Establishing a Bachelor of Arts in Music
“
I would teach children music, physics and philosophy, but most importantly music,
for the patterns in music and all the arts are keys to learning. Music gives a soul
to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.
”-
Plato
As a premier liberal arts institution, the University of Dallas is pleased to announce plans to establish a Bachelor of Arts in Music, which is rightfully placed in UD’s Core curriculum. The University of Dallas is in the center of cultural activity in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and is renowned across the United States for its exemplary liberal arts curriculum. Despite the essential importance of music in both culture and the liberal arts, UD has lacked a formal music major since the 1970s. The re-establishment of the undergraduate B.A. in music will help UD attract students who might otherwise go elsewhere for musical education. Prospective students make inquiries to UD’s Music Department each year expressing their desire to attend UD because of its outstanding reputation as an excellent Catholic liberal arts institution. Ultimately, the majority of these students attend other universities in pursuit of a degree in music.
Our Current Program
The University of Dallas currently offers a music concentration and a sacred music concentration. The Music Department is an important part of the cultural life of the UD campus and provides a variety of performances featuring students, faculty and guest artists. Applied lessons in piano, voice, violin and cello, as well as academic classes in Music History, Music Theory, and Composition are offered during the fall and spring semesters. Additionally, students are afforded regular performance opportunities including monthly and semester studio recitals, Lyric Theater productions, liturgies and campus visit weekends.
The New Program
Establishing a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree will further enrich the cultural life of the campus and the greater DFW community and will enhance UD’s commitment to its outstanding Core liberal arts education. This degree will provide students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the language of music, fostering an environment of artistic excellence in which students develop their technical skills while also growing musically. The university’s music and sacred music concentrations have already established a strong foundation. The B.A. in Music will build upon these long-standing programs, which have provided music education and programmatic opportunities that have enriched the lives of UD students, faculty and staff and the greater university community for decades.
With a new music major, opportunities for performance will grow, and enable students,
faculty and guest artists to share their talents on UD’s Irving campus, as well as
with the greater Dallas/Fort Worth music communities.
The UD Curriculum Committee has approved the degree plan, and the Faculty Senate has
conditionally approved the program, dependent upon funding. Accreditation by the Southern
Association for Colleges and Schools (SACS) has just been approved for the major.
Ultimately, accreditation by NASM will be sought.
How Your Gift Will Help
The B.A. in Music is contingent on obtaining the necessary funding to help support the first two years of the program’s operation. In order to support the existing program and bolster a stronger music curriculum, UD needs to increase its music faculty with additional staff and enhanced equipment, as well as provide additional scholarships to its students.
Support the musical arts at UD by helping establish a B.A. in Music. Your generous support will allow students to pursue their love for music while still receiving a world-class liberal arts education.
Student’s Testimonial
Andrew Gochuico said:
"Out of all the courses I've taken at UD, I can honestly say that my favorite courses
were those required for my music concentration. In these courses I had the opportunity
to learn about various composers and musical eras, and I also acquired aural skills
that helped me become a better musician. I was exposed to different genres of music
that I probably never would have listened to on my own, such as jazz and opera, by
listening to recordings and watching videos in the classroom, and by attending concerts
on campus and performances at the Dallas Opera. I'll never forget doing weekly rhythm
and interval dictation exercises with Mr. Higgins in Music Theory, or watching excerpts
of Wagner's The Ring Cycle with Ms. Van Cleve in History of Opera. Another great part
about these music courses was discovering new music through student presentations.
In History of Opera, we had the chance to present an opera of our choice, and in Music
of the Western World II, we were encouraged to present a musician who was not very
well known. These presentations were not only fun to give and listen to, but also
helped me improve my research and public speaking skills. Furthermore, the music professors
at UD are professional musicians who are active in the DFW area and have vast amounts
of knowledge and experience. They genuinely love sharing their passion for music with
their students and want their students to succeed both in the classroom and in life.
Choosing to pursue the music concentration was one of the best decisions I made while
at UD, and I am extremely happy to hear that future UD students will finally be able
to earn a bachelor's degree in music and will be able to perform in a state-of-the-art
auditorium. I hope you consider donating to such an amazing program."