Overview & Mission

Taking place in a new state of the art facility with a performance hall, the objectives of the Music Program at the College of Saint Elizabeth are to provide all students with opportunities to directly experience music and dance of the various periods, styles, forms, and cultures which have contributed to the common musical heritage of the human race.

A Bachelor of Arts in music prepares the potential professional musician, dancer, scholar and/or teacher for a career in performance, composition, ministry, musicological research, dance studio owner, or work in the music or dance industry. Minors in Music and Dance are available.

Small class sizes and individual attention are provided for students who major or minor in music or dance, and in addition to taking the requirements, every effort is made to design a course of study that is also appropriate to the specific talents and development of each music student.  The faculty comes from a variety of backgrounds and bring to the program their talents as teachers, scholars and professional musicians and dancers.




Graduates

Students completing the degree in music are equipped with the skills to begin building a successful career in music.  Through careful study and planning our majors are prepared for advanced educational pursuits in graduate or professional schools. 

Graduates from the Music Program work in a variety of careers such as:

  • Professional musicians
  • Music teachers
  • Music directors for church parishes
  • Musical producers

Students have studied music in graduate school, followed by careers in music therapy, and composers of music for video and film.  We have graduates who have also performed in musical theater both on and off Broadway.

Music Program


Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Music

Students are encouraged to study vocal techniques for at least two semesters if their major emphasis is instrumental, and to study piano for at least two semesters if keyboard is not their major emphasis. To this end, MUS 107 and 109 (Class Piano I & II) and MUS 111 and 113 (Class Voice I & II) are strongly encouraged of all music majors and minors.

Music majors may take a maximum of 16 credits in performance music; non-majors may take a maximum of 12 credits in performance music. All students are encouraged to take theory, history, and performance courses in music

  • MUS201 Harmony I (3)
  • MUS203 Harmony II (3)
  • MUS301 Counterpoint (3)
  • MUS317 Orchestration (2)
  • MUS319 Form and Analysis (2)
  • MUS205 Dictation and Sight-Reading I (1)
  • MUS207 Dictation and Sight-Reading II (1)
  • MUS309 Keyboard Harmony I (1)
  • MUS313 Keyboard Harmony II (1)
  • MUS255 The Joy of Bach (3)
  • MUS257 Beethoven and Friends (3)
  • MUS259 The Great Romantics (3)
  • MUS--- Elective (3)
  • MUS--- Elective (3)
  • MUS--- Elective (3)


Total credits for Bachelor of Arts in Music: 35


Additional Requirements

  • At least eight semesters study of a major instrument or voice; pass a jury examination at the end of each semester with a minimum grade of C.
  • At least eight credits of music ensemble participation are required: MUS 217, MUS 219, MUS 227 or MUS 229.
  • Public Recital in major instrument or voice during last semester of the senior year.
  • Lecture Recital — one piece performed must be accompanied by a lecture including a basic background on the composer of that specific piece, the period in which the piece was composed, and the stylistic characteristics of the composition performed with respect to performance practices.


Capstone Requirement

Students will fulfill the capstone requirement by successful completion of the Senior Public Recital/Lecture Recital with subsequent follow up evaluation in consultation with the Program Chairperson and faculty members.

Requirements a Minor in Music

  • MUS201 Harmony I (3)
  • MUS203 Harmony II (3)
  • MUS205 Dictation and Sight-Reading I (1)
  • MUS--- History of Music Elective (3)
  • MUS--- History of Music Elective (3)
  • MUS309 Keyboard Harmony I (1)
  • MUS--- Elective (3)
  • MUS--- Elective (3)


Total 20


Additional Requirements

  • At least four semesters study of a major instrument or voice, and at least four semesters performance.
  • At least four semesters applied music in major instrument or voice, and at least four semesters performance.
  • At least four credits of music ensemble participation are required: MUS 217, MUS 219, MUS 227 or MUS 229.
  • Public performance of a mini recital during the last semester of applied instrumental or vocal study.


The Dance Minor

The Dance Minor offers students an opportunity to learn or build on previous experiences within the genres of Modern, Jazz and Ballet as the fundamentals of the discipline. Further options exist for students to elect courses which will satisfy the New Jersey Department of Education requirement for Dance Teacher K-6 certification eligibility.

  • DAN215 Fundamentals of Dance (3)
  • DANC225 Modern Dance I (2)
  • DANC220 Jazz Dance I (2)
  • DANC240 Ballet I (2)
  • DANC305 Choreography and Improvisation (3)
  • DANC230 Dance Appreciation (3)


Electives in Dance Minor (choose one)

  • DANC227 Modern Dance II (3)
  • DANC222 Jazz Dance II (3)
  • DANC243 Ballet II (3)
  • DANC280 Theories of Dance Education K-6 (3)

Total: 18


Students who choose to elect PE 310 and have completed the Education major, including student teaching, may apply to the New Jersey Department of Education for certification in Dance Education K-6.  These Dance minors may open and operate their own schools of dance.