Music

Academic Departments and Program Requirements

Music

Related Pages

Joseph Gehring - Department Chair
Christopher Igidbashian, Program Director—Music Therapy (undergraduate)
Adrian Smith, Coordinator — Music Education

Faculty

Daniel Benonis
Joseph Gehring
Christopher Igidbashian
Corey Olver
Rachael Sanguinetti
Adrian Smith

Sister Kathleen Doutt, Emerita

Program Accreditation/Approval

  • Immaculata University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
  • The Music Therapy program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT).
  • The Music Education program is in compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

Programs Offered

Degrees - Majors

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music (w/ performance emphasis option)
Bachelor of Music (BMus) in Music Education (with K-12 Certification)
Bachelor of Music (BMus) in Music Therapy

Minor

Music

Certificate

Music Performance

Music Department Vision

The Immaculata University Music Department is committed to developing an understanding and appreciation of the power and place of music in the world by maintaining music as a primary discipline among the liberal arts; by preparing students to recognize and experience the power of music to teach, heal, and worship and to enrich the lives of all people; and by promoting the art of music as a spiritual and cultural force in society.

Music Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Music Department programs, students will be able to demonstrate:

  • the ability to foster an environment for the musical arts within the community;
  • a broad awareness of the historical, cultural, aesthetic, psychological, and applied qualities of music as a discipline among the liberal arts;
  • integrated knowledge of music theory, music history, and music performance
  • theoretical and clinical knowledge and skills integral to service in the fields of music therapy and music education;
  • aesthetic and technical knowledge integral to music performance;
  • knowledge of music technology specific to educational, therapeutic, and compositional practices;
  • professional competence in both music and music-related fields.

Music Degrees

Requirements for Entry into Music Majors

In addition to all other admission requirements for the university, all students wishing to study in any of the music majors must demonstrate sufficient aptitude through a comprehensive music audition and interview.

Requirements for Continuation In Music Majors

Students majoring in Music must earn at least a grade of C- or higher at Immaculata University in all required MUSC and MUA courses. In accordance with current university policy, grades from all transfer music courses must be a C or higher. Students earning lower than a grade of C- in any MUSC or MUA course or lower than a grade of C in any MTR course must repeat that course until a higher grade is earned in that course.

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00, which permits them to maintain satisfactory academic progress as stated in the Academic Life section of this catalog. Students who are on academic probation for 2 semesters without achieving a GPA of 2.00 in the second semester may not continue in the music program. At the completion of sophomore year (four semesters) all music majors will be assessed qualitatively and quantitatively in CORE music courses according to NASM standards.

Ensemble Participation

  • Voice, piano, and guitar majors participate in MUSC 180 Chorale a minimum of four semesters (2 credits).
  • String, wind, and percussion majors participate in MUSC 180 Chorale a minimum of two semesters (1 credit), ideally during the freshman year.
  • String majors participate in MUSC 185 Symphony Orchestra (participation by audition) a minimum of two semesters (1 credit).
  • Wind and percussion majors participate in MUSC 188 Concert Band a minimum of two semesters (1 credit).

All music majors take a minimum of two semesters (1 credit) of a small ensemble.
Exception: Music Education majors and B.A. students adding the performance emphasis must take an additional two semesters (1 credit) of the appropriate large ensemble.

Music Convocation (MUSC 090)

All music majors must enroll in and pass Music Convocation for a total of 4 semesters.

Applied Lessons (MUA )

  • B.A. Music majors and Music Education majors must enroll in 60-minute applied lessons in the major performance area a minimum of eight semesters.
  • Music Therapy majors must enroll in 60-minute applied lessons in the major performance area a minimum of six semesters.

Proficiency Exams

  • Piano Proficiency Exam (PPE): All Music Majors must pass a Piano Proficiency Exam (MUSC 333) before graduation. This exam may be taken in sections at different times, or it may be completed all in one session. The four semester piano lab sequence is designed to enable students to fulfill this requirement. It is advisable that the PPE should begin in junior year and be completed by senior year in order to graduate.
  • Guitar Proficiency Exam (GPE): The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) requires that all music certification candidates demonstrate functional performance skills in acoustic guitar. In accordance with this requirement, all Music Education majors must pass the guitar proficiency exam (MUSC 334) by the end of senior year in order to graduate. MUSC 117 (Guitar Class) is designed to enable students to fulfill this requirement.
  • Music Skills Proficiency Exams: All music therapy majors must pass three music skills evaluations during their degree program (MTR104, 105, 106). Exams are scheduled in sophomore, junior and senior years. Competence must be demonstrated on guitar, piano, and voice. Students may not enroll in internship (MTR400) until passing all music skills proficiency evaluations. Further details of specific exam requirements can be found in the undergraduate Music Therapy Handbook.

Music (BA)
(Bachelor of Arts)

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: MUSC 090, 118, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135, 136, 140, 230, 231, 232, 233, 235, 236, 239, 317, 333, 341, 342, 344, 441; large (primary) and small (secondary) ensembles, and applied lessons (MUA). (See below for specific requirements for ensembles and applied lessons.)

MUSC, 242 or 321. Note: Only 9 elective credits may be MUSC, MUA or MTR prefixes. Total hours: 128.

Bachelor of Arts students may choose a performance emphasis with department approval, Courses required for the performance emphasis include: two (2) classes (1 credit) in MUSC 180-198, 105 or 106, 306, 307 or 308, 332, and six (6) classes (6 credits) in 404. Note: All courses beyond the music core and performance emphasis must be outside music. Total hours: 130.
See “REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTINUATION IN MUSIC MAJORS” section for details regarding Ensemble participation, music convocation, applied lessons, and piano proficiency examination requirements for the program.

Music Education (B.Mus.)
(Bachelor of Music– K-12 Certification)

Music Education Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Immaculata University Bachelor of Music in Music Education program will demonstrate:

  • Musical, pedagogical, organizational, and creative competence needed to teach K-12 music in an exemplary manner
  • Artistry in performance on at least one primary instrument
  • Habits that foster lifetime musical development and involvement
  • Professional activity that includes ongoing membership in State and national music education organizations, specifically the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
  • Initiative as advocates for music education and performance programs and spokespersons for the essential place of music in contemporary culture

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: MUSC 090, 118, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135, 136, 140, 230, 231, 232, 233, 235, 236, 239, 317, 333, 341, 342, 344, 395, 441; large (primary) and small (secondary) ensembles, and applied lessons (MUA). (See below for specific requirements for ensembles and applied lessons.)

MUSC 105 or 106, 107, 108, 117, 119, 207, 208, 306, 313, 314, 315, 321, 334, 391. For specific Education requirements: see Education section of this catalog. Total hours: 134

See “REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTINUATION IN MUSIC MAJORS” section for details regarding Ensemble participation, music convocation, applied lessons, and proficiency examination requirements for the program.

Music Therapy (B.Mus.)
(Bachelor of Music)

Music Therapy Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Immaculata University Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy program will:

  • Demonstrate an understanding and implementation of the principles and methods of music therapy assessment, treatment, evaluation, and termination for the populations specified in the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) Professional Competencies
  • Identify and assess clients’ therapeutic needs and develop treatment goals to meet these needs taking into account each client’s culture and its impact on therapeutic expectations and process.
  • Design and implement music therapy experiences using the four methods of music therapy to address clients’ therapeutic needs across various clinical settings.
  • Competently and expressively create live music experiences with keyboard, guitar, and voice using a large variety of repertoire to meet clients’ therapeutic needs.
  • Complete appropriate documentation of client responses, progress, and outcomes with evidence-based data collection for outcome evaluation.
  • Effectively apply research, clinical, and theoretical literature in clinical practice.
  • Recognize the impact of self and the music on the client-therapist dynamic.
  • Utilize the dynamics and processes of groups to achieve therapeutic goals.
  • Adhere to the AMTA ethical standards of professional practice.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: BIOL 207 (Natural & Physical World Core); MTR 100, 103 - four (4) credits/ eight (8) classes, 104, 105, 106, 107, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 255, 256, 300, 301, 302, 345, 400 (2 classes), 406, 415; MUA XXX – Applied Music – Six (6) classes (see above for specific requirements for ensembles and applied lessons);  MUSC 090, 102 (Global Society Core), 105 or 106, 108, 117,130, 131, 132, 133, 135, 136, 140, 230, 231, 232, 233, 235, 236, 239, 317, 333, 341, 342, 344, 391, 441; Three (3) credits in Small and Large Ensembles (collectively meets Human Creativity Core Component):

  • 1 credit in MUSC 180 (Chorale: 2 classes),
  • 1 credit in MUSC 180 and/or 185 and/or 188 (Large Ensemble: 2 classes),
  • 1 credit from MUSC 181-198 (Small Ensemble – 2 classes;

PSY 101 (Social Consciousness Core), 208 (Quantitative Reasoning Core), 320, and 324. Total hours for degree: 129.

Progression Requirements 

The Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy prepares students to practice music therapy in a range of clinical settings. The program provides training in the musical, clinical, and theoretical components of music therapy, emphasizing multiple dimensions of promoting health through music experiences and therapeutic relationships that develop therein. Upon completion of all music therapy course work from MTR 100-MTR 406 with a grade of C or higher in each, along with demonstration of musical proficiency on piano, guitar, and voice by receiving a passing grade in yearly clinical skills evaluations administered by music therapy faculty; (consult department handbook for specific guidelines), the student becomes eligible to enroll in MTR 400 (Music Therapy Internship). Upon successful completion of MTR 400 and verification of all professional music therapy competencies, the student becomes eligible to take the examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). Upon successful passage of the CBMT examination, the student earns the national credential of Music Therapist-Board Certified, or MT-BC. The Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy is approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA).

See “REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTINUATION IN MUSIC MAJORS” section for details regarding Ensemble participation, music convocation, applied lessons, and proficiency examination requirements for the program.

Music Minors

Music
(Minor)

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: MUSC 130, 131, 132, 133, 135, 136: three credits from 102, 341, or 342; two credits in Applied Music; three credits selected from ensembles 180-198.

Music Performance
(Certificate)
Designed for Music Education and Music Therapy majors.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:

  • Music: MUSC 243 and/or MUSC 332, MUSC 404, and six (6) semesters (3 credits) in large ensembles: MUSC 180, 185, 188; four (4) semesters (2 credits) in Small Ensembles MUSC XXX
  • Musicianship: eight (8) semesters applied lessons MUA XXX; MUSC 242, MUSC 307 or 308
  • Leadership: COM 250