The Bachelor of Music degree with Elective Studies in an Outside Field provides comprehensive music training with focused study in a separate discipline. This degree assists the student in integrating interests beyond music and encourages the development of breadth and diversity in the arts and in the complementary discipline. The following elective fields are available:

  • Biblical and Theological Studies

  • Business

  • Christian Formation and Ministry

  • Computer Science

  • English

  • Majority World Studies

  • Mathematics

  • Media

  • Philosophy

  • Pre-Health Studies

  • Pre-Law Studies

  • Psychology

  • Theater

  • Urban Studies

  • Alternate Field

Core Major Requirements

Music Theory & Composition (MUTC)15
Music Theory 1-4
MUTC 151Music Theory I3
MUTC 171Music Theory II3
MUTC 241Music Theory III2
MUTC 261Music Theory IV3
Aural Skills 1-4
MUTC 152Aural Skills I1
MUTC 172Aural Skills II1
MUTC 252Aural Skills III1
MUTC 272Aural Skills IV1
Context Studies (MUCS)18
MUCS 261Music Before 16002
MUCS 262Baroque and Classical Music Eras4
MUCS 263Nineteenth-Century Music2
MUCS 274World Music4
MUCS 361Twentieth-Century Music4
MUCS 494Senior Capstone2
Methods Studies (MUMS)5
MUMS 115Introduction to Music Studies2
MUMS 248
& MUMS 346		Basic Conducting
and Conducting Lab		3
Individual Performance (MUIP)20
Select 16 credits from MUIP 201 - MUIP 422 in Primary Instrument 116
Select 4 credits of electives from MUIP 101 - MUIP 422 14
Ensemble Performance (MUEP)6
MUEP 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218 (Large Ensemble, 8 semesters)4
Exceptions:
Majority World Studies (7 semesters, 3.5 credits)
Urban Studies (7 semesters, 3.5 credits)
Theater (6 semesters--only if accepted into Theater Workout--3 credits)
MUEP 356, 357, 358, 371 (Chamber Music)2
Music Electives6
Select any music course(s) other than MUCS 101, 102, 103 or MUTC 1016
Exceptions:
Majority World Studies (4 credits)
Pre-Health (4 credits)
Recital and Concert Attendance (MUEP)
MUEP 219Recital & Concert Attendance (eight semesters)0
Senior Half Recital
MUIP 492Half Senior Recital0
Piano Proficiency - Consult Conservatory Handbook
Free Electives3
Select 3 credits
Exceptions:
Pre-Health (5 credits)
Majority World Studies (1 credit)
Total Credits Required for Elective Fields24
Exception:
Biblical & Theological Studies (18 credits)
Theater (22 credits)
Total Credits Required for Major97
Exceptions:
Biblical & Theological Studies (91 credits)
Majority World Studies (92.5 credits)
Theater (94 credits)
Urban Studies (96.5 credits)
Total Credits Required for Degree129
Exceptions:
Biblical & Theological Studies (124 credits)
Majority World Studies (124.5 credits)
Theater (126 credits)
Urban Studies (128.5 credits)
1

Select courses tab and go to  Individual Performance Studies MUIP for course listings.

Elective Fields

Biblical and Theological Studies

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for Biblical and Theological Studies 1
Required8
BITH 325Biblical Interpretation and Hermeneutics4
BITH 375Christian Ethics4
Electives10
Select Option 1 or 2:
Option 1 (Biblical Studies):
BITH 344The Psalms: Songs of Israel and the Church2
or BITH 345 Life of David
Other OT and NT Courses: Select 8 credits from BITH 300-400 level courses8
Option 2 (Theological Studies):
BITH 372Historical Theology4
Other Theological Studies: Select 6 credits from BITH 300-400 level courses6
Total Credits for the Elective Field18
1

Above Gen Ed Bible Requirements.

Business

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for Business
Required20
ECON 211Principles of Microeconomics4
B EC 226Financial Accounting4
B EC 229Management Information Systems2
B EC 328Business Ethics2
B EC 341Principles of Marketing4
B EC 342Principles of Management4
Electives4
B EC 227Managerial Accounting4
B EC 336Entrepreneurship4
B EC 352Business Law2
Total Credits for the Elective Field24

Christian Formation and Ministry

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for Christian Formation and Ministry
Required16
CFM 115Introduction to Christian Formation and Ministry4
CFM 223Human Development and Ministry4
CFM 335Teaching the Bible4
CFM 421Philosophy of Ministry4
Electives
Select 8 credits of electives in CFM8
Total Credits for the Elective Field24

Computer Science

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for Computer Science
Required12
CSCI 235Programming I: Problem Solving4
CSCI 243Discrete Mathematics and Functional Programming4
CSCI 245Programming II: Object-Oriented Design4
Electives12
Any CSCI course numbered 300 and above *
Total Credits for the Elective Field24
*

Please be aware of the prerequisites for 300+ level CSCI courses.

English

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for English
Required16
ENGL 111Studies in Western Literature4
or ENGL 215 Classical and Early British Literature
ENGL 115Topics in Modern Global Literature4
ENGW 213Creative Writing4
Select 4 credits from American Literature (ENGL)4
Electives
Select 8 credits from ENGW/ENGL; excluding ENGW 103/ENGW 1048
Total Credits for the Elective Field24

Majority World Studies

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for Majority World Studies
Required16-22
HNGR 114Poverty, Justice and Transformation4
HNGR 385Field Research Methods4
HNGR 484Global Christian Perspective4
HNGR 495Independent Study2-4
HNGR 496Internship in Development4-8
Electives8
IR 315Politics of Global Development4
SOC 385Social Change in Latin America4
Other HNGR approved elective4
Total Credits for the Elective Field24-30

Mathematics

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for Mathematics
Required16
MATH 235Calculus I4
MATH 236Calculus II4
MATH 237Calculus III4
MATH 245Linear Algebra4
Proof-Based Courses6-8
MATH 241Introduction to Proofs2-4
or CSCI 243 Discrete Mathematics and Functional Programming
MATH 341Modern Algebra4
or MATH 351 Real Analysis
or MATH 362 Geometry
Math Elective0-2
Any MATH course numbered 250 and above0-2
Total Credits for the Elective Field24

Media

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for Media
Required8
COMM 241Media Studies4
COMM 441Media, Religion, and Culture4
Electives16
COMM 243Digital Society4
COMM 246Media Production4
COMM 343Screenwriting4
COMM 345Narrative Media4
COMM 444Special Topics in Media and Culture2-4
COMM 445Media Constructions4
Total Credits for the Elective Field24

Philosophy

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for Philosophy
Required12-16
PHIL 216Philosophy Of the Arts2 or 4
or PHIL 217 Philosophy of Art
PHIL 243Intro To Logic2 or 4
or PHIL 245 Logic
PHIL 311History of Philosophy - Ancient and Medieval4
PHIL 312History of Philosophy: Modern & Contemporary4
Electives8-12
Select courses from PHIL to total 24 credits (at least 12 of the 24 credits need to be taken at the 300 or 400 level)
Recommended: PHIL 447 or PHIL 448 ("Advanced Topics") and PHIL 454 or PHIL 455 ("Historical Seminar")
Total Credits for the Elective Field24

Pre-Health Studies

Note:  This degree track is designed for students who are interested in pursuing post-graduate studies in medicine, dentistry, and other health-related fields. Meeting the requirements for this degree does not guarantee that students will meet the prerequisite course requirements for all medical schools. The "Elective Field" courses listed below include most of the courses required for entrance to medical school and recommended as preparation for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). However, students will also need to add Physics to their academic plan at some point prior to taking the MCAT. Other courses that students should consider taking include Biochemistry, Psychology, Sociology, and Statistics. Some courses may count toward the General Education requirements (Thematic Core). Students are highly encouraged to consult with the Director of Health Professions early in their academic career in order to understand the medical school admissions timeline and receive help with course planning.

General Education - Major requirements

(For Thematic Core Category II, take PSYC 101 for the Social Inquiry tag)

Elective Field Courses for Pre-Health Studies
Required
BIOL 241Organization of Life: Genetics and Cell Biology4
BIOL 242Diversity of Life: An Introduction to Zoology and Botany4
CHEM 231General Chemistry I4
CHEM 232General Chemistry II4
CHEM 341Organic Chemistry I4
CHEM 342Organic Chemistry II4
Total Credits for the Elective Field24

Pre-Law Studies

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for Pre-Law Studies
Required8
PSCI 274Introduction to Law4
PSCI 496Internship (with a practicing legal professional)4
Law-Related Elective Courses
Select 8 credits from at least two departments:8
IR 367International Law4
PHIL 318Philosophy of Law2
PSCI 311Constitutional Law4
PSCI 368American Political Thought4
SOC 367Crime & Delinquency4
Supporting Elective Courses
Select 8 credits from at least two departments, one of which is not elected under the Law-Related Elective Courses:8
B EC 226Financial Accounting4
or B EC 227 Managerial Accounting
B EC 328Business Ethics2
COMM 252Argumentation and Debate4
COMM 253Messages, Influence, and Culture4
COMM 362Group Dynamics2
COMM 363Persuasion4
ENGW 214Persuasive Writing4
HIST 251American History to 18654
or HIST 252 American History from 1865
HIST 377British History to 16884
HIST 483History of Christianity in North America4
PHIL 243Intro To Logic2
PHIL 448Advanced Topics in Philosophy (Ethical Theory - Section 3)4
PSCI 135American Politics and Government4
PSCI 365Classical and Medieval Political Thought4
PSCI 366Modern Political Thought4
SOC 337Racial and Ethnic Relations4
SOC 356The Family4
SOC 376Sociological Theory4
Total Credits for the Elective Field24

Psychology

General Education - Major requirements

(For Thematic Core Category II, take PSYC 101  for the Social Inquiry tag)

Elective Field Courses for Psychology
Required20
PSYC 268Statistics4
PSYC 269Experimental Psychology4
PSYC 317Developmental Psychology4
PSYC 348Intro to Psychopathology4
PSYC 352Contemporary Clinical Psyc4
Electives4
PSYC 235Cross-Cultural Psychology2
PSYC 241Social Psychology4
PSYC 343Sensation and Perception4
PSYC 351Cognition4
PSYC 489Human Sexuality and Gender2
Total Credits for the Elective Field24

Theater

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for Theater
Required14
COMM 271Theater Survey2
COMM 272Scenography4
COMM 273Acting I4
COMM 374Directing4
Electives8
COMM 376Faith And Theater4
COMM 473Acting II4
COMM 474Special Topics in Theater4
Total Credits for the Elective Field22

Urban Studies

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for Urban Studies
Required14-20
URBN 114Social Life of Cities4
URBN 233Chicago4
BITH 376Theologies of Transformation4
URBN 296Urban Studies Practicum (Field Placement, Choose 1)2 - 8
or URBN 496 Internship
Electives4-10
URBN 371Race, Class, and Justice4
ENGW 233Writing Chicago4
URBN 494Advanced Urban Studies Seminar2
Total Credits for the Elective Field24

Alternate Field

General Education - Major requirements
Elective Field Courses for an Alternate Field
Required
Select 24 credits with the guidance of an academic sponsor 124
Total Credits for the Elective Field24
1

With the guidance of an academic sponsor, usually the student's advisor, an Alternate Field can be devised to satisfy specific degree objectives. The design of this degree depends on student initiative and thorough consultation with the advisor and faculty representative(s) from the department(s) representing the Alternate Field. The courses selected must be thematically congruous and reflect the ideal of a coherent, integrated whole. Applications for the Alternate Field degree are available in the Conservatory Advising Center, Armerding 217. The student's advisor, the Conservatory Director of Academic Studies, and the Department Chair of the appropriate departments approve each Alternate Field degree application.