UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Degree Requirements

Music Major

Bachelor of Arts - Music and Bachelor of Science - Music 


The Bachelor of Arts - Music degree plan is designed for students who wish to focus on music performance. The Bachelor of Science - Music degree plan is designed for students who wish to focus on non-performance aspects of music, such as conducting, composition, research, etc. Both of these degree plans are detailed below. 

Students who wish to become music teachers should explore the Bachelor of Music Education degree. 


Bachelor of Arts - Music


MODULE 1 - MUSIC FOUNDATIONS AND CORE, 33 credits 

Select each of the following courses: 

  • MUS 110 - Introduction to Music Studies - 3 cr.
  • MUS 126 - Technology for the Musician- 1 cr.
  • MUS 130 - Musicianship I - 3 cr.
  • MUS 131 - Musicianship II - 3 cr.
  • MUS 132 - Aural Skills I - 1 cr.
  • MUS 133 - Aural Skills II - 1 cr.
  • MUS 140 - Class Piano I (or Applied Piano) - 1 cr.
  • MUS 144 - Class Piano II (or Applied Piano) - 1 cr.
  • MUS 146 - Class Piano III (or Applied Piano) - 1 cr.
  • MUS 230 - Musicianship III - 3 cr.
  • MUS 231 - Musicianship IV - 3 cr.
  • MUS 232 - Aural Skills III - 1 cr.
  • MUS 233 - Aural Skills IV - 1 cr.
  • MUS 234 - Music History and Literature I - 3 cr.
  • MUS 235 - Music History and Literature II - 3 cr.
  • MUS 240 - Piano Proficiency - 1 cr.
  • MUS 300 - World Music - 3 cr.

MODULE 2 - APPLIED MUSIC, 8 credits 

Primary Area (100-Level) - Select four (4) credits across four (4) semesters from one of the following areas:

  • MUSA 120 - Brass - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 121 - Guitar - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 122 - Harpsichord - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 123 - Organ - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 124 - Percussion - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 125 - Piano - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 126 - Strings - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 127 - Voice - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 128 - Woodwinds - 1 cr.

               NOTE: Sample Primary Area: Voice students would select Applied Voice

Primary Area (300-Level) - Select three (3) credits across three (3) semesters from one of the following areas:

  • MUSA 320 - Brass - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 321 - Guitar- 1 cr.
  • MUSA 322 - Harpsichord - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 323 - Organ - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 324 - Percussion- 1 cr.
  • MUSA 325 - Piano - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 326 - Strings - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 327 - Voice - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 328 - Woodwinds - 1 cr.

               NOTE: Sample Primary Area: Voice students would select Applied Voice

Senior Recital 

  • MUS 491 - Senior Recital - 1 cr.

MODULE 3 - ENSEMBLES, 10 credits 

Primary Ensemble - Select six (6) credits across six (6) semesters - choose from the following: 

  • MUSE 108 - Concert Choir - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 113 - Symphony Band - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 111 - St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 115 - Piano Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 119 - Guitar Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 129 - Chamber Singers - 1 cr.

Choice Ensemble - Select two (2) credits across two (2) semesters - choose from the following: 

  • MUSE 101 - Pep Band - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 102 - Marching Band - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 105 - Tenor/Bass Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 106 - Chamber String Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 107 - Falcon Band - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 110 - Treble Choir - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 112 - Brass Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 114 - Percussion Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 116 - Woodwind Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 117 - New Music Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 118 - Jazz Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 130 - World Music Ensemble - 1 cr.

Additional Ensembles - Select each of the following courses: 

  • MUSE 117 - New Music Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 130 - World Music Ensemble - 1 cr. 

MODULE 4 - MUSIC ELECTIVES, 9 credits 

  • Choose nine (9) additional credits of 200-level (or higher) MUS courses from the UWRF Catalog (note: the courses selected for Module 4 - Music Electives may NOT be counted in other modules)  

Bachelor of Science - Music


MODULE 1 - MUSIC FOUNDATIONS AND CORE, 33 credits 

Select each of the following courses: 

  • MUS 110 - Introduction to Music Studies - 3 cr.
  • MUS 126 - Technology for the Musician- 1 cr.
  • MUS 130 - Musicianship I - 3 cr.
  • MUS 131 - Musicianship II - 3 cr.
  • MUS 132 - Aural Skills I - 1 cr.
  • MUS 133 - Aural Skills II - 1 cr.
  • MUS 140 - Class Piano I (or Applied Piano) - 1 cr.
  • MUS 144 - Class Piano II (or Applied Piano) - 1 cr.
  • MUS 146 - Class Piano III (or Applied Piano) - 1 cr.
  • MUS 230 - Musicianship III - 3 cr.
  • MUS 231 - Musicianship IV - 3 cr.
  • MUS 232 - Aural Skills III - 1 cr.
  • MUS 233 - Aural Skills IV - 1 cr.
  • MUS 234 - Music History and Literature I - 3 cr.
  • MUS 235 - Music History and Literature II - 3 cr.
  • MUS 240 - Piano Proficiency - 1 cr.
  • MUS 300 - World Music - 3 cr.

MODULE 2 - APPLIED MUSIC, 8 credits 

Primary Area (100-Level) - Select four (4) credits across four (4) semesters from one of the following areas:

  • MUSA 120 - Brass - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 121 - Guitar - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 122 - Harpsichord - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 123 - Organ - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 124 - Percussion - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 125 - Piano - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 126 - Strings - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 127 - Voice - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 128 - Woodwinds - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 130 - Conducting - 1 cr. 
  • MUSA 131 - Composition - 1 cr. 
  • MUSA 132 - Jazz Improvisation - 1 cr. 

               NOTE: Sample Primary Area: Compositions students would select Applied Composition 

Primary Area (300-Level) - Select two (2) credits across two (2) semesters from one of the following areas:

  • MUSA 320 - Brass - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 321 - Guitar- 1 cr.
  • MUSA 322 - Harpsichord - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 323 - Organ - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 324 - Percussion- 1 cr.
  • MUSA 325 - Piano - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 326 - Strings - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 327 - Voice - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 328 - Woodwinds - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 330 - Conducting - 1 cr. 
  • MUSA 331 - Composition - 1 cr. 
  • MUSA 332 - Jazz Improvisation - 1 cr. 

               NOTE: Sample Primary Area: Voice students would select Applied Voice

Capstone - Select two (2) credits across two (2) semesters 

  • MUS 492 - Capstone - 1 cr.

MODULE 3 - ENSEMBLES, 10 credits 

Primary Ensemble - Select six (6) credits across six (6) semesters - choose from the following: 

  • MUSE 108 - Concert Choir - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 113 - Symphony Band - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 111 - St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 115 - Piano Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 119 - Guitar Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 129 - Chamber Singers - 1 cr.

Choice Ensemble - Select two (2) credits across two (2) semesters - choose from the following: 

  • MUSE 101 - Pep Band - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 102 - Marching Band - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 105 - Tenor/Bass Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 106 - Chamber String Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 107 - Falcon Band - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 110 - Treble Choi - 1 cr.r
  • MUSE 112 - Brass Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 114 - Percussion Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 116 - Woodwind Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 117 - New Music Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 118 - Jazz Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 130 - World Music Ensemble - 1 cr.

Additional Ensembles - Select each of the following courses: 

  • MUSE 117 - New Music Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 130 - World Music Ensemble - 1 cr. 

MODULE 4 - MUSIC ELECTIVES, 9 credits 

  • Choose nine (9) additional credits of 200-level (or higher) MUS courses from the UWRF Catalog (note: the courses selected for Module 4 - Music Electives may NOT be counted in other modules)  

Music Department 


The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Music Department offers high-quality undergraduate programs in music leading to the degrees Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Science in Music, as well as Minors in Music and Musical Theater. The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Contact Information 


B46 Kleinpell Fine Arts
715-425-3183
www.uwrf.edu/MUS