Bachelor of Music: Music Theory
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 course in Culture and Diverse Perspectives; a course in Civic & Urban Engagement; 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 on the General Education Requirements page.
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:
- Demonstrate music-theoretical knowledge in writing about music
- Use music-theoretical knowledge in academic and public communication about music.
- Use music-theoretical knowledge and ideas to create self-driven original research and analytical works.
Program Requirements
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| 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 & Diverse Perspectives (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Credits | 3 | |
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 bachelor's 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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CONSVTY 151 (MUSE; satisfies GECRT-AH course requirement) | 3 | |
| Musicianship | ||
| CONSVTY 141 | Musicianship I | 4 |
| CONSVTY 142 | Musicianship II | 4 |
| CONSVTY 241 | Musicianship III | 4 |
| CONSVTY 242 | Musicianship IV | 4 |
| Keyboard Skills | ||
| CONSVTY 110 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 |
| CONSVTY 123 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 |
| CONSVTY 223 | Keyboard Skills III | 1 |
| CONSVTY 310 | Keyboard Skills IV | 1 |
| Applied Lessons and Studio Class 1 | ||
| Instrument 300 (6 semesters, Studio) | ||
| Instrument 101 (Freshman Instrument I) | 2 | |
| Instrument 102 (Freshman Instrument II) | 2 | |
| Instrument 201 (Sophomore Instrument I) | 2 | |
| Instrument 202 (Sophomore Instrument II) | 2 | |
| Instrument 301 (Junior Instrument I) | 2 | |
| Instrument 302 (Junior Instrument II) | 2 | |
| Music History | ||
| CONSVTY 350A | Styles and Genres in Music | 3 |
| CONSVTY 350B | Methods in Musicology | 3 |
| Ensemble | 6 | |
| 6 semesters from the following | ||
| Orchestra | ||
| Improvisational Music/Media Performance Ensemble | ||
| Conservatory Wind Ensemble | ||
| Wind Symphony | ||
| UMKC Choral Union | ||
| Conservatory Singers | ||
| Conservatory Concert Choir | ||
| Analysis, Orchestration and Conducting | ||
| CONSVTY 380 | Basic Conducting - Choral | 2 |
| or CONSVTY 381 | Basic Conducting - Instrumental | |
| CONSVTY 453 | Advanced Seminar in Musicology | 3 |
| CONSVTY 331 | Instrumentation | 2 |
| CONSVTY 390 | Analysis | 3 |
| CONSVTY 427 | Tonal Counterpoint | 2 |
| CONSVTY 428 | Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory | 3 |
| Advanced Theory | ||
| CONSVTY 454 | Advanced Seminar in Music Theory | 3 |
| CONSVTY 491K | Pedagogy of Music Theory | 3 |
| CONSVTY 498 | Research Problems | 2 |
| Electives and Languages | ||
| General or Music Electives | 14 | |
| FRENCH 110 & FRENCH 120 | Elementary French I and Elementary French II | 6 |
| or GERMAN 110 & GERMAN 120 | Elementary German I and Elementary German II | |
| or ITALIAN 110 & ITALIAN 120 | Elementary Italian I and Elementary Italian II | |
| Total Credits | 90 | |
- 1
Instrument: BASSOON, CELLO, CLARINET, EUPHONIUM, FLUTE, GUITAR, HORN, OBOE, PERCUSSION, PIANO, SAXOPHONE, STRING BASS, TROMBONE, TRUMPET, TUBA, VIOLA, VIOLIN, OR VOICE.
Students must demonstrate functional piano facility, aural skills and satisfactory part-writing and analysis proficiency.
Minimum Grade: C or better in all CONSVTY or Instrument specific coursework
GPA Minimum: 2.0 (Students not maintaining this minimum average may not graduate until an appropriate class or classes are retaken and the minimum average achieved.)
Total Credit Hours 120
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).
Year 1