Minor Program
Lower Division Course Requirements
All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade. A letter grade of C- or higher must be received in all of your lower and upper division music minor courses.
The lower division courses for the music minor are:
- Music 20A
- Music 20B or Music 25A and
- Music 26AC, Music 27or Music 29.
Courses for the music major may be substituted for the equivalent minor course (on left) if student has placed 49B or higher on the Music Placement Procedure.
| MUSIC MINOR COURSES | MUSIC MAJOR COURSE EQUIVALENT |
|---|---|
| 20A - Basic Musicianship | 49B - Musicianship. Must be taken concurrently with 49C or 25A or after 25A or 49C (see below). |
| 20B - Basic Musicianship, OR 25A - Introduction to Music Theory. (20A must be taken before 25A) |
49C - Harmony. Must be taken before 49B or concurrently. |
27 - Introduction to Western Music, OR |
73-77. *Instructor approval required for 75-77*. |
The Music Placement Exam is given in 125 Morrison at 9 am the day before instruction begins during the Fall and Spring semesters. Come prepared with a piece to play or sing, and a pencil with an eraser. For more information, see the Music Placement Procedure page.
Exemption from lower division requirements
Music 20A and B may be waived by examination. Intending minors who have:
- Some musical accomplishment (ability to sing, play an instrument or compose music) and mastery of music theory rudiments and would like to place out of the requirement should speak to a student affairs officer about taking a 15-minute oral waiver test. The waiver test will include sight singing in major and minor modes, in simple and compound meters; identification of major and minor key signatures; singing and spelling of major and three forms of minor scales; singing and identification of intervals; and singing and spelling of chord functions in various keys, i.e. "sing and spell iv and V7 in the key of F-sharp minor."
- Those with training in four-part harmony writing who would like to place out of 25A or 49C should take the Advanced Placement Harmony Exam which is given at 3:00 the day before instruction begins in the Fall and Spring semesters.
- Those who have had a survey course at another school should see one of the Student Services Advisors in the Music Department Office.
Upper Division Course Requirements
All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade. A letter grade of C- or higher must be received in all of your lower and upper division music minor courses.
A minimum of 5 upper division music courses (100-149).
- At least one course must be in the 140 series.
- At least one course must not be in the 140 series.
- Courses that may be repeated for credit may count towards the minor a maximum of three times.
- Three of the five upper division courses must be completed at UC Berkeley.
Upper division courses designed primarily for music majors (151-189) may be substituted if the student has met the prerequisites or has the permission of the instructor.
Procedure for Confirmation of the Minor
Once students have satisfied the requirements, they should file a Petition for Confirmation of Minor in the Department of Music office. The petition may be picked up in the department office. Students need to bring a print-out of their unofficial transcript and, if relevant, their current course list.