The Bachelor of Music is a professional degree. Courses in music represent approximately two-thirds of the curriculum, while one-third is devoted to Freshman Studies and General Education Requirements.

In addition to academic policies and regulations, students in the conservatory are subject to policies and procedures detailed in conservatory department guidelines and the Conservatory Student Handbook.

Admission to the Degree
An entrance audition is required of all applicants for admission to the Bachelor of Music degree. Bachelor of Arts students who wish to become Bachelor of Music students must petition the Conservatory Committee on Administration for admission. Bachelor of Music students who wish to become Bachelor of Arts students must petition the University Faculty Subcommittee on Administration for acceptance into the Bachelor of Arts degree program. Such changes are not normally allowed before the end of the freshman year nor later than the beginning of the junior year.

Bachelor of Music students must complete the appropriate qualifying examination(s), normally by the end of the sophomore year.

Degree Requirements

  1. Completion of a minimum of 216 units. The following music courses are used in the computation of the degree grade-point average but are excluded from the total of 216 units required for the degree: MURP 201, 202, 203, 301, 302 and MUTH 161, 162, 171, 172.
  2. Of the 216 units required to complete the degree, a student must present:
    1. a minimum of 144 units in music
    2. a minimum of 60 units in courses other than music.
    3. no more than 12 units from academic internships

    The additional 12 units may be selected from any department.

  3. In the freshman year, 12 units of Freshman Studies.
  4. Completion of the General Education Requirements:
    1. 6 units selected from courses designated as writing intensive
    2. International diversity. One of the following:
      1. 6 units selected from courses designated as either emphasizing global and comparative perspectives on the world or focusing on areas outside Europe and the United States
      2. 12 units selected from courses numbered below 200 in a single foreign language. This requirement may also be satisfied by attaining a score of 4 or 5 on an Advanced Placement examination or by passing a proficiency examination administered by a Lawrence University foreign language department.
      3. Participation for one term in a Lawrence or affiliated off-campus study program held outside the United States
    Note: While some music courses may satisfy General Education Requirements, a minimum of 60 units in courses other than music is required for the degree.
    5. Stipulations Pertaining to the General Education Requirements
    A single course may be used to satisfy both requirement a. and requirement b. above. Credits granted pursuant to university policy for advanced placement or for transfer work may be used to fulfill General Education Requirement (see also Evaluation of Credit for Transfer Students).
  5. Completion of music core requirements:
    1. Music theory
      1. MUTH 151, 161, 171 or MUTH 201, 211, 221
      2. MUTH 152, 162, 172 or MUTH 202, 212, 222
      3. MUTH 251, 261, and 271
      4. MUTH 252, 262, and 272
      5. MUTH 301, 311, and 321
    2. Music history
      1. MUHI 201 and 202
      2. 12 units selected from courses in music history numbered 400 or above
    3. Keyboard skills: MURP 201, 202, 203 or MURP 301, 302
    4. Applied music individual instruction as specified under requirements for the major and areas of emphasis
    5. Ensemble study: a minimum of 12 units. Students are required to participate in an ensemble every term in which they are attending classes on the Appleton campus. Requirements for specific types of ensemble study (MUEN) are specified under requirements for majors and areas of emphasis.
  6. Completion of a major in music — performance, music education, theory/composition, or student-designed — including all course and non-course requirements, such as recitals, qualifying examinations, etc. A student is expected to pass a qualifying examination after no more than six terms of study.
  7. An academic record that meets the following standards:
    1. A 2.000 grade-point average in all Lawrence courses.
    2. A 2.000 grade-point average in the music major (all music courses and non-music courses required for the major) unless otherwise specified under the major requirements.
  8. Completion of required terms and units in residence as specified by the residence requirements.