given during the first week of classes each semester as needed. The exam will not be used for "credit by examination," as the regulations regarding these procedures are covered in regulation D-4. Written evaluation of each student's achievement will be placed in their advising file, and students will be admitted to required courses at their ability level.

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits will be accepted at the upper-division level only if taken at the upper-division level from the original institution (i.e., a 100- or 200-level course will not transfer as a 300- or 400-level course requirement). The applicability of these credits to the student's program of study is determined by the Lionel Hampton School of Music.