Academic programs
Department of Music
The Department of Music offers the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees, and it offers a minor in music. Instruction and experiences in music are provided to prepare students for careers in music, guide in the development of performance skills, heighten aesthetic sensitivity, and enhance the cultural setting of both campus and community.
Meet the professors you’ll be learning from.
Contact Academic Advisement if you have questions: (509) 527-2132
View the Academic Advisement suggested four-year plan for music degrees.
Instruction and experiences in music are provided to prepare students for careers in music, guide in the development of performance skills, heighten aesthetic sensitivity, and enhance the cultural setting of both campus and community.
The department offers a single BMus degree that includes a common music major core with a performance concentration and two music education certification concentration tracks (BEd and MIT -see BMus, Music Education)
The BMus music production major is a joint program offered by the Department of Communication and Languages and the Department of Music.
Requirements for minimum piano proficiency must be completed before students can be advanced to upper-division performance standing in their major applied area. Students whose major performance emphasis is in a keyboard instrument are exempt from this requirement. Standing as a music major or minor is a prerequisite for enrollment in upper-division music courses.
All students pursuing music degree programs will participate in a primary departmental music organization (ensemble) during each quarter in residence. Music minors must participate in a primary music organization during each quarter that they take lessons from departmental faculty. All students will enroll for either credit or zero credit. University Singers (MUPF 215) serves as the primary ensemble for students whose performance area is voice; Wind Symphony (MUPF 255) for brass, wind, and percussion students; Symphony Orchestra (MUPF 266) for string students.
The department lists a number of requirements for its majors which must be met without credit. These include concert and recital attendance, and performance classes. Detailed information regarding these and other requirements is included in the Handbook for Students and Teachers, available online at music.wallawalla.edu.
Transfer students majoring in music must take a minimum of six quarter hours in applied music at Walla Walla University. All majors must continue study in their primary applied area until completion of the Senior Recital.
Senior students are required to take the Music MFT (as a departmental exit exam), and an exit survey.
Bachelor Degrees
Music Major (Bachelor of Music)
A student seeking a music major must complete 77 quarter hours in the core, all baccalaureate degree requirements, and the general studies requirements as outlined in this bulletin. A concentration is not required for this major. Students who are considering graduate studies are strongly encouraged to take the general GRE.
See course requirements for Music (B.M.)
Music Education (Bachelor of Music)
A student majoring in music education must complete a total of 192 quarter hours, including all baccalaureate degree requirements as outlined in this bulletin, the major core requirements and one emphasis, as well as the bachelor of music general studies requirements and certification requirements. The curriculum provides for K-12 state certification when adding one of two concentrations, Prep for BEd (Bachelor of Education) or MIT (Master of Initial Teaching). State certification is available in choral or instrumental music. Requirements for both concentrations are outlined below and guidelines for both options are available from the School of Education and Psychology.
See course requirements for Music Education (BEd)
See course requirements for Music Education (MIT)
Music Performance (Bachelor of Music)
A student majoring in music performance must complete 107 quarter hours in the major, 9 quarter hours in a primary performance emphasis, 65 hours in bachelor of music general studies as listed below, and all baccalaureate degree requirements as outlined in this bulletin. (This curriculum does not result in state teaching certification.) Students who are considering graduate study are strongly encouraged to take the general GRE.
See course requirements for Music Performance (B.M.)
Music Production (Bachelor of Music)
A student majoring in the interdisciplinary major of music production must complete a minimum of 91 quarter hours with 46 quarter hours in music and 45 quarter hours in communication. In addition, the student must complete the cognates, general studies program, and all baccalaureate degree requirements as outlined in this bulletin.
See course requirements for Music Production (B.M.)
Music Minor
The keyboard proficiency exam is required of all music majors enrolled in Bachelor of Music (B.M., Music Education and Music Performance) and Bachelor of Arts in Music (B.A., Music) degree programs. Although piano majors are not required to take the proficiency exam, it is expected that they will meet the minimum requirements over the duration of their piano studies at Walla Walla University. These requirements have been structured to comply with NASM standards, and represent the minimum level of keyboard competency expected of all Walla Walla University music students. Accomplishment of the listed skills at the specified levels will enable students to function more effectively as musicians - both in their undergraduate studies, and in future teaching and graduate programs. Download the keyboard proficiency exam requirements.
Information and recommendations for student musicians from the National Association of Schools of Music and the Performing Arts Medicine Association: Protect Your Hearing Every Day
Information provided by the WWU Department of Music: Maintaining Your Vocal Health