Music, BI

Music

Bachelor of Innovation (BI)

Program Delivery

On Campus, Online, Hybrid

Total Credits

120 Credits

About the Program
Focus of Study
Program Requirements
Program Coursework
Admissions

About the Program

The Bachelor of Innovation Music Program within the Department of Visual & Performing Arts at UCCS offers majors the chance to focus on a targeted range of specializations in performance, improvisation, composition, sound design, film scoring, music theatre, entrepreneurship, and more.

Individual mentoring experiences are a particular focus of the curriculum. Music majors work with renowned visiting guest artists every semester and perform alongside faculty in the Peak FreQuency Creative Arts Ensemble.

There are many opportunities to collaborate with other programs on campus, such as Dance, Film Studies, Museum Studies & Gallery Practice, Theatre, Visual Arts, and more.

Focus of Study

close up image of music recording equipment in the resource center on UCCS' campus

The Bachelor of Innovation in Music is a cross-disciplinary program that combines music, engineering and business to prepare students for a variety of careers in the broad spectrum of music including performance, composition, recording arts, and the global business world.

Students can reach their highest potential as performers through our scholarship-driven Chamber Music program that includes: brass and woodwind quintets, string quartet, jazz combos, and small vocal groups. Other ensembles include Jazz and Improvisation, Creative Music, Electroacoustic, University Choir, Music Theatre, and Theatreworks student productions.

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Innovation (BI) in Music requires the following:

  • 120 credit hours
  • Minimum of 32 credit hours of MUS course work and an additional 6 hours of auxiliary course work within VAPA, plus an additional 24 credits of BI Innovation Core and an additional 15 hours of BI Cross-discipline Core
  • Requires a minimum of 18 credit hours of upper-division (3000+ level) MUS/VAPA course work
  • 2.0 CU cumulative GPA, with a grade of C or better in each course within the major and auxiliary VAPA courses
  • Residency: Last 30 credit hours of degree must be completed while registered in the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at UCCS

  • NOTE: BI Music students should decide on a general focus depending on their areas of interest, such as music business and entrepreneurship or music technology, and work with the BI Music faculty advisor for course recommendations in the electives, private lessons and recitals.

Program Coursework

Music Core Courses
  • MUS 1010 - Music Theory I: Systems of Pitch and Representation
  • MUS 1030 - Aural Skills I (1 credit hour)
  • MUS 1040 - Class Piano (1 credit hour)
  • MUS 2010 - Music Theory II: Styles of Counterpoint
  • MUS 2030 - Sight Singing and Ear Training II (1 credit hour)
  • MUS 2850 - Topics in Music History and Research I
  • MUS 4980 - Music Capstone: Senior Thesis

Ensemble

Complete 2 hours from the following Ensembles: MUS 1310, 2210, 2250, 2300, 2310, 2400, 3450, 4300
Music Electives

Complete 3 hours from the following courses: MUS 1600, 2150, 2450, 2500, 2600, 2950

Complete an additional 12 hours of upper-division (3000+ level) Music electives from the following courses:

  • MUS 3010, 3030, 3150, 3200, 3320, 3410, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3850, 4250, 4600, 4750, 4960
VAPA Core Courses 
  • Complete one 1000-level VAPA Core course from the following: VAPA 1005, 1020, 1050, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1500
  • Complete one 3000-level VAPA Core courses from the following: VAPA 3900, 3910, 3920, 3950, 3955, 3960, 3970, 3980, 3990
BI Innovation Core Courses

Complete all of the Bachelor of Innovation Core courses below:

  • BLAW 2010 - Business and Intellectual Property Law
  • ENTP 1000 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship or ENTP 1001 - Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship
  • ENTP 4500 - Entrepreneurship and Strategy
  • INOV 1010 - The Innovation Process or INOV 1011 - Social Innovation
  • INOV 2010 - Innovation Team: Analyze and Report
  • INOV 2100 - Technical Writing, Proposals, and Presentations
  • INOV 3010 - Innovation Team: Research and Execute
  • INOV 4010 - Innovation Team: Design and Lead
BI Cross-Discipline Core Courses 

Complete one of the Cross-Discipline Cores listed below. Each Cross-Discipline Core consists of 15 credit hours. 

  • BI Business Core 
  • BI Engineering Technology Core 
  • BI Globalization Core 
  • BI Inclusive Education Core 
  • BI Custom Core (for Veteran and Transfer students only)

Admission Details

To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.

Additional resources for Admissions:

Start Your Application