New Student Registration: Bachelor of Music

 
Notes re Required Courses

1. The standard full course load is 30 credits, as outlined above. In most programs at StFX, students have only 3-credit (one-term) courses, and they take five 3-credit courses each term, for a total of 15 credits per semester.  Because of your ensemble courses, which are 1.5 credits each, one in each term, your course load will not be completely balanced between first and second terms.  Your program's standard course pattern is 12 credits plus one 1.5-credit ensemble in one term (for a total of 13.5 credits) and 15 credits plus one 1.5-credit ensemble in the other term (for a total of 16.5 credits).
2. MUSI 166 is offered in second term.  If you are required to take this course (and are not exempted from it, as described above), your 13.5-credit term will likely be in first semester, with your 16.5-credit term being in second semester.  If you are exempted from MUSI 166 because your instrument is piano, or you successfully test out of the course, you have more flexibility to determine which semester is your 13.5-credit term and which is your 16.5-credit term.  This will depend on your preference, course choice, and course availability.  (See "Notes re Elective Courses" below.)
3. In addition to your 1.5-credit ensemble courses, your program has 1.5-credit courses for core music theory.  In first year, there are two sets of 1.5-credit theory courses.  MUSI 104 and 105 are offered in first term, and must be taken concurrently; you cannot take one without the other.  Together, these two courses are the equivalent of one standard 3-credit course.  You must pass both, with minimum grades of 60 in each, to be permitted to take the second-term set of MUSI 108 and 109 (also 1.5 credits each).  (You will register for all four of these courses during registration.)
4. MUSI 181 is to be taken in first term, and you will register in section 10 (MUSI 181:10).  MUSI 195 is to be taken in second term, and you will register in section 20 (MUSI 195:20).  For each of these courses, you will be moved to different sections later, related to your studio instructor.  Registration in Applied Performance courses registers you in the Master Class in timeblock W4.  You will work with your instructor to set up specific times for your private lessons (and of course, these will not show on your course schedule).
5. MUSI 146/147 or 156/157 ensemble courses will block a lot of time in your schedule.  See the "Things to Remember" section below for more information.

Notes re Arts & Science Electives

When making your elective choice for this year, you need to be aware of some important notes regarding the way in which these elective credits will be used in your degree pattern:

• Degree programs in music require the completion of two "pairs".  A pair is 12 credits in one subject, with at least 6 credits at the 200-level or above (see the Glossary of Terms for a full definition).  Therefore, it is advisable in first year to choose a subject in which you think you might be interested in taking another course or two in the future.  If you enjoy your first-year elective enough to take additional credits in the same subject, you will then need to take 6 additional credits in that subject in a future year to complete one pair.
• However, the music degree programs also require open electives.  So if you find, at year end, that you'd prefer not to take any additional courses in your first-year elective subject, you won't have to.  You will be able to use your first-year course(s) as 6 credits of open electives, and try a new arts or science subject in second year with which to attempt to begin fulfilling your pair requirements.
• Most first-year students choose a subject from the arts, but a science subject is an allowable option for you. If you choose a science, however, be aware that only one of your pairs may be in a science subject. The other required pair must be in an arts subject.  There is no requirement to complete any science courses in the Bachelor of Music, and many students choose arts subjects for their two pairs and for their open electives.  But you are more than welcome to take science courses for one pair and for open electives, if you wish.
• If you are exempt from taking MUSI 166, you will need to take another MUSI elective course in your program to replace those 3 credits in the degree pattern.  You may choose to do that this year and take one of MUSI 117, 118, 217, or 312.  (Although MUSI 312 is an option, it would be advisable not to take a 300-level course in your first year; it would be strongly recommended that you choose one of the other three MUSI courses if you opt to do that elective this year.)  If you prefer, you can take another arts or science elective this year, and take your MUSI elective in a future year. 

 
Things to Remember

• Take the opportunity to explore subjects that are new to you as you contemplate your options for your arts/science elective subject. You do need to choose carefully, as discussed above, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be adventurous and try something new!
• When building your course schedule, be sure to begin with your required music courses, which are offered in only one timeblock, and schedule your elective course(s) around those.
• When scheduling your elective courses, you will need to avoid choosing courses that meet between 2:30 and 5:15, Monday through Friday, to accommodate your ensemble classes.  This translates to timeblocks in band 3 on the schedule and encompasses O7, O8, U7, U8, W7, W8, X7, X8, Z7, Z8.  When you register for your ensembles (146/147 or 156/157), all of these slots will be blocked in your schedule, which will prevent you from registering for elective courses in those timeblocks.
• In September, you may be able to choose elective courses in the afternoon timeblocks.  When your ensemble auditions are completed in early September and you are assigned to a specific ensemble, your schedule will be adjusted to reflect your specific ensemble times and the other afternoon timeblocks will be freed up in your schedule.  At that time, you will have the opportunity to change your elective course(s) if you wish, subject to course availability.  If your preferred elective course(s) are in the afternoon blocks, be sure to register for second-choice course(s) this summer to ensure that you have a back-up in case you are not able to get into your preferred course(s) in the fall.  (You will have until September 13 inclusive to make changes to your first-term courses.) 
• You are also encouraged to avoid the E4 timeblock as this is typically when visiting artists would be scheduled throughout the year.  This is not a requirement, and if you need to use this timeblock to accommodate your registration, you may do so.  But if you have a choice, you are encouraged to leave E4 free in your schedule.

 
Other Important Information

• You should begin to check your StFX email account regularly, at least once per week.  In particular, watch for emails from your studio professors, normally beginning in early August.
• You should plan to be on campus a few days before the beginning of the fall term in order to get settled; to meet with your studio professor to schedule lessons; and to take ensemble placement auditions.
• There will be a General Music Department Meeting scheduled during the first week. This will inform you about departmental policies and practices. The time and place of the meeting will be posted in Gilmora Hall, the music building, during the first week of the term. All students are to attend that meeting.
• The time and place of ensemble placement auditions will be posted in Gilmora Hall. These auditions include reading, improvisation, and repertoire components. All students must audition for their placements in ensembles.