Feb 19, 2026  
2025-2026 General Catalog 
  
2025-2026 General Catalog

Music: Vocal Performance - BM


Caine College of the Arts

Department of Music

About This Degree

The Vocal Performance degree at Utah State University provides a robust and comprehensive educational foundation for students wishing to learn artful and healthy techniques of singing in both classical and musical theatre styles. This degree track prepares students for continued graduate study or immediate entrance into the professional world as a voice teacher or performer.

In addition to private voice instruction from exceptional pedagogues, Voice Performance majors at Utah State receive innovative classroom instruction in vocal pedagogy, the languages of classical singing, repertoire, and close mentorship from an experienced and professional faculty as they work towards their goals in personal musical excellence. Annual productions of operas, musicals, and scenes programs provide all students with ample performance opportunities where the invaluable skills of acting and stagecraft are taught by knowledgable faculty members and guest directors.

Program Specifics

Voice Performance majors take a combination of core music classes to perfect general musicianship and emphasis courses that teach the specific skills singers need to master the art and technique of singing. The students’ training is also supplemented by frequent visiting master artists and guest performers/directors.

The most advanced students have the option of being part of the scholarship-receiving Manon Caine Russell Opera Outreach Quartet, providing these promising students additional performance and leadership opportunities.

Although students come from varying backgrounds with different levels of experience, those that have the most success as Voice Performance majors at Utah State are those that are motivated, dedicated, and involved. They exhibit a passion for communicating through song and typically have had some choral or solo vocal training before coming to college. Strong sight-singing and piano skills are also beneficial for all voice performance majors.

For specific information regarding coursework required to earn a Voice emphasis, please refer to the BM Vocal Performance degree map.

  • For more information about Vocal Performance, see the department website.
  • All music majors must pass an audition to be admitted.
  • Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor.
  • Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
  • The highest math requirement for this degree is the Quantitative Literacy (QL)  of the student’s choice.

Minimum University Requirements


Admission Requirements For This Program


  • New freshmen must be admitted to USU in Good Standing.
  • Music requires a 2.75 GA overall for admission as a transfer student
  • Students must pass an entrance audition on primary instrument.

Major Requirements


To maintain Music Major (and Pre-Music Major) status at USU, students must:

  1. Complete all Individual Instruction (primary instrument) courses with a grade of B- or higher
    • Any grade lower than B- will result in an extra required semester of Individual Instruction.
    • Any subsequent semester in which a student fails to meet this minimum grade may result in dismissal from the music program.
  2. Complete all music major core and emphasis classes with a grade of C or higher
    • Any music course grade lower than C will not count towards graduation.
    • Core courses may be repeated once in an attempt to earn a grade of C or better.
    • Any subsequent semester in which a student fails to meet this minimum grade may result in dismissal from the music program.
  3. Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all courses that fulfill a degree/emphasis requirement.
    • This GPA does not include general education and depth courses.
    • This GPA does not include the STEP courses for Music Education majors.
    • If a student’s degree/emphasis GPA falls under this minimum, the student will be placed on departmental academic probation for one semester.
    • Inability to meet this degree/emphasis GPA during the probationary period will result in referral to the department head who in consultation with the appropriate faculty member(s) will determine if the student shall be allowed to remain a music major through an extension of the probationary period.

GRADING SCALE for music courses:

93-100 A

90-92.99 A-

87-89.99 B+

83-86.99 B

80-82.99 B- Lowest grade for individual instruction to fulfill graduation requirements)

77-79.99 C+

73-76.99 C Lowest grade for all other program courses to fulfill graduation requirements)

70-72.99 C-

67-69.99 D+

60-66.99 D

59.99 or below F

Vocal Performance Emphasis Courses (44 credits)


All individual instruction courses must be passed with a grade of B- or better. All other music courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. Major requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Minimum GPA for all required courses is a 3.0.

Language Course Requirement (8 credits)


Vocal Performance majors may either take one First Year I and one First Year II courses in the same language, or two First Year I courses in two different languages. Language options are limited to French, German or Italian.

Recital and Concert Attendance Requirement


To graduate, students are required to attend a minimum of 80 concerts or recitals. Recital and concert attendance is monitored and recorded in the Music Student Services office. Students should turn in programs after attending concerts and recitals for documentation of attendance.

General Education and Depth Education Requirements


Total credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 120


Suggested Degree Map - Music: Vocal Performance BM