Major in Music (B.A.)
MUL 143AIntroduction to Keyboard Theory1
MUS 101Music Fundamentals1
MUS 103Introduction to Music Literature2
MUS 104Music Theory I3
MUS 195Music Hour0
MUS 202Music Theory II3
MUS 203Music Theory III3
MUS 312Music History and Literature I3
MUS 313Music History and Literature II3
MUS 322Instrumental Literature and Conducting3
MUS 323Instrumentation2
MUS 324Choral Literature and Conducting3
MUS 495Half Senior Recital0
PHI 310Aesthetics3
Performance Organizations6
Private Lessons6
Major *42
General Education49-50
Electives30-31
Total Credits122

Additional Requirements

  • Must be in a performance organization for a minimum of four years.
  • Must fulfill recital and concert attendance requirement.
  • Must pass the piano proficiency.

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B.A. in Music 2018-2019: Option 1 - CWILT

First Year
FallCreditsInterimCreditsSpringCredits
MUL 143A Introduction to Keyboard Theory1GES 160 Inquiry Seminar3MUS 104 Music Theory I3
MUS 101 Music Fundamentals1 MUS 195 Music Hour0
MUS 103 Introduction to Music Literature2 GES 130 Christianity Western Culture4
MUS 195 Music Hour0 GES 140 Introduction to Wellbeing3
GES 125 Introduction to the Creative Arts4 Performance Organization 1
BIB 101 Introduction to the Bible3 Private Lessons 1
Performance Organization 1 Second Language (S) course1 4
Private Lessons 1  
 13 3 16
Second Year
FallCreditsInterimCreditsSpringCredits
MUS 195 Music Hour0Mathematics (M) course 3MUS 195 Music Hour0
MUS 202 Music Theory II3 MUS 203 Music Theory III3
MUS 312 Music History and Literature I3 MUS 313 Music History and Literature II3
Performance Organization 1 MUS 323 Instrumentation2
Private Lessons 1 THE 201 Christian Theology3
Laboratory Science (D) course 4 Leisure and Lifetime Sports (Q) course 1
Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course 3 Performance Organization 1
  Private Lessons 1
 15 3 14
Third Year
FallCreditsInterimCreditsSpringCredits
MUS 195 Music Hour0Science, Technology and Society (K) course 3MUS 195 Music Hour0
MUS 324 Choral Literature and Conducting3 MUS 322 Instrumental Literature and Conducting3
PHI 310 Aesthetics3 Performance Organization 1
Performance Organization 1 Private Lessons 1
Private Lessons 1 Comparative Systems (G) course 3
World Cultures (U) course 3 Cross-Cultural Experience (Z) course 0-3
Elective 3 Electives 6
 14 3 14-17
Fourth Year
FallCreditsInterimCreditsSpringCredits
MUS 195 Music Hour0Interim Off MUS 195 Music Hour0
Interpreting Biblical Themes (J) course 3 MUS 495 Half Senior Recital0
Performance Organizaton 0 Performance Organization 0
Private Lessons 1 Private Lessons 0
Electives 12 Contemporary Christian Issues (P) course 3
  Electives 9
 16 0 12
Total Credits 123-126

Additional Requirements: (1) Must be in a MUP performance organization for a minimum of four years. (2) Must fulfill Recital and Concert Attendance requirement. (3) Must pass the piano proficiency.

Most financial aid packages stipulate 12 credits/semester; Minnesota state grants are reduced when credit load falls below 15 credits/semester. (Interim credits may be split between fall and spring for state grant purposes only.)

B.A. in Music 2018-2019: Option 2 - Humanities

First Year
FallCreditsInterimCreditsSpringCredits
MUL 143A Introduction to Keyboard Theory1GES 147 Humanities II: Renaissance and Reformation4MUS 104 Music Theory I3
MUS 101 Music Fundamentals1 MUS 195 Music Hour0
MUS 103 Introduction to Music Literature2 BIB 101 Introduction to the Bible3
MUS 195 Music Hour0 GES 244 Humanities III: European Enlightenment and American Culture to 18774
GES 145 Humanities I: Greco-Roman through Middle Ages4 Performance Organization 1
Performance Organization 1 Private Lessons 1
Private Lessons 1 GES 140 Introduction to Wellbeing3
Second Language (S) course1 4  
 14 4 15
Second Year
FallCreditsInterimCreditsSpringCredits
MUS 195 Music Hour0Mathematics (M) course 3MUS 195 Music Hour0
MUS 202 Music Theory II3 MUS 203 Music Theory III3
MUS 312 Music History and Literature I3 MUS 313 Music History and Literature II3
GES 246 Humanities IV: Modern and Contemporary Western Culture4 MUS 323 Instrumentation2
Performance Organization 1 Performance Organization 1
Private Lessons 1 Private Lessons 1
Laboratory Science (D) course 4 Leisure and Lifetime Sports (Q) course 1
  Elective 3
 16 3 14
Third Year
FallCreditsInterimCreditsSpringCredits
MUS 195 Music Hour0Science, Technology and Society (K) course 3MUS 195 Music Hour0
MUS 324 Choral Literature and Conducting3 MUS 322 Instrumental Literature and Conducting3
PHI 310 Aesthetics3 Performance Organization 1
Performance Organization 1 Private Lessons 1
Private Lessons 1 Comparative Systems (G) course 3
World Cultures (U) course 3 Electives 6
Elective 3 Cross cultural Experience (Z) course 0-3
 14 3 14-17
Fourth Year
FallCreditsInterimCreditsSpringCredits
MUS 195 Music Hour0Interim Off MUS 195 Music Hour0
Performance Organization 0 MUS 495 Half Senior Recital0
Private Lessons 1 Performance Organization 0
Interpreting Biblical Themes (J) course 3 Private Lessons 0
Electives 10 Contemporary Christian Issues (P) course 3
  Electives 9
 14 0 12
Total Credits 123-126

Additional Requirements: (1) Must be in a MUP performance organization for a minimum of four years. (2) Must fulfill Recital and Concert Attendance requirement. (3) Must pass the piano proficiency.

Most financial aid packages stipulate 12 credits/semester; Minnesota state grants are reduced when credit load falls below 15 credits/semester. (Interim credits may be split between fall and spring for state grant purposes only.)

Overview

The Ministry Scholars program is Bethel University's 5-year Bachelor's Degree and Master of Arts in Ministry program that reduces cost and time-to-completion by streamlining undergraduate and graduate education. Graduates receive a Bachelor's degree from Bethel University's College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and a Master of Arts in Ministry from Bethel Seminary. This program is well suited for a variety of majors who want to become equipped to lead churches, parachurch organizations, and other ministries. It is also a good fit for ministry-minded students who want to pursue bi-vocational ministry or work outside of professional ministry. Students learn from successful ministry leaders and experts in Biblical and Theological Studies, Spiritual and Personal Formation, and Transformational Leadership. This program offers supplemental training resources, cohort-based activities, and mentorship opportunities to prepare ministry-minded students for effective ministry leadership. Students also gain valuable field experience in local churches and ministry settings.

The objectives of the program are that graduates will demonstrate age-appropriate growth and ultimately ministry leadership preparedness in the following domains:

  1. Spiritual life: Students will grow spiritually, deepening their love for, commitment to, and dependence on God, and develop an instinct to trust in God and to connect intimately with God.
  2. Discernment of call: They will clarify and reaffirm their sense of calling to glorify God, to work in Christ’s church and to serve humanity sacrificially.
  3. Emotional maturity: They will become emotionally mature adults, possessing the ability to sense and manage emotions, to see others’ perspectives, to sympathize and empathize, to follow and lead as appropriate and to foster healthy relationships.
  4. Cultural competence: They will become culturally aware, gaining a perspective that all cultures possess strengths and vulnerabilities, an ability to work across cultural lines and an appreciation that diverse teams are stronger teams.
  5. Bible knowledge: They will gain a clear understanding of the Bible’s content and a deep and abiding passion for the truth of the Gospel.
  6. Spiritual wisdom: They will grow in wisdom, possessing a capacity to apply the Bible so that others are inspired by their teaching and preaching to live out biblical truth and experience human flourishing.
  7. Intellectual virtues: They will develop virtues such as critical thinking, respect for data, intellectual humility, and thirst for learning, combined with the skill to interpret and teach the Bible accurately.
  8. Leadership capacity: They will learn to follow leaders and to lead followers—enlisting people, building teams, leading change and achieving results.
  9. Godly character: They will become virtuous people—individuals who love others, speak truth, live humbly, sacrifice their own interests, live justly, express joy and show compassion.

What is Bethel looking for in a Ministry Scholar?

  • Minimum of 3.0 GPA (cumulative college grade point average or unweighted high school GPA if the student has less than one year of college experience), and maintenance of 3.0 minimum GPA throughout the duration of the Ministry Scholars program while enrolled at CAS and Seminary.

  • Able to provide a pastoral or ministry leader reference that speaks to the student’s character and call to ministry.

  • Committed to prioritizing activities and retreats offered for Ministry Scholars, enabling the individual to develop a strong sense of community.

Click here for more information on the Ministry Scholars program at Bethel University

MUS 101 • Music Fundamentals 1 Credit.

Fundamentals of music theory notation: clefs; time signatures; major and minor key signatures; major and all three forms of minor scales; intervals and triads, including qualities and inversions; Roman numeral analysis with figured bass; overtone series.
Corequisites: Requires concurrent registration with MUL 143A or consent of instructor. Offered: Fall.

MUS 103 • Introduction to Music Literature 2 Credits.

Development of listening skills and musical vocabulary pertinent to the study of Western music history through a chronological survey of major historical style periods and representative literature.
Corequisites: Requires concurrent registration with MUS 101 and MUL 143A, or consent of instructor. Offered: Fall.

MUS 104 • Music Theory I 3 Credits.

A continuation of MUS 101 concepts and materials: voice-leading and part-writing of triads and seventh chords, and modulations in diatonic chorale style. Beginning development of ear-training and sight-singing, music technology, computer applications, and continuation of functional keyboard skills.
Prerequisites: MUS 101; MUS 103. Offered: Spring

MUS 195 • Music Hour 0 Credit.

A semi-monthly informal recital for the purpose of student performance or discussion of topics of significance to musicians. Music majors and minors are required to perform on their applied instruments in a minimum of one Music Hour recital per semester. First-semester freshmen perform at the discretion of the private instructor. Music majors must register each semester in residence in order to complete the Recital and Concert Attendance requirements for graduation.
Prerequisites: Music major or minor. Grade exceptions: Graded on an S/U basis. Offered: Fall, Spring.

MUS 202 • Music Theory II 3 Credits.

A continuation of MUS 104 concepts and materials: advanced voice-leading and part-writing skills, chromaticism/non-diatonicism, introduction to jazz and pop theory. Continued development of ear-training, sight-singing, functional keyboard skills, music technology, and computer applications.
Prerequisites: MUS 104. Offered: Fall

MUS 203 • Music Theory III 3 Credits.

Practice in 16th century counterpoint; analysis of forms from 18th century counterpoint through classical forms; continuation of ear-training, sight-singing, and functional keyboard skills.
Prerequisites: MUS 202 or consent of instructor. Offered: Spring

MUS 210 • Collaborative Keyboard Skills 2 Credits.

A series of class lessons for the advancing piano student. Topics include sight-reading, ensemble playing, transposition, open score reading, and accompanying.
Prerequisites: MUS 104 or consent of instructor. Offered: Spring 2020

MUS 230 • Music and Worship in the 21st Century 3 Credits.

The role of music within the context of Christian corporate worship. Current practice in church music is analyzed from a theological and historical perspective with the goal of forming musical practice that matches biblical function.
Offered: Spring.

MUS 262A • How To Write A Song 3 Credits.

Explore song history, analysis, and structure in order to compose and record original piece.
Offered: Occasionally. Special Notes: Does not require formal music background.

MUS 301 • Music Theory IV 3 Credits.

Advanced analysis and composition in all styles with a focus on 20th century music.
Prerequisites: MUS 203. Offered: Spring, odd # years

MUS 305G • Music in World Cultures 3 Credits.

Introductory study of cultural traditions, belief systems, and practices of world cultures through the study and analysis of the music of ethnic groups. Specific cultures included may vary each year.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course; World Cultures (U) course] or [GES 244; World Cultures (U) course]. Offered: Spring, even # years

MUS 312 • Music History and Literature I 3 Credits.

Chronological survey of Western musical art from the Greek civilization through the Baroque period with detailed examination of representative works. Required listening, examinations, and written projects.
Prerequisites: MUS 103; MUS 104. Offered: Fall

MUS 313 • Music History and Literature II 3 Credits.

A continuation of MUS 312, from 1750 to the present.
Prerequisites: MUS 312. Offered: Spring

MUS 315 • Piano Literature 3 Credits.

A survey of the literature for the solo piano, spanning 400 years from the Baroque through the Modern Era.
Prerequisites: Keyboard major or minor, or instructor’s permission. Offered: Spring 2019

MUS 322 • Instrumental Literature and Conducting 3 Credits.

Principles of conducting as applied to orchestral and band literature. Musical style and the responsibility of the conductor to the score. Instrumental music of the Classic, Romantic, and 20th century periods will be explored.
Prerequisites: MUS 324. Offered: Spring

MUS 323 • Instrumentation 2 Credits.

Introduction of all major instruments with emphasis on transpositions, ranges, and idiomatic writing. Arranging of music for large and small combinations of woodwind, brass, string, and percussion instruments.
Prerequisites: MUS 202; MUS 312. Offered: Spring

MUS 324 • Choral Literature and Conducting 3 Credits.

Development of conducting techniques with the application of stylistic principles to the styles of the Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, Romantic, and 20th century periods.
Prerequisites: MUS 203; MUS 313 or consent of instructor. Offered: Fall

MUS 326 • Vocal Literature 3 Credits.

Development of conducting techniques with the application of stylistic principles to the styles of the Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, Romantic, and 20th century periods.
Prerequisites: MUS 203, MUS 313.

MUS 357 • Piano Pedagogy 2 Credits.

Methods of teaching piano. Overview of teaching materials including method books, literature collections and anthologies, and supplementary materials.
Prerequisites: Major or minor in music. Offered: Spring.

MUS 358 • Brass Methods 2 Credits.

Methods of teaching brass instruments (trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba). Performance techniques and materials as well as practical experience on each of the representative instruments.
Prerequisites: Major or minor in music. Offered: Fall, even # years

MUS 359 • Percussion Methods 2 Credits.

Methods of teaching percussion (snare drum, keyboard/mallets, timpani, concert accessories/auxiliary, drum set). Performance techniques and materials as well as practical experience on most of the represented instruments.
Prerequisites: Major or minor in music. Offered: Spring, odd # years

MUS 360 • String Methods 2 Credits.

Methods of teaching stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass). Performance techniques and materials as well as practical experience on each of the representative instruments.
Prerequisites: Major or minor in music. Offered: Spring, even # years

MUS 362 • Woodwind Methods 2 Credits.

Methods of teaching woodwind instruments (flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, bassoon). Performance techniques and materials as well as practical experience on each of the representative instruments.
Prerequisites: Major or minor in music. Offered: Fall, odd # years

MUS 363 • Vocal Pedagogy 2 Credits.

Methods of teaching the vocal mechanism and its functions. Performance techniques and materials as well as practical experience.
Prerequisites: Four semesters of voice lessons. Offered: Spring, odd # years

MUS 366 • Italian and English Lyric Diction 1 Credit.

Studies in pronunciation of Italian and English songs through the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Verbal, written, and sung realization of this work practiced on assigned repertoire.
Prerequisites: One year private voice study or equivalent. Offered: Fall

MUS 367 • French Lyric Diction 1 Credit.

Studies in pronunciation of French diction through use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Verbal, written, and sung realizations of this work practiced on assigned repertoire.
Prerequisites: MUS 366. Offered: Spring, odd # years

MUS 368 • German Lyric Diction 1 Credit.

Studies in pronunciation of German diction through the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Verbal, written, and sung realization of this work practiced on assigned repertoire.
Prerequisites: MUS 366. Offered: Spring, even # years

MUS 395 • Junior Recital 0 Credit.

A culminating performance experience required for the bachelor of music applied performance major. A one half-hour recital of Level III repertoire is presented.
Prerequisites: Pre-recital hearing. Offered: Fall, spring

MUS 495 • Half Senior Recital 0 Credit.

A culminating performance experience required for the bachelor of arts in sacred music and bachelor of music education majors. A one half-hour recital of Level III repertoire is presented.
Prerequisites: Pre-recital hearing. Offered: Fall, spring

MUS 496 • Full Senior Recital 0 Credit.

A culminating performance experience required for the bachelor of music applied performance major. A one-hour recital of Level IV repertoire is presented.
Prerequisites: Pre-recital hearing. Offered: Fall, spring

College of Arts Sciences