Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology
Visual and Performing Arts (BA) with Music Concentration
Students who complete the major in Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) pursue an interdisciplinary study of the arts by completing a major core that includes courses in writing, interdisciplinary studies, historical context, theory, and practice. The VPA major culminates in a Senior Capstone. Students who are majoring in VPA can focus their studies by choosing from nine possible concentrations.
The Music concentration allows students to develop a strong musical background through private study of their primary instrument or voice, along with music theory, composition/digital music, and history/literature. Opportunities to perform include solo performance, chamber music and large ensembles. Ensembles are available for voice, harp, guitar, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and mixed chamber groups.
Admission into the university does not guarantee acceptance into the Visual & Performing Arts Music concentration. Acceptance into the Visual & Performing Arts Music concentration depends on completing a successful audition in the primary instrument or voice. Information about auditions, including online submissions, in-person dates, and repertoire options, is available at music.utdallas.edu.
At least one-half of the total semester credit hours for major requirements must be taken at UT Dallas.
Unless otherwise noted, courses in Visual and Performing Arts are open to all students in the University.
Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts with Music Concentration
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professor: Robert Xavier Rodríguez
Clinical Professor: Catherine Parsoneault
Clinical Associate Professor: Linda Salisbury
Associate Professors of Instruction: Kelly P. Durbin, Kathryn C. Evans, Jonathan Palant
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours
Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
Select 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
MUSI 2322 Music in Western Civilization1
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses (see advisor)
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses
Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses (see advisor)
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
MUSI 2321 Music Cultures of the World1
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option Core courses
II. Major Requirements: 61-67 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
AHTC 1100 First Year Seminar
Lower-Division Preparatory Music History/Theory Courses: 9-15 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
MUSI 2321 Music Cultures of the World1
MUSI 2322 Music in Western Civilization1
MUSI 2328 Music Theory I
MUSI 2329 Music Theory II
MUSI 2330 Music Theory III
Upper-Division Required Music History/Theory Courses: 9 semester credit hours
MUSI 3328 Advanced Theory and Keyboard Skills
MUSI 3330 Music Literature: Romantic to Modern
MUSI 3331 Music Literature: Baroque and Classic Eras
Select 6 semester credit hours of upper-division Music History/Theory elective courses:
MUSI 3322 Music in Historical Context
MUSI 3324 Jazz History: Roots to Swing
MUSI 3325 Jazz History: Modern Jazz Since Bebop
MUSI 3327 Music in Modern Culture
MUSI 3342 Topics in Music
MUSI 3389 Digital Music II
MUSI 4348 Creating Music
16 semester credit hours of Applied Music courses in primary instrument or voice (at least 8 semester credit hours must be upper-division)
8 semester credit hours of any 1 semester credit hour upper-division MUSI ensemble participation. Placement by audition.
Visual and Performing Art Requirements: 12 semester credit hours
VPAS 3340 Writing in the Arts
VPAS 4389 Theory and Practice of the Visual and Performing Arts
VPAS 4390 Senior Capstone
or VPAS 4V99 Senior Honors in Visual and Performing Art
3 semester credit hours of upper-division Related Courses from the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology (excluding the MUSI prefix)
Free Electives: 11-17 semester credit hours
Both upper- and lower-division courses may be used as electives. Students may enroll in courses in other performance areas, such as dance and theatre, complete a minor of their choice, or select additional music courses such as training in a second instrument/voice focus, or additional training in music history or music theory.
The plan must include sufficient upper-division courses to total 45 upper-division semester credit hours.
Minors
Students must take a minimum of 18 semester credit hours for the minor. Students who take a minor will be expected to meet the normal prerequisites in courses making up the minor, and should maintain a minimum GPA of 2.000 on a 4.00 scale (C average). Semester credit hours may not be used to satisfy both the major and minor requirements; however, free elective semester credit hours or major preparatory classes may be used to satisfy the minor. Core courses offered by the school may count as lower-division semester credit hours toward the minor. Topics courses must be approved by the school. The Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology will substitute courses as necessary. At least one-third of the semester credit hours for a minor must be taken at The University of Texas at Dallas.
Minor in Audio Production
18 semester credit hours
Required Lower-division Courses: (6 semester credit hours)
All students must take the following audio production course:
ANGM 2345 Introduction to Audio Production
And one of the following music courses:2
MUSI 2328 Music Theory I
MUSI 2329 Music Theory II
MUSI 2330 Music Theory III
MUSI 2319 Digital Music I
Required Upper-division Courses: (12 semester credit hours)
Choose one course from the following: (3 semester credit hours)
MUSI 3322 Music in Historical Context
MUSI 3327 Music in Modern Culture
MUSI 3330 Music Literature: Romantic to Modern
Choose three courses from the following: (9 semester credit hours)
ANGM 3372 Sound for Games
ANGM 3373 Field Audio Recording Techniques
ANGM 3347 Sound Techniques I
ANGM 4347 Sound Techniques II
ATCM 3345 Audio Technologies
ATCM 4345 Digital Audio Processing
ANGM 3346 Audio Productions Lab I
ANGM 4346 Audio Productions Lab II
MUSI 3328 Advanced Theory and Keyboard Skills
MUSI 3389 Digital Music II
MUSI 4348 Creating Music
Minor in Music
18 semester credit hours
6-9 Lower-Division Semester Credit Hours; 9-12 Upper-Division Semester Credit Hours
Required Lower-Division Courses: 6 semester credit hours
MUSI 2322 Music in Western Civilization
or MUSI 2329 Music Theory II2, 3
or MUSI 2330 Music Theory III2, 3
Additional Music History and Music Theory Courses: 6 semester credit hours total
Choose from the following:
MUSI 2321 Music Cultures of the World
MUSI 3322 Music in Historical Context
MUSI 3324 Jazz History: Roots to Swing
MUSI 3325 Jazz History: Modern Jazz since BeBop
MUSI 3327 Music in Modern Culture
MUSI 3328 Advanced Theory and Keyboard Skills
MUSI 3330 Music Literature: Romantic to Modern
MUSI 3331 Music Literature: Baroque and Classic Eras
MUSI 3342 Topics in Music
MUSI 3389 Digital Music II
MUSI 4348 Creating Music
Upper-Division Music Performance and/or Ensemble courses: 6 semester credit hours total
Choose any combination of 6 semester credit hours from the following:
Vocal/Instrumental Studies
MUSI 3129 Applied Music
MUSI 3229 Applied Music
MUSI 3380 Guitar II
MUSI 3382 Vocal Instruction II
MUSI 3384 Best of Broadway
MUSI 3387 Keyboard Skills for Contemporary Music
MUSI 3388 Piano II
MUSI 4344 Opera Workshop
MUSI 4322 Vocal Instruction III
MUSI 4345 Music Performance III
Music Ensembles
3000-level ensembles are generally offered in the fall semester; 4000-level ensembles are generally offered in the spring semester. Ensembles may be repeated for credit.
MUSI 3112 Advanced Orchestra/Chamber Music Ensemble I
MUSI 4112 Advanced Orchestra/Chamber Music Ensemble II
MUSI 3116 Guitar Ensemble II
MUSI 4116 Guitar Ensemble III
MUSI 3118 String Orchestra II
MUSI 4118 String Orchestra III
MUSI 3120 Wind Ensemble II
MUSI 4120 Wind Ensemble III
MUSI 3122 Brass Ensemble I
MUSI 3124 Harp Ensemble I
MUSI 4124 Harp Ensemble II
MUSI 3127 University Choir
MUSI 3130 Percussion Ensemble
MUSI 3131 Drumline
MUSI 3181 Instrumental Ensemble II
MUSI 4146 Instrumental Ensemble III
MUSI 3185 Chamber Singers I
MUSI 4185 Chamber Singers II
MUSI 3186 Jazz Ensemble II
MUSI 4186 Jazz Ensemble III
MUSI 4V12 Chamber Music
MUSI 4V13 Chamber Music II
1. A required Major Preparatory Course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Semester credit hours may be counted in Core Curriculum.
2. Students may use only one lower-division music theory course for the minor
3. Music Theory level for Minor depends on successful placement evaluation and instructor approval