Bachelor of Music: Music Performance - Voice Emphasis

University Requirements

General Education

UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum.  Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/

Constitution Course 

Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.

Exit Examinations

Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.

Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination

In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'.  To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.   

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

  • Students will execute the foundational physical requirements of singing.
  • Students will demonstrate comprehension of vocal anatomy and function.
  • Students will display the kinesthetic awareness necessary for coordinated, healthy, operatic singing.
  • Students will develop interpretational skills, demonstrating a range of timbre, phrasing, and a nuanced understanding of text.
  • Students will synthesize the technical, interpretive, diction, and musicianship skills necessary to produce a refined, artistically-convincing public recital.

Program Requirements

UMKC Essentials

First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE)3
Written Communication:
ENGLISH 110Introduction to Academic Prose3
ENGLISH 225English II: Intermediate Academic Prose3
Oral Communication (choose one of the following):3
Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening
Introduction to Communication
Argumentation And Debate
Interpersonal Communication
Math Pathway (choose one of the following):3
Mathematics For Liberal Arts
Statistical Reasoning
Precalculus Algebra
Precalculus
Any 200-level MATH or STAT course
ACT Math Sub-score of 28 or higher; or SAT Math Sub-score of 660 or higher
Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH; Satisfied in program requirements below)
Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC)3
Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS)3
Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV)3
Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE)3
Total Credits27

Constitution Course Requirement

Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.” 

Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:

Choose one of the following:3
The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process
U.S. History to 1877
U.S. History Since 1877
Honors American Government
American Government
Total Credits3

There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:

  • Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
  • Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
  • Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
  • Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.

Major Requirements

CONSVTY 151 (MUSE; satisfies GECRT-AH course requirement)3
Musicianship
CONSVTY 141Musicianship I4
CONSVTY 142Musicianship II4
CONSVTY 241Musicianship III4
CONSVTY 242Musicianship IV4
Keyboard Skills
CONSVTY 110Keyboard Skills I1
CONSVTY 123Keyboard Skills II1
CONSVTY 223Keyboard Skills III1
CONSVTY 310Keyboard Skills IV1
Applied Lessons
VOICE 101Freshman Voice I2
VOICE 102Freshman Voice II2
VOICE 201Sophomore Voice I2
VOICE 202Sophomore Voice II3
VOICE 301Junior Voice I3
VOICE 302Junior Voice II3
VOICE 401Senior Voice I3
VOICE 402Senior Voice II3
Studio Class
VOICE 300 (enroll with applied lesson each semester)
Music History
CONSVTY 350AStyles and Genres in Music3
CONSVTY 350BMethods in Musicology3
Analysis and Conducting
CONSVTY 380Basic Conducting - Choral2
CONSVTY 390Analysis3
Vocal Coaching
VOICE 411Vocal Coaching: Voice Recital Preparation (2 semesters)2
Dramatic Coursework
CONSVTY 301EOpera Theater Ensemble (any combination of the two courses for two semesters)0-2
or CONSVTY 319 Opera Role Performance
CONSVTY 301FOpera Production (1 semester of participation required during the degree)0
THEATRE 102Acting for the Opera1
CONSVTY 417Opera Workshop (1 semester req'd - Sophomore year, Fall Semester)1
CONSVTY 417EScene Study (3 semesters)3
CONSVTY 417FOpera Role Preparation and Audition Techniques1
Diction
CONSVTY 185BForeign Language For Singing II (Italian Diction)2
CONSVTY 185CForeign Language For Singing III (German Diction)2
CONSVTY 185DForeign Language For Singing IV (French Diction)2
Vocal Pedagogy and Literature
CONSVTY 457Vocal Literature I2
CONSVTY 458Vocal Literature II2
CONSVTY 491BPedagogical Practices I Voice2
Ensemble
Any combination of the following courses (8 semesters):8
UMKC Choral Union
Conservatory Singers
Conservatory Concert Choir
Foreign Language
Language (4 semesters) 112
Total Credits95-97

Minimum Grade: C or better in all CONSVTY or Instrument specific coursework

Minimum GPA: 2.0

Total Credit Hours: 125-127

Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements

UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years.  Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”.  In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.

UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.

UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study.  This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.

UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).