Music, AFA

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PURPOSE: This two-year degree prepares students to transfer to a four-year college and major in music with a performance concentration. This degree is offered at the Midlothian Campus.

CREDENTIALS: An Associate of Fine Art (AFA) degree is a major in an area such as theatre, music, or visual arts that takes two years for full-time students to complete. The AFA degree is for students who plan to transfer to four-year colleges.

TRANSFER INFORMATION: This program is designed for transfer. Students should consult with their advisors to ensure that they select general electives that best prepare them for the specific requirements of their intended transfer college or university programs of study. More information can also be found at www.brightpoint.edu/academics/transfer/

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Students must meet Brightpoint admission requirements. Students must meet Brightpoint admission requirements. New students should work with their New Student Navigator to get ready for their first semester. They can also email getstarted@brightpoint.edu for assistance. Because transfer requirements will vary based upon the intended transfer institution, students must meet with their faculty advisor to develop a schedule that best suits their goals.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: By the completion of this program, students will be expected to demonstrate an intermediate level of competency in the following skills:

Analyze a musical composition in terms of musical terminology, chord structure, and rhythm.
Write a musical composition demonstrating an understanding of the elements of musical theory.
Perform in an ensemble setting.
Demonstrate proficiency in playing piano at a sophomore level.
Demonstrate knowledge of music history appropriate to the sophomore level.

Required Courses

SDV 100 - College Success Skills 1 credit
ENG 111 - College Composition I 3 credits
MTH 154 - Quantitative Reasoning 3 credits
MUS 111 - Music Theory I 4 credits
MUS 141 - Class Piano I 2 credits
APPLIED MUSIC ELECTIVE 1-2 credits

Choose one to two courses from the Applied Music Electives list below. Students should begin with lower-level “1xx” Applied Music electives. Applied Music courses may be repeated for credit. A minimum of 6 Applied Music credits are required for the degree.
MUSIC ENSEMBLE ELECTIVE 1-2 credits

Choose one course from the Music Ensemble Electives list below. Music Ensemble courses may be repeated for credit. Course offerings may vary each semester. A minimum of 4 Music Ensemble credits are required for the degree.
ENG 112 - College Composition II 3 credits
MUS 112 - Music Theory II 4 credits
MUS 142 - Class Piano II 2 credits

Social Science Elective

Choose 1: Credits / Units: 3
HIS 111 - World Civilization Pre-1500 CE 3 credits
HIS 112 - World Civilization Post-1500 CE 3 credits
PSY 200 - Principles of Psychology 3 credits
SOC 200 - Introduction to Sociology 3 credits
APPLIED MUSIC ELECTIVE 1-2 credits

Choose one to two courses from the Applied Music Electives list below. Students should begin with lower-level “1xx” Applied Music electives. Applied Music courses may be repeated for credit. Course offerings may vary each semester. A minimum of 6 Applied Music credits are required for the degree.
MUSIC ENSEMBLE ELECTIVE 1-2 credits

Choose one course from the Music Ensemble Electives list below. Music Ensemble courses may be repeated for credit. Course offerings may vary each semester. A minimum of 4 Music Ensemble credits are required for the degree.

Music Requirements

MUS 221 - History of Western Music Prior to 1750 3 credits
MUS 211 - Advanced Music Theory I 4 credits

Laboratory Science Elective

Choose one:
ENV 121 - General Environmental Science I 4 credits
BIO 106 - Life Science 4 credits
CHM 101 - Introductory Chemistry 4 credits
PHY 100 - Elements of Physics 4 credits
BIO 101 - General Biology I 4 credits

Literature

Literature (choose 1): Credits / Units: 3 credits
ENG 225 - Reading Literature: Culture and Ideas 3 credits
ENG 245 - British Literature 3 credits
ENG 246 - American Literature 3 credits
ENG 255 - World Literature 3 credits
ENG 258 - African American Literature 3 credits
ENG 275 - Women in Literature 3 credits

Music Requirements

MUS 222 - History of Western Music 1750 to Present 3 credits
MUS 212 - Advanced Music Theory II 4 credits
MUS 226 - World Music 3 credits
APPLIED MUSIC ELECTIVE 1-2 credits

Choose one to two courses from the Applied Music Electives list below. Students should begin with lower-level “1xx” Applied Music electives. Applied Music courses may be repeated for credit. Course offerings may vary each semester. A minimum of 6 Applied Music credits are required for the degree.

Music/Foreign Language Elective

Choose 1-3 courses for a total of 3-4 credits.

(Note that students must complete a minimum 6 Applied Music credits and 4 Music Ensemble credits to graduate. Course offerings may vary each semester.)
MUS 129 - Musical Workshop 1 credit
MUS 131 - Class Voice I 2 credits
MUS 132 - Class Voice II 2 credits
MUS 136 - Applied Music-Voice 1 credit
MUS 137 - Chorus Ensemble 2 credits
MUS 138 - Small Vocal Ensemble 2 credits
MUS 143 - Chamber Ensemble 1 credit
MUS 144 - Jazz Chamber Ensemble 1 credit
MUS 145 - Applied Music - Keyboard 1 credit
MUS 148 - Orchestra Ensemble 1 credit
MUS 149 - Band Ensemble 1 credit
MUS 155 - Applied Music - Woodwinds 1 credit
MUS 163 - Guitar Theory and Practice I 3 credits
MUS 164 - Guitar Theory and Practice II 3 credits
MUS 165 - Applied Music - Strings 1 credit
MUS 175 - Applied Music - Brass 1 credit
MUS 185 - Applied Music - Percussion 1 credit
MUS 225 - The History of Jazz 3 credits
FRE 101 - Beginning French I 4 credits
FRE 102 - Beginning French II 4 credits
GER 101 - Beginning German I 4 credits
GER 102 - Beginning German II 4 credits

Total Minimum Credits to Complete: 62-64

Applied Music Electives (6 credits)

(Students should begin with lower-level “1xx” Applied Music electives. Applied Music courses may be repeated for credit. Course offerings may vary each semester. A minimum of 6 Applied Music credits are required for the degree.) Credits / Units: 6
MUS 131 - Class Voice I 2 credits
MUS 132 - Class Voice II 2 credits
MUS 136 - Applied Music-Voice 1 credit
MUS 145 - Applied Music - Keyboard 1 credit
MUS 155 - Applied Music - Woodwinds 1 credit
MUS 165 - Applied Music - Strings 1 credit
MUS 175 - Applied Music - Brass 1 credit
MUS 185 - Applied Music - Percussion 1 credit
MUS 236 - Advanced Applied Music - Voice 2 credits
MUS 245 - Advanced Applied Music - Keyboard 2 credits
MUS 255 - Advanced Applied Music - Woodwinds 2 credits
MUS 265 - Advanced Applied Music - Strings 2 credits
MUS 275 - Advanced Applied Music - Brass 2 credits
MUS 285 - Advanced Applied Music - Percussion 2 credits

Music Ensemble Electives (4-5 credits)

(Music Ensemble courses may be repeated for credit. Course offerings may vary each semester. A minimum of 4 Music Ensemble credits are required for the degree.) Credits / Units: 4-5
MUS 129 - Musical Workshop 1 credit
MUS 137 - Chorus Ensemble 2 credits
MUS 138 - Small Vocal Ensemble 2 credits
MUS 143 - Chamber Ensemble 1 credit
MUS 144 - Jazz Chamber Ensemble 1 credit
MUS 148 - Orchestra Ensemble 1 credit
MUS 149 - Band Ensemble 1 credit

Additional Information

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements can be found in course details.

Students are strongly encouraged to complete their ENG, MTH, and SDV requirements first.

Students should regularly meet with their faculty advisor and check their degree progress by accessing advisement reports in the Student Information System (SIS) in the myBrightpoint portal or the Academic Planner in Navigate.

General education and major degree requirements will vary by institution and by program. Students must meet with their faculty advisor to determine the best choices for transfer. Note that some course options have prerequisites.

Some four-year programs require a foreign language. See your faculty advisor to determine best options for transfer. Note that some options have prerequisites.

Voice majors are generally required to take French, German, or Italian. Brightpoint offers FRE courses online and on campus whereas GER courses are offered online only through Northern Virginia Community College. Italian is not currently being offered. Students transferring to programs that require a foreign language should enroll in the highest-level foreign language course for which they are prepared. Heritage or conversationally fluent speakers may enroll directly into 102. See your faculty advisor to determine best options for transfer.