Musical Theatre Concentration
School of Music
Bulletin Year: 2026-2027
Important: This course plan is a recommended sequence for this major. Courses designated as
critical (!) may have a deadline for completion and/or affect time to graduation. Please see
the program notes section for details regarding “critical courses” for this particular Program of Study.
Semester One (12-13 Credit Hours)
| Critical | Course Code | Subject and Title | Credit Hours | Min. Grade1 | Major GPA2 | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | ENGL 101 | Critical Reading and Composition (CC-CMW) | 3 | C | ||
| Major Ensemble3 (MR) | 1 | C | * | |||
| MUED 155 | Group Piano4 (or demonstration of piano prof. is required) (MR) | 2 | C | * | ||
| ! | MUSC 117 | Aural Skills I (MR) | 1 | C | * | |
| MUSC 111 | Lower Div. Applied Music5 (MR) | 2 | C | * | ||
| MUSC 100 | Music Convocation (MR) | 0 | S | |||
| Foreign Language6 or other Carolina Core Requirement7 (CC-GFL) | 3-4 |
Semester Two (16 Credit Hours)
| Critical | Course Code | Subject and Title | Credit Hours | Min. Grade1 | Major GPA2 | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | ENGL 102 | Rhetoric and Composition (CC-CMW/CC-INF) | 3 | C | C or better in ENGL 101 | |
| Major Ensemble3 (MR) | 1 | C | * | |||
| MUED 156 | Group Piano4 (or demonstration of piano prof. is required) (MR) | 2 | C | * | C or better in MUED 155 or advanced placement via exam | |
| ! | MUSC 118 | Aural Skills II (MR) | 1 | C | * | MUSC 117 |
| MUSC 111 | Lower Div. Applied Music5 (MR) | 2 | C | * | ||
| MUSC 100 | Music Convocation (MR) | 0 | S | |||
| MUSC 100L | Recital Class Laboratory (MR) | 1 | C | * | ||
| ! | MUSC 115 | Music Theory I (CC-AIU) | 3 | C | C or better in MUSC 114 (or passing score on the Ugrad Theory Diag. Exam) | |
| Foreign Language6 or other Carolina Core Requirement7 (CC-GFL) | 3 |
Semester Three (16 Credit Hours)
| Critical | Course Code | Subject and Title | Credit Hours | Min. Grade1 | Major GPA2 | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | MUSC 217 | Aural Skills III (MR) | 1 | C | * | C or better in MUSC 118 |
| Major Ensemble3 (MR) | 1 | C | * | |||
| MUSC 111 | Lower Div. Applied Music5 (MR) | 2 | C | * | ||
| ! | MUSC 215 | Music Theory II (MR) | 3 | C | * | C or better in MUSC 115 |
| MUSC 278 or MUSC 500 |
Introduction to Singer’s Diction or Topics in Performance and Literature8 (MR) |
2 | C | * | ||
| DANC 102 | Ballet Technique I (MR) | 1 | C | * | ||
| Carolina Core Requirement7 (CC) | 3 | |||||
| Foreign Language6 or Carolina Core Requirement7 (PR/CC) | 3 |
Semester Four (14-15 Credit Hours)
| Critical | Course Code | Subject and Title | Credit Hours | Min. Grade1 | Major GPA2 | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC 353 | History of Western Music I (MR) | 3 | C | * | C or better in MUSC 100L & 115 | |
| ! | MUSC 218 | Aural Skills IV (MR) | 1 | C | * | C or better in MUSC 217 |
| Major Ensemble3 (MR) | 1 | C | * | |||
| MUSC 111 | Lower Div. Applied Music5 (MR) | 2 | C | * | ||
| Theory Elective9 (MR) | 3 | C | * | |||
| DANC 112 | Contemporary Dance Technique I (MR) | 1 | C | * | ||
| Carolina Core Requirement7 (CC) | 3-4 | |||||
| MUSC 100A | Music Advocacy I (MR) | 0 | S |
Semester Five (15-17 Credit Hours)
| Critical | Course Code | Subject and Title | Credit Hours | Min. Grade1 | Major GPA2 | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC 354 | History of Western Music II (MR/CC-INT) | 3 | C | * | C or better in MUSC 353 or 340 | |
| MUSC 130A-Z | Ensemble (Chamber)10 (MR) | 0-2 | C | * | ||
| MUSC 111 | Lower Div. Applied Music5 (MR) | 2 | C | * | ||
| DANC 178 | Jazz Dance Technique I (MR) | 1 | C | * | ||
| THEA 170 | Fundamentals of Acting (PR) | 3 | ||||
| THEA 240 | Beginning Voice and Speech (MR) | 3 | C | * | ||
| Carolina Core Requirement7 (CC) | 3 |
Semester Six (15-16 Credit Hours)
| Critical | Course Code | Subject and Title | Credit Hours | Min. Grade1 | Major GPA2 | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC 445 or MUSC 544 or MUSC 546 |
ST: Musicology & Ethnomusicology or Topics in Music History or Black Sacred Music: Local & Global Perspectives (MR) |
3 | C | * | C or better in MUSC 354 (MUSC 445 & 546) | |
| MUSC 111 | Lower Div. Applied Music5 (MR) | 2 | C | * | ||
| Ensemble (major or chamber)3&10 (MR) | 1 | C | * | |||
| THEA 270 | Beginning Acting (MR) | 3 | C | * | THEA 170 | |
| History11 | History11 (PR) | 3 | ||||
| Carolina Core Requirement7 (CC) | 3-4 |
Semester Seven (16 Credit Hours)
| Critical | Course Code | Subject and Title | Credit Hours | Min. Grade1 | Major GPA2 | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concentration Course12 (MR) | 3 | C | * | |||
| Ensemble (major or chamber)3&10 (MR) | 1 | C | * | |||
| THEA 280 | Elements of Design for Theatre Production (MR) | 3 | C | * | ||
| Theory Elective9 (MR) | 3 | C | * | |||
| Humanities or Fine Arts (PR) | 3 | |||||
| Social Science (PR) | 3 |
Semester Eight (14-17 Credit Hours)
| Critical | Course Code | Subject and Title | Credit Hours | Min. Grade1 | Major GPA2 | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ensemble (major or chamber)3&10 (MR) | 1 | C | * | |||
| THEA 370 | Intermediate Acting (MR) | 3 | C | * | THEA 170 or 270 | |
| Humanities or Fine Arts (PR) | 3 | |||||
| Carolina Core Requirement7 (CC) | 3 | |||||
| Carolina Core Requirement7 or Elective13 (CC/PR) | 3-4 | |||||
| Carolina Core Requirement7 or Elective13 (depends on req. needed to meet Carolina Core or hrs. to graduate) (CC/PR) | 1-3 |
Graduation Requirements Summary
| Minimum Total Hours | Minimum Major Requirements Hours | Minimum College & Program Requirements Hours | Carolina Core Hours | Minimum Institutional GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 121 | 49-67 | 15-40 | 32-44 | 2.000 |
- Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.50 GPA on all MUSC & MUED courses and a 2.00 cumulative GPA.
- Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.
- Students are required to participate in the major ensemble most closely related to their primary instrument. Students must declare a primary instrument upon acceptance into the program. The major ensembles are: Marching Band, Symphonic Winds, Wind Ensemble, University Orchestra, Concert Choir, and University Chorus. Students who choose to complete the Musical Theatre concentration must complete 4 semesters of musical theatre ensemble, selected from MUSC 130M and MUSC 450.
- MUED 155 and 156 are not required if taking MUSC 111P for Piano as primary instrument or if a student passes the proficiency exam.
- Applied Music must be completed satisfactorily for a minimum of six semesters and 12 hours of credit.
- Students in the Music, BA program are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.
- The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.
- Music Major Electives: Students must complete a minimum of 6 hours of music major electives, including MUED 155 and 156, if needed, or MUSC 278 for those whose primary medium is voice. Students who choose to complete the Musical Theatre Concentration must choose MUSC 278 or MUSC 500 as 2 hours of their Major Electives.
- Theory Electives (6 hours): MUSC 312, 313, 315, 319, 320, 515, 518, 525, 526, 528.
- Courses which qualify for the Chamber Music requirement include all MUSC 130 courses with a suffix of A-Z and topics in: Voice, String, Percussion, Wind, Guitar, and Keyboard.
- The School of Music requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course, both of which must be chosen from the approved Carolina Core GHS courses. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement.
- Students should select 3 credits from any combination of the following: any DANC or THEA course(s) or additional semesters of MUSC 130M.
- No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the School of Music. The School of Music allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the School of Music.
Program Notes
- Courses identified as “critical” carry specific completion deadlines. ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 must be completed within the first 60 semester hours of work in order to be credited toward graduation. MUSC courses identified as “critical” must be completed in order to be admitted to the upper division.
- All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
- The Cognate or Minor requirement is optional for students who choose to complete the Musical Theatre Concentration. The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of, but related to the major. In place of a cognate, a student may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of courses concentrated in one area that follow a structured sequence. Students who choose to complete a concentration in Musical Theatre may not also choose to complete a Theatre Minor. A second major eliminates the minor/cognate requirement. Music majors may supplement their degree with a minor in Audio Recording, Music Entrepreneurship, or Music Industry Studies.
- Performance Certificate: The performance certificate is awarded by the School of Music to recognize those undergraduate music students with degree emphases other than music performance, as well as those students not majoring in music. The performance certificate will allow gifted and highly motivated students to acquire additional credit, professorial interaction, guidance, and departmental distinction in music performance.
University Requirements: Bachelor’s degree-seeking students must meet Carolina Core (general education) requirements.Code Definitions
Code
Definition
CC
Carolina Core
CC-AIU
Carolina Core – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding
CC-ARP
Carolina Core – Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving
CC-CMS
Carolina Core – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component
CC-CMW
Carolina Core – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written Component
CC-GFL
Carolina Core – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language
CC-GHS
Carolina Core – Historical Thinking
CC-GSS
Carolina Core – Social Sciences
CC-INF
Carolina Core – Information Literacy
CC-INT
Carolina Core – Integrative Course
CC-SCI
Carolina Core – Scientific Literacy
CC-VSR
Carolina Core – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility
CR
College Requirement
MR
Major Requirement
PR
Program Requirement
Disclaimer: Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a
program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application
of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for
upcoming semesters.