The Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music’s mission is to provide opportunities for studying, performing, and creating music within the context of a liberal arts education; to prepare students for careers in music-related fields; to enhance the cultural life of the campus and the surrounding region; and to contribute to the preservation and expansion of our rich musical tradition through performance, composition, education, and research.

Undergraduate

All prospective music majors for the BM degrees and the BA Music (general) degree must pass an entrance audition in the appropriate applied area.

All prospective music majors for the BA Music Industry Concentration must be interviewed for acceptance into the program. The interview includes a performance component on an applied instrument.

Performance Requirements

Each candidate for a music degree must complete applied music proficiency level requirements appropriate to the candidate’s specific degree plan, as well as fulfill other performance requirements consistent with the degree plan or individual course objectives.

Enrollment in any applied music course, including Junior Recital and Senior Recital, is by permission of the instructor and/or the Chair of the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music.

A jury examination in the appropriate applied area will be taken during the examination week or shortly before the end of each semester. Students not majoring in music who take applied music lessons may take a jury examination upon the recommendation of the applied instructor.

Recital requirements: Prior to performing a graduation, junior, or senior recital, the candidate must pass a recital approval examination no fewer than three weeks before the recital date.

Group Piano Placement Examinations

A placement examination in piano is required of all transfer students. Freshman music majors with prior keyboard experience should also take the placement examination. A maximum of four credit hours of group piano is allowed toward graduation requirements.

Music Theory Placement Examinations

All prospective music majors for the BM degrees and the BA Music (general) degree will take the theory placement exam. Placement exam results are for advisement purposes only. There is no diagnostic exam for students pursuing the BA Music Industry Concentration.

Music Major Progression Requirements

Music majors must earn a minimum grade of “C” for each music class that applies toward graduation in order to progress in the music program. Students earning less than a “C” grade in a sequential course offering may not take the next course in the sequence until the course is repeated and a grade of “C” or higher is earned. In addition, students must earn a minimum grade of “C” in a prerequisite course before taking an advanced course in the same subject area.

Music majors will be expelled from the degree program if they fail any individual required music course twice.

Advisement

Undergraduate Academic Advisement at Georgia Southern is provided to all degree-seeking undergraduate students by professional advisors. Academic Advisors are located on all three Georgia Southern University campuses. Students are required to meet with their assigned Academic Advisor at least once a semester. For more information visit Academic Advisement .

Graduate

The graduate programs in Music (M.M. Music, Certificate in Music Performance) prepare students with advanced technical and artistic skills for a career in a music-related profession, to conduct creative work, inquiry, and investigation, and to act independently as a performer, scholar, and/or practitioner by achieving in-depth knowledge and competency in a specific concentration area. This will be accomplished through a program of study with concentration areas in composition, conducting, music education, music technology, and/or performance as appropriate to the goals and aspirations of the student.

The MM program supports the college and university missions as it aims to create a culture of student engagement that bridges theory with practice, extends learning beyond the classroom, and promotes academic excellence and student success. This degree is designed for individuals with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music who would like to hone their musical skills to a higher level, to pursue a post-baccalaureate degree for professional advancement, or to prepare for admission to a Doctoral program in music.

The Certificate in Music Performance program offers a one-year, intensive post-baccalaureate experience in performance. It is intended for students who want more training in applied music after the bachelor’s degree, but who do not desire an advanced degree.

Note: Graduate programs in the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music are available only on the Statesboro Campus.

Additional Policies

See the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music Handbook for additional policies governing degree programs in music.

The Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music

Programs

• Music, B.A.
• Music, B.M.

• Music - Applied Minor
• Music - History and Literature Minor
• Music - Music Technology Minor
• Music Minor

• Music, M.M.

• Certificate in Music Performance