Bachelor of Music

The Bachelor of Music is an intensive curriculum for students wishing to study music for specific professional purposes or for students seeking professional levels of attainment in music. Bachelor of Music emphases within the program provide specialized study in piano, vocal, and instrumental performance; composition; jazz; history and literature; and music education (credential preparation). These specializations prepare students for graduate study or for various professional opportunities. In addition to possessing musical ability and motivation, every candidate for the professional degree program must demonstrate, in an audition before a faculty panel, a significant technical and artistic level of accomplishment in at least one area of performance before being admitted to this major. Candidates for the Bachelor of Music major may apply either before or after enrolling at San Francisco State University. A maximum of 73 units in music may be counted toward this degree. Students in a performance emphasis may receive up to eight semesters of individual lessons with the distinguished artist faculty in the School of Music, many of whom are members of the San Francisco Symphony, Opera, and Ballet Orchestras, and maintain active professional careers. The degree program culminates in a formal senior recital. Students in the composition emphasis have early and continued opportunities through private lessons, Composers' Workshop, and other specialized classes to study with nationally recognized faculty composers and to have their works publicly performed. Students are expected to qualify for this emphasis at the end of the second year of study at San Francisco State University. Students in the history/literature emphasis complete core courses in music history as well as courses in such topics as keyboard literature, jazz, ethnic music, and the works of individual composers. The culminating project for the history/literature emphasis, a senior thesis of an analytical or historical nature, gives each student an opportunity to work closely with a member of the music history faculty in developing research and analytical skills. The Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in music education prepares students to teach in the elementary and secondary schools. Completion of this curriculum satisfies the pre-professional academic requirements for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in Music, leaving only the professional education sequence to be completed in the College of Education. Bachelor of Music students must complete 27 units of core courses which includes concert attendance and one of the following emphases: Piano, Instrumental, or Vocal Performance; Composition; Jazz; History and Literature; or Music Education. Students who select the Music Education Emphasis must complete one of the three options listed under Music Education. Students must enroll in MUS 150 (0 units) each semester in residence up to and including eight semesters. A grade of C or better is required for all music courses in the Bachelor of Music major.