Curriculum Action Notice

From:

Academic Affairs Committee

Date:

October 15, 2002

This is a bulletin from the Academic Affairs Committee concerning proposed curriculum actions. Within the next 10 days, please forward any comments or concerns to the AAC Chair, Helen Biblehimer, Elliott Hall 203, ext. 4521, hbiblehi@mnsfld.edu.

The department of Music has requested the following changes:

Action: Bachelor of Music in Performance

Purpose:

• TO MEET STATE MANDATE OF 120 HOUR DEGREE PROGRAMS
• TO MAINTAIN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF MUSIC ACCREDITATION STANDARDS

List all changes (e.g. degree, program, addition/deletion of courses, etc.)

Degree: Remains Bachelor of Music in Performance
Program: Current degree revised to meet State mandate for 120 hour program and to meet NASM Accreditation.
Add: MU 315 Orchestration as a required theory course to meet NASM standards. This course is currently under revision to include MIDI technology and notation software applications, also to meet NASM guidelines.

The following changes are proposed relating to cross-counting music courses in the general education block: (Total 9 hrs - 6 in humanities and 3 in Fine Arts)

Total Hours Anticipated in Cross-Counting *9 SH

*Only 3 SH total of MEN would count in Fine Arts. Additional credits in these areas are required of the music education degree.

Plan for Meeting the 120 Hour Rule

Degree: Bachelor of Music in Performance Current Hours: 128

Accrediting Body: National Association of Schools of Music

Recommended Strategy for Lowering Music Performance to 120 hours:

1. Allow 6 credits of music history to count in the Humanities Block
   Justification: Within the last four years we removed an entire course from the music history sequence, reducing total credits in this area from 12 to 9. We cannot combine information from these courses and meet our NASM mandate to include global issues in these courses as well, and we are currently working towards developing a G designation for this subject area. In addition, any further reduction in this area would compromise our NASM accreditation and would cause a significant loss in integrity of the subject area.
   Finally, the music history courses at MU meet the goals and objects of the general education subcommittee Block I Humanities in that through these courses, students acquire:
• An understanding of key historical developments and philosophical traditions that influence the world
• Students demonstrate competency in critical thinking and writing in analyzing historical and philosophical issues
• Students demonstrate knowledge of Western and Non-Western histories and philosophies
• Students demonstrate knowledge of how religious, intellectual, social and philosophical movements have shaped the present world
• Students demonstrate an understanding of the present as a continuum of the past
  
2. Allow 3 hours of MEN 33___ (Music Ensemble) to count in the Fine Arts Block, Core Courses. The music ensemble courses at MU meet the goals and objects of the general education subcommittee Core Courses in Fine Arts in that through these courses, students demonstrate:
   • Knowledge of at least one of the varying forms of artistic expression.
   • Knowledge of behaviors that promote personal well-being
3. Reduce the hours of MAP 44___ applied credit given in the first two semesters from 4 credits to 3 credits. A second section of MAP44___ would need to be created for each of the applied areas with section 01 being given 3 credits and section 02 being given 4 credits. This move would reflect more accurately the general state of music performance majors when they arrive, giving the department time to generate and develop more appropriate practice/preparatory skills. Furthermore, this reduction would place the major area more in line with NASM Recommendations, placing it at exactly 35% of the degree.
4. To meet recent NASM recommendations, add MU 3315 Orchestration to recommended electives. This course is being redesigned to include MIDI technology, sequencing and notation software as well as typical orchestration topics/projects.