School of Music

Stacy Reischman Fletcher, Interim Director
118 College Drive, #5081
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5543

Adams, Beard, Brumbeloe, Ciraldo, A. Davis, K. M. Davis, Dean, Fowler-Calisto, Fuller, Goertzen, Gwozdz, Hafer, Hightower, Kavnitz, Kyle, Lee, Leventhal, Machado, B. McIlwain, J. McIlwain, Mezzadri, Miles, Moak, Moser, Panella, Parker, Perry, Rand, Redfield, Russakovsky, Rust, Schlegel, Standland, Waymire, Woolly, Wooton, Yarrington

The University of Southern Mississippi School of Music is a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music. Requirements are in accordance with the published regulations of this association.

Music Program

There are three undergraduate majors available to students in the School of Music: music, music education and bachelor of arts in music. Emphasis areas in music are jazz studies, music history and literature, and performance (percussion, piano, strings, voice, and wind instruments). Music education emphasis areas are instrumental and choral.

All prospective music majors must audition regardless of their choice of degree plan. To be admitted to the School of Music, applicants must meet minimum standards in applied music through the Admission Audition and meet the academic requirements of the university.

Students taking applied lessons are required to pay an additional fee. (See Special Fees and Expenses .)

Major Instrument Requirement

Major instrument credit hour requirements vary based on degree sought. They are as follows:

	Bachelor of Music in Performance	three credit hour lessons for no less than eight semesters
	Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies	three credit hour lessons for no less than eight semesters
	Bachelor of Music Education	two credit hour lessons for no less than six semesters
	Bachelor of Arts	two credit hour lessons for no less than six semesters
	BME and BA majors must take at least one semester at the 400-level. BM majors must take at least three semesters at the 400-level.

Major Ensemble Requirement

The BM, BME and BA degrees require participation in the same major ensemble, excluding summers. Requirements are as follows:

	Bachelor of Music (Performance)	eight semesters of the same major ensemble
	Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies	eight semesters of jazz ensemble
	Bachelor of Music Education	six semesters of the same major ensemble
	Instrumental BME students must participate in marching band a minimum of three semesters.
	Bachelor of Arts	six semesters of the same major ensemble
**	Transfer students will receive one semester of ensemble credit (maximum of four) for each semester of full-time work in an ensemble at their previous institution.

Placement Exams

Every potential music major is required to take a placement examination in piano and music theory.

Recital Attendance Requirements

The term “recital class” refers collectively to the weekly student recital hour (department and general), as well as the 12 formal recitals attended each semester. Course number assigned is MUP 499. All majors are required to successfully complete recital class. The requirements are as follows:

	Bachelor of Music in Performance	eight semesters of recital class (MUP 499 )
	Bachelor of Music Education	seven semesters of recital class (MUP 499 )
	Bachelor of Arts	three semesters of recital class (MUP 499 )
**	Transfer students receive up to four semesters of credit for recital class for each semester of full-time work earned at another college or university.

Jury Policy

Music majors enrolled in MUP private lessons in their principal applied area must perform a jury for appropriate applied faculty. All others enrolled in MUP private lessons must perform a final examination for the applied teacher. At the finish of each semester, the applied teacher must complete a Final Jury/Examination Form for each student and file it with Student Services. Students enrolled in applied music who do not take a final examination or a jury will receive the grade I or F. The applied teacher must record and submit any exception to this policy to the academic adviser; signatures of all appropriate area faculty must be included on this form.

Piano Competency

All BM and BME students must pass a piano competency. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music and the Bachelor of Music Education degrees must enroll in class piano each semester until this competency is passed. Advanced standing is available for these courses. For BME students, the piano competency must be passed by the semester prior to enrolling in MUP 395 (Senior Recital).

Senior Capstone Experience

The University of Southern Mississippi requires a senior capstone experience. This experience may be met by a senior thesis, student teaching, or the applied area literature course with a writing-intensive and oral presentation component. This requirement varies by degree. See your adviser for details.

Emphasis: Music History and Literature

The curriculum in music history and literature is planned for those who intend ultimately to teach musicology at the college level or for those who desire careers in music librarianship, music journalism, music publishing or the recording industry — fields in which a wide and comprehensive knowledge of music history and literature is essential.

The student in music history and literature will receive a strong foundation not only in his or her chosen field but also in theory and in academic subjects that will enrich the student’s cultural background.

During the final semesters of matriculation, the student must enroll in MUS 491 - Senior Thesis/Research Project (three hours) for an independent study that culminates in a senior thesis. The exact nature of the thesis will be decided by the student and the musicology faculty of the School of Music. The thesis project should reflect significant individual effort that involves library or field research. The project must conform to scholarly procedures accepted within the discipline. A prospectus acceptable to the thesis adviser must be submitted no later than one semester prior to graduation.

Requirements for a Major in Music Education
(Bachelor of Music Education—BME)

The curricula in music education are designed to prepare musicians who will teach in public or private schools or teach privately. The emphases listed below are designed to provide a balance between music performance, music pedagogy and general education. These curricula are fully certified by the National Association of Schools of Music, and satisfy teacher licensure requirements. To satisfy requirements in the state of Mississippi, students seeking the Bachelor of Music Education degree must earn a grade of C or better in ENG 101 , ENG 102 and all music courses.

Before applying for admission to a professional education program, the following requirements must be met: (1) an ACT composite score of 21 or higher, with no scale score below 18, or an SAT of 860 (verbal and quantitative) upon entrance into college or acceptable scores on the Praxis I subscales computerized PPST: Reading (172), Writing (173) and Mathematics (172); (2) a minimum grade point average on the 44-semester-hour general education core curriculum of 2.75; (3) a C or better in freshman English composition (ENG 101 and ENG 102); (4) successful completion of the Basic Technology Literacy Exam (BTLE) or IC3 certification; (5) All candidates must subscribe to the Tk20 Assessment System. Tk20 provides an electronic portfolio and storage system for students as well as tracks, stores, retrieves and analyzes data for accreditation purposes; (6) good academic standing at Southern Miss. A student on probation, probation continued or suspension status will not be admitted to teacher education until the transcript reflects good academic standing; and (7) a clear background check via the system selected by the Southern Miss Professional Education Council. 

Each Southern Miss student who applies for admission to a teacher education program must undergo a background check when applying for the Gold Card. Students who pass the background checking process will be issued a background check badge and considered eligible for admission to teacher education pending satisfaction of other admission requirements. Teacher candidates issued Gold Cards prior to fall 2009 and currently enrolled in Southern Miss teacher education programs, as well as Southern Miss students enrolled in teacher education field or clinical experiences that do not require a Gold Card, must also undergo a background check as part of the university policy.

After admission to a professional education program, the following requirements must be met to continue in the program: (1) All candidates must subscribe to the Tk20 Assessment System. Tk20 provides an electronic portfolio and storage system for students as well as tracks, stores, retrieves and analyzes data for accreditation purposes. (2) A grade of C or better in all content courses in the academic major as well as all professional education courses with an overall grade point average of 2.5; (3) fulfillment of major requirements in subject area; (4) completion of professional education courses required by the major; (5) take Praxis II content and PLT tests and have scores reported to Southern Miss (code #1479) prior to graduation.

A minimum of 30 clock hours of clinical experience is required prior to teacher candidacy (15 hours of observation and 15 hours of practicum). Specific programs may require more practicum hours.

Requirements for professional education programs are subject to modification. For current program information, students should contact the University’s Educator Licensure office, 121-B Owings-McQuagge Hall; 601.266.5522.

Students seeking the Bachelor of Music Education degree must:

make satisfactory progress with one concentration (e.g., flute, voice) in at least six semesters of applied music study (summers are not included) with at least one semester at the 400-level;
Prior to student teaching, present a 30-minute recital (MUP 395 ), open to the public, that is graded “satisfactory” by the appropriate faculty area;
complete all course work before student teaching; grades of I are not acceptable;
pass the piano proficiency prior to student teaching.

Nonmajor Enrollment in Private Instrument/Voice Lessons

Nonmajors who enroll in private lessons may be unable to take the course due to lack of available instructors. Nonmajors should consult the School of Music director’s office personnel (Performing Arts Center) before Wednesday of the first week of school to obtain instructor availability.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Music

Bachelor of Music Education

Non-degree

Applied Music Minor