Music: Performance - Bachelor of Music 2024-25 Degree Map

Requirements (REQ) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps & Advising

Degree maps show just one possible course plan for how to earn a degree in four years. To graduate in four years, you need an average of 45 credits per year to reach 180 total credits, including 62 upper division (300/400 level courses) credits. You may need to take electives (courses that are not used to meet specific requirements) to reach those totals. Most courses at PSU are 4 credits each. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

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Bulletin or Catalog Year

This guide outlines the requirements in the 2024-25 Bulletin. Bulletin or Catalog year defines the specific set of requirements you need to complete a degree. Requirements occasionally change, so it may benefit you to follow a different catalog. Typically, your catalog year is the year you began at PSU, but if you are a transfer student you may be able to use an earlier catalog. Review PSU's course catalog policy and talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you.

PSU Bulletins (2015-present)

DARS System

Students are highly encouraged to run their own Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) report in myPSU to track their progress through their program. You'll need to know which catalog year you'd like to use for your audit request. Students are also encouraged to contact an advisor if they have any questions about their DARS, catalog/bulletin year, or degree requirements in general. DARS audits are advising tools and are not an official record of earning a degree, major, minor, or certificate. You must apply to have a degree or certificate awarded.

How to Run a DARS

First Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
First Year Inquiry or Honors	5	First Year Inquiry or Honors	5	First Year Inquiry or Honors	5
MUS 111	3	MUS 112	3	MUS 113	3
MUS 114	1	MUS 115	1	MUS 116	1
MUP 190	2	MUP 190	2	MUP 190	2
MUS 195, 196, or 197	1	MUS 195, 196, or 197	1	MUS 195, 196, or 197	1
MUS 194	1	MUS 194	1	MUS 194	1
MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0
Music Elective or MUS 191	2	Music Elective or MUS 192	2	Music Elective or MUS 193	2
MUS 046	0	General Elective	2	Music Elective	2
Total Fall Credits	15	Total Winter Credits	17	Total Spring Credits	17

First Year Milestone: Pass MUS 046 (Piano Proficiency) in Fall or enroll in MUS 191-193. Complete MUS 111-116 and 6 credits of MUP 190 (by end of Spring term).

Second Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors	4	Sophomore Inquiry or Honors	4	Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement	3-4
MUS 211	3	MUS 212	3	MUS 213	3
MUS 214	1	MUS 215	1	MUS 216	1
MUP 290	2	MUP 290	2	MUP 290	2
MUS 291	2	MUS 292	2	MUS 293	2
MUS 195, 196, or 197	1	MUS 195, 196, or 197	1	MUS 195, 196, or 197	1
MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0
MUS 204	2	MUS 205	1	MUS Elective	2
Total Fall Credits	15	Total Winter Credits	14	Total Spring Credits	15

Second Year Milestone: Complete MUS 211-216, 6 credits of MUP 290 (by end of Spring term).

Third Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors	4	Upper Division Cluster or Honors	4	Upper Division Cluster or Honors	4
MUS 395, 396, or 397	1	MUS 395, 396, or 397	1	MUS 395, 396, or 397	1
MUP 390	2	MUP 390	2	MUP 390	2
MUS 311	3	MUS 312	3	MUS 313	3
MUS 304	4	MUS 305	4	MUS 306	2
MUS 320	2	MUS Elective	2	MUS 307	2
MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0
				MUS 048	0
Total Fall Credits	16	Total Winter Credits	16	Total Spring Credits	14

Third Year Milestone: Complete MUS 304-307, MUS 048, 6 credits of MUP 390 (by end of Spring term).

Fourth Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis	6	MUS Elective	2	MUS 394	1
World Music Elective	4	MUS Elective	2	MUS Elective	3
MUS 395, 396, or 397	1	MUS 395, 396, or 397	1	MUS 395, 396, or 397	1
MUP 490	2	MUP 490	2	MUP 490	2
MUS 481	3	Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement	3-4	MUS 470 or 482	2
MUS 394	1	MUS 394	1	General Elective	3
MUS 049	0	MUS 482	2	General Elective	2
Total Fall Credits	17	Total Winter Credits	13-14	Total Spring Credits	16

Fourth Year Milestone: Complete Music History Elective, MUS 049, 6 credits of MUP 490 (by end of Spring term).

Additional Map Notes:

Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement: Two courses required, each minimum 3 credits: one course must focus on the U.S. experience; the second course must center the experiences of groups under European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism beyond the United States. One must be within the School of Gender, Race and Nations or be cross-listed with one of the SGRN units: Black Studies (BST), Chicanx/Latinx Studies (CHLA), Indigenous Nations Studies (NAS), or Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WS). If you choose a RESR course that can be applied towards another requirement, take an elective here instead.
MUS 046: Students must pass piano proficiency (MUS 046) or take MUS 191/192/193. Courses count as lower division music (MUS) electives.
MUS 395, 396, or 397: Piano majors may take MUS 351 in lieu of 2 credits of MUS 395, 396, or 397.
World Music Elective: Choose from MUS 374U, 375U, 377U or 378.
You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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