Musical Theatre Degree Requirements • Musical Theatre • Carthage College

Carthage offers a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre, a Bachelor of Arts in Music: Musical Theatre, and a minor in musical theatre.

The curriculum is designed to develop core skills in music, theatre, and dance. Students have multiple performance opportunities each semester, combined with dance, acting, and Musical Theatre Techniques courses. Students graduate with the skillset they need to be an asset in the ever-changing industry of musical theatre.

Musicianship and Musical Performance:

MUS 00* Ensemble Participation (0-4 credits) (4 terms required)
MUS 0160 Keyboard Skills I (2 credits) (1 credit course, 2 terms)
MUS 0170 Keyboard Skills II (2 credits) (1 credit course, 2 terms)
MUS 0250 Private Voice (8 credits) (1 credit course, 8 terms)
MUS 0400 Movement for Singers (4 credits) (2 credit course, 2 terms)
MUS 0700 Recital Attendance (0 credits)(0 credit course, 4 terms)
MUS 1010 Music Theory I (3 credits)
MUS 1020 Aural Skills I (1 credits)
MUS 1030 Music Theory II (3 credits)
MUS 1040 Aural Skills II (1 credits)
MUS 1620 Music Theatre Techniques I: Song Analysis (4 credits)
MUS 1630 Music Theatre Techniques II: Song Analysis (4 credits)
MUS 2200 Popular Music in America (4 credits)
MUS 2620 Music Theatre Workshop (0-4 credits) (2 terms required)
MUS 2640 Music Theatre Techniques III: Scene into Song (4 credits)
MUS 2650 Music Theatre Techniques IV: Duets (4 credits)
MUS 3400 Music Theatre History (4 credits)
MUS 3660 Musical Theatre Techniques V: Pop/Rock 1930s-1970s (4 credits)
MUS 3670 Musical Theatre VI: Pop/Rock 1980s-Present (4 credits)
MUS 4100 Audition/Business Skills (2 credits)
MUS 4110 Senior Seminar in Musical Theatre: Showcase (4 credits)
MUS 4990 Senior Thesis Completion (0 credits)
MUS 0010, 0020, or 0240 Ensemble participation (0-8 credits) (4 terms)
MUS 4990 Senior Thesis Completion (0 credits)

Theatre/Dance Studies:

DNC Dance Electives (6 credits) (1 credits courses, 6 terms)
THR 2110 Acting I (4 credits)
THR 2900 Play Reading and Analysis (4 credits)
THR 2910 Stagecraft (4 credits) OR THR 2920 Costume Technology (4 credits)
THR 3110 Acting II (4 credits)
THR 3100 Voice for the Stage (4 credits)
THR 4110 Acting III (4 credits)
THR 0100 Theatre Service and Practice (0 credits) (2 terms required)

The following courses comprise the Bachelor of Arts in Music: Musical Theatre

MUS 1010 Music Theory I (3 credits)
MUS 1020 Aural Skills I (1 credit)
MUS 1030 Music Theory II (3 credits)
MUS 1040 Aural Skills II (1 credit)
MUS 2110 Introduction to Western Music History (4 credits)
MUS/THR 3400 Music Theatre History (4 credits)
MUS 0250 Private Voice (1 credit each term, 8 terms)
MUS 0160 Keyboard Skills I (1 credit)
MUS 0170 Keyboard Skills II (1 credit)
MUS 0180 Keyboard Skills III (1 credit)
MUS 0190 Keyboard Skills IV (1 credit)
Ensemble participation for four terms (0-8 credits)
MUS 4990 Senior Thesis Completion (0 credits)
MUS 0700 Recital Attendance (0 credits, 4 terms)
MUS/THR 2620 Music Theatre Workshop (0-8 credits, 4 terms)
Dance Electives (4 credits, 1 credit each term)
THR 2110 Acting I (4 credits)
THR 3110 Acting II (4 credits)
THR 2900 Play Reading and Analysis (4 credits)
THR 2910 Stagecraft (4 credits)
THR 2920 Costume Technology (4 credits)

Choose one:

THR 3260, 3270, or 3280 Theatre Surveys (4 credits)

* An audition is required for admission to the Music: Music Theatre major.

MUS 0160 Keyboard Skills I (1 credit)
MUS 0170 Keyboard Skills II (1 credit)
MUS 0250 Private Voice (1 credit per semester, 4 credits total)
MUS 1620 Music Theatre Techniques I (2 credits)
MUS 1630 Music Theatre Techniques II (2 credits)
MUS 2620 Music Theatre Workshop (0-1 credits per semester, 2 semesters required)
MUS 3400 Music Theatre History (4 credits)
THR 2110: Acting I: Fundamentals of Acting (for Majors and Minors) (4 credits)

Choose One:

MUS 400* TP: Movement for Singers (1-4 credits)
Any applied Dance (DNC) course (1-4 credits)

An audition is required for admission to the Minor in Music Theatre.

Carthage offers a Master of Music (M.M.) in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy. This 10-month, full-time, master’s degree program provides opportunities for creative endeavor, inquiry, and investigation into the field of professional voice use in music theatre style. The program features seminar courses in vocal pedagogy, application and integration courses in voice performance in music theatre style, and analysis courses that focus on repertoire and rehearsal techniques.

Learn more About the Master of Music Program

Current students: You should follow the official College Catalog from the year you entered Carthage and work with your advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.