Siena Heights University
BA in Music

Adrian, USA

DEGREE TYPE

DURATION

4 years

LANGUAGES

English

PACE

Full time

APPLICATION DEADLINE

EARLIEST START DATE

Sep 2026

STUDY FORMAT

On-Campus

Key Summary

About: Siena Heights University's BA in Music prepares students for music teaching and leadership with faculty with practical experience from pre-K to postgraduate. The programme emphasizes music education, pedagogy, ensemble performance and real-life practice, supported by Division of Education–Department of Music partnership and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and Michigan Department of Education. Students receive individualized attention, joining ensembles such as marching, concert, jazz, chorale and chamber.

Career Outcomes: Graduates pursue K-12 music teaching, conducting, performance, composition and arranging, audio engineering and production, recording/editing, film and video game scoring, church musician, music therapy, and professional roles across music industry.

Our faculty consists of teachers/musicians who have practical, relevant experience in music education from pre-kindergarten to post-graduate. As lifelong learners, our professors and instructors seek to instill a passion for not only making music but teaching it as well. Education permeates every aspect of music instruction at SHU, and Music students graduate with the necessary skills to become not only effective teachers but also leaders in their field.

The strong relationship between the Division of Education and the Department of Music at Siena Heights University shows the unique emphasis placed on a shared vision of Music that is a source of pride to students, faculty, and alumni. This commitment is exemplified through effective and inspirational teaching by outstanding faculty both in the Department of Music and the Division of Education and as an accredited program through the Higher Learning Commission and Michigan Department of Education.

As such, Music students at Siena Heights University have the potential to become outstanding K-12 music teachers, at the state and national levels. This is accomplished through individualized attention in more personal settings, while not compromising quality or experience.

Mission

The mission of the Music Education program at Siena Heights University is to prepare outstanding music educators in an authentic context learning environment grounded in dynamic real-life experiences. Our undergraduate program provides a rigorous curriculum, rich in content and practice; and designed purposefully to reveal individual student potential as innovative, risk-taking, inquisitively unique voices as future music educators.

Ensembles

All Siena students have the option of participating in the following ensembles:

Marching Band
Concert Band
Percussion Ensemble
Jazz Band
University Chorale
Chamber Singers
Youth Symphony
Chamber Ensembles

Course Requirements for Major

Program Requirements: 46-48 Credit Hours

MMM 110 Fundamentals Of Music Theory 2 credit hours (Proficiency exam available)
MMM 170 Music Theory I 2 credit hours
MMM 260 Music Theory II 2 credit hours
MMM 270 Music Theory III 2 credit hours
MMM 171 Aural Harmony And Sight Singing I 2 credit hours
MMM 261 Aural Harmony And Sight Singing II 2 credit hours
MMM 271 Aural Harmony And Sight Singing III 2 credit hours
MMM 222 History Of Western Music I 2 credit hours
MMM 223 History Of Western Music II 2 credit hours
MMM 224 History Of Western Music III 2 credit hours
MMM 112 Class Piano 1 1 credit hours
MMM 172 Class Piano 2 1 credit hours
MMM 262 Class Piano 3 1 credit hours
MMM 272 Class Piano 4 1 credit hours
MMM Performance Ensembles 8 credit hours
MMM Applied Music Lessons 14 credit hours
MMM 480 Recital (Senior Year) 2 credit hours

Concentration Requirements

(Choose any of the following concentrations):

Voice Concentration: 12 Credit Hours

MMM 360 Basic Conducting 2 credit hours
MMM 124 Diction For Singers 2 credit hours
MMM 355 Choral Methods And Materials 2 credit hours
Approved Fine Arts Electives TSC, ART, MMM 4 credit hours

Instrumental Concentration: 12 Credit Hours

MMM 360 Basic Conducting 2 credit hours
MMM 352 History Of Wind Band Literature 2 credit hours
MMM 363 Marching Techniques 2 credit hours
Approved Fine Arts Electives TSC, ART, MMM 4 credit hours

Total for Major: 58-60 Credit Hours

Liberal Arts: 32 Credit Hours

General Electives: 30 Credit Hours

Total for Degree: 120 Credit Hours

Other Requirements

All music majors must earn a “C” or better in all required music courses and must maintain a cumulative 2.5 g.p.a. in required courses for the major.
All music majors are required to attend recitals and concerts sponsored by the Music Department.
Incoming Music Majors must take a Theory Placement Exam. Students who pass the exam with a score above 80% may receive credit for Fundamentals of Music Theory (MMM 110 ) and take Music Theory 1 (MMM 170).
Incoming Music Majors may take the Piano Proficiency exam and opt out of 1 level of the piano class.
All students must pass the Piano Proficiency exam or he/she must continue to study piano until the appropriate level of proficiency is reached.
At least one credit hour in an approved music ensemble must be taken each session for eight sessions. Ensembles will be assigned by the Music Department.
All music majors will have a formal critique with the entire music faculty at the end of each session, in conjunction with applied lessons on their primary instrument. A written copy of the jury assessment will be given to the student and a copy of the report will be kept in the student’s file.
All music majors will be required to register for each session for MMM 109 Recital Seminar. This course will satisfy departmental requirements for recital performances and content area instruction not covered in major classes. This is a zero-credit course.