Music Instrumental (B.S.) - Resident

Music Instrumental (B.S.) - Resident

Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2025 through summer 2026. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.

General Education/Foundational Skills Requirements

Communication & Information Literacy 1
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric3
Communications Elective3
Information Literacy Elective3
Information Literacy Elective3
Technological Solutions & Quantitative Reasoning 1
UNIV 101Foundational Skills1
Math ElectiveMATH 114 or higher3
Technology Competency 20-3
Critical Thinking 1
RLGN 105Introduction to Biblical Worldview 32
Critical Thinking Elective3
Civic & Global Engagement 1
EVAN 101Evangelism and the Christian Life 32
Cultural Studies Elective3
Social & Scientific Inquiry 1
Natural Science Elective3
Social Science Elective3
Christianity & Contexts 1
BIBL 105Old Testament Survey2
BIBL 110New Testament Survey2
THEO 201Theology Survey I 32
THEO 202Theology Survey II 32
Total Hours40-43
1

Refer to the list of approved general education electives before enrolling in foundational skill requirements

2

All students must pass the Computer Assessment OR complete applicable INFT course

3

Students transferring in 45 or more UG credit hours will have the requirements of RLGN 105 and EVAN 101 waived; Students transferring in 60 or more UG credit hours will also have the requirements of THEO 201 and THEO 202 waived

Major Requirements

Major Foundational Courses
MUSC 200Music, Art, Worship and Culture 13
MUSC 312Music History: Since 1750 13
Music Literature Elective 1,23
Total Hours9
1

Course may fulfill select general education requirements.

2

Choose one course from the following: MUSC 213 Survey of Popular and Jazz Literature Music (3 c.h.), MUSC 314 Music in World Cultures (3 c.h.), or MUSC 371 Survey of Songwriting Literature (3 c.h.)

Major Core
MUSC 498Senior Recital1
Music Elective 13
Primary Instrument (refer to chart)
Choose seven credit hours of Applied Music Studies – Primary Instrument courses7
Ensemble (refer to chart)
Choose eight credit hours of Ensemble courses8
Musicianship
MUSC 105Music Theory I3
MUSC 106Music Theory II3
MUSC 107Musicianship I1
MUSC 108Musicianship II1
MUSC 203Commercial Music Theory III2-3
or MUSC 205 Music Theory III
MUSC 207Musicianship III1
MUSC 310Principles of Arranging3
MUSC 311Music History: Antiquity - 17503
MUSC 315Basic Conducting2
MUSC 316Choral Conducting2
or MUSC 317 Instrumental Conducting
MUSC 330Music Technology: Notation and DAW3
MUSC 360Commercial Improvisation Techniques2
Secondary Instrument (refer to chart)
Choose two credit hours of Applied Music Studies – Secondary Instrument courses2
Total Hours47-48
1

Choose one course from the following: MUSC 301 Brass Pedagogy (3 c.h.), MUSC 304 Keyboard Pedagogy (3 c.h.), MUSC 305 Woodwind Pedagogy (3 c.h.), MUSC 308 Percussion Pedagogy (3 c.h.), MUSC 375 String Pedagogy (3 c.h.), or MUSC 477 Guitar Pedagogy (3 c.h.)

Free Electives
Choose 16-29 credit hours of Free Electives16-29
Total Hours16-29

Applied Music Studies (Primary Instrument – 7 Hours)

Students must choose Piano or Guitar/Strings/Brass/Woodwinds/Percussion as their Primary Instrument.

Piano Primary

MUSC 141Private Piano (Freshman)1
MUSC 142Private Piano (Freshman)1
MUSC 241Private Piano Sophomore1
MUSC 242Private Piano Sophomore1
MUSC 341Private Piano (Junior)1
MUSC 342Private Piano (Junior)1
MUSC 441Private Piano Senior1
Total Hours7

Guitar/Strings/Brass/Woodwinds/Percussion Primary

MUSC 151Guitar, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion Freshman1
MUSC 152Guitar, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion Freshman1
MUSC 251Guitar, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion Sophomore1
MUSC 252Guitar, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion Sophomore1
MUSC 351Guitar, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion Junior1
MUSC 352Guitar, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion Junior1
MUSC 451Guitar, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds Percussion (Senior)1
Total Hours7

Applied Music Studies (Secondary Instrument – 2 Hours)

Voice Secondary

MUSC 120Group Voice I1
MUSC 220Group Voice II1
Total Hours2

Piano Secondary

Recommended for students whose primary is not piano.

MUSC 244Group Piano IV1
MUSC 345Group Piano V1
Total Hours2

Guitar Secondary

MUSC 150Group Guitar I1
MUSC 250Group Guitar II1
Total Hours2

Strings/Brass/Woodwinds/Percussion Secondary

MUSC 151Guitar, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion Freshman1
MUSC 152Guitar, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion Freshman1
Total Hours2

Ensemble (8 Hours)

Students may choose to take the same ensemble more than once

Students must take at least one ensemble per semester

Piano Students

Should take three credits of Choir Ensembles, three credits of Instrumental Chamber Ensembles, and two credits of Instrumental Major Ensembles.1

Choose three credit hours of the following:3
MUSC 178
The Worship Choir I
MUSC 180
University Chorale I
MUSC 181
Concert Choir I
MUSC 182
Chamber Singers I
MUSC 189
Celebration Choir
MUSC 286
The Gospel Choir I
MUSC 289
The Worship Choir II
MUSC 386
The Gospel Choir II
MUSC 389
The Worship Choir III
MUSC 480
University Chorale II
MUSC 481
Concert Choir II
MUSC 482
Chamber Singers II
MUSC 489
Supervised Praise and Worship Ensemble
Choose three credit hours of the following:3
MUSC 179
Classical Guitar Ensemble I
MUSC 186
Brass Choir I
MUSC 188
Woodwind Choir I
MUSC 192
Percussion Ensemble I
MUSC 193
Chamber Music Ensemble I
MUSC 479
Classical Guitar Ensemble II
MUSC 486
Brass Choir II
MUSC 488
Woodwind Choir II
MUSC 492
Percussion Ensemble II
MUSC 493
Chamber Music Ensemble II
Choose two credit hours of the following:2
MUSC 183
Jazz Ensemble I
MUSC 185
Symphony Orchestra I
MUSC 194
Wind Symphony I
MUSC 483
Jazz Ensemble II
MUSC 485
Symphony Orchestra II
MUSC 494
Wind Symphony II
Total Hours8
1

Three credits must be upper-level

String Students

Should take eight credits of Symphony Orchestra Ensembles.1

Choose eight credit hours of the following:8
MUSC 185
Symphony Orchestra I
MUSC 485
Symphony Orchestra II
Total Hours8
1

Three credits must be upper-level

Guitar Students

Should take two credits of Choir Ensembles and six credits of Guitar Ensembles.1

Choose two credit hours of the following:2
MUSC 178
The Worship Choir I
MUSC 180
University Chorale I
MUSC 181
Concert Choir I
MUSC 182
Chamber Singers I
MUSC 189
Celebration Choir
MUSC 286
The Gospel Choir I
MUSC 289
The Worship Choir II
MUSC 386
The Gospel Choir II
MUSC 389
The Worship Choir III
MUSC 480
University Chorale II
MUSC 481
Concert Choir II
MUSC 482
Chamber Singers II
MUSC 489
Supervised Praise and Worship Ensemble
Choose six credit hours of the following:6
MUSC 179
Classical Guitar Ensemble I
MUSC 479
Classical Guitar Ensemble II
Total Hours8
1

Three credits must be upper-level

Brass, Woodwind or Percussion Students 

Should take eight credits of Instrumental Major Ensembles

Choose four credit hours of the following:4
MUSC 183
Jazz Ensemble I
MUSC 185
Symphony Orchestra I
MUSC 194
Wind Symphony I
Choose four credit hours of the following:4
MUSC 483
Jazz Ensemble II
MUSC 485
Symphony Orchestra II
MUSC 494
Wind Symphony II
Total Hours8

Additional Major Requirements

  • Keyboard Proficiency Exam
  • Freshman Promotional Jury
  • Sophomore Performance Review
  • Attendance at 56 approved concerts and recitals

All applicable prerequisites must be met

Graduation Requirements

  • 120 Total hours
  • 2.0 Overall grade point average
  • 30 Hours must be upper-level courses (300-400 level)
  • Grade of ‘C’ Minimum required for all upper-level courses in the major
  • 25% Of major taken through Liberty University
  • 30 Hours must be completed through Liberty University
  • Grad App Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student's anticipated graduation date
  • CSER All requirements must be satisfied before a degree will be awarded
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterHours
BIBL 105 Old Testament Survey 2
ENGL 101 Composition and Rhetoric 3
EVAN 101 Evangelism and the Christian Life 2
RLGN 105 Introduction to Biblical Worldview 2
UNIV 101 Foundational Skills 1
MUSC 105 Harmonic Practices and Theory I 3
MUSC 107 Musicianship I 1
Ensemble 1 1
Primary Instrument 2 1
CSER 0
 Hours16
Second Semester
INQR 101 Inquiry 1
Information Literacy Elective (MUSC 200) 3 3
Math Elective (114 or higher) 3 3
Technology Competency 3,4 0-3
MUSC 106 Harmonic Practices and Theory II 3
MUSC 108 Musicianship II 1
Ensemble 1 1
Primary Instrument 2 1
Secondary Instrument 2,5 1
CSER 0
 Hours14-17
Second Year
First Semester
RSCH 201 Research 3
Communications Elective 3 3
MUSC 203
or MUSC 205
 Commercial Music Theory and Harmonic Practices I
or Chromatic Harmony
 2-3
MUSC 207 Muscianship III 1
Ensemble 1 1
Primary Instrument 2 1
Secondary Instrument 2,5 1
Elective 3
CSER 0
 Hours15-16
Second Semester
BIBL 110 New Testament Survey 2
Natural Science Elective 3 3
Social Science Elective 3 3
MUSC 315 Basic Conducting 2
Ensemble 1 1
Primary Instrument 2 1
Elective 3
CSER 0
 Hours15
Third Year
First Semester
MUSC 311 Music History: Antiquity - 1750 3
MUSC 330 Music Technology: Notation and DAW 3
MUSC 316
or MUSC 317
 Choral Conducting
or Instrumental Conducting
 2
MUSC 360 Commercial Improvisation Techniques 2
MUSC Elective 6 3
Ensemble 1 1
Primary Instrument 2 1
CSER 0
 Hours15
Second Semester
THEO 201 Theology Survey I 2
Information Literacy Elective 3 3
Ensemble 1 1
Primary Instrument 2 1
Elective 3
Elective 3
CSER 0
 Hours13
Fourth Year
First Semester
THEO 202 Theology Survey II 2
Cultural Studies Elective (MUSC 312) 3 3
MUSC 310 Principles of Arranging 3
Ensemble 1 1
Primary Instrument 2 1
Elective 3
Elective 3
CSER 0
 Hours16
Second Semester
Critical Thinking Elective (MUSC 213, MUSC 314, or MUSC 371) 3 3
MUSC 498 Senior Recital 1
Ensemble 1 1
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 2
CSER 0
 Hours16
 Total Hours120-124
1

See DCP for Ensemble options 

2

See DCP for Primary Instrument options 

3

Refer to the list of approved general education electives at www.liberty.edu/gened before enrolling in foundational skills requirements

4

All students must pass the Computer Assessment OR complete applicable INFT course; refer to www.liberty.edu/computerassessment for more information

5

See DCP for Secondary Instrument options

6

Choose from: MUSC 301, 304, 305, 308, 375, or 477

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