the sacred music major

The Bachelor of Arts in Music with concentration in Sacred Music focuses on the restoration, preservation, and cultivation of the Catholic Church’s rich musical heritage in accordance with the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy directives that “the musical tradition of the universal church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art.” and that “the treasury of sacred music is to be preserved and cultivated with great care.” In promoting and preserving the rich musical tradition of the Catholic Church, sacred music is the focal point of the program. The program’s primary characteristics are its sacred choral, vocal, and organ programs within the rich context of a broad music education. At present applied music courses include voice, organ, and piano. While the Sacred Music program will prepare students for professions in areas requiring a well-rounded liberal arts education, it will also prepare them for positions of musical leadership in the Catholic Church.

For more information about these courses, please click on the Course Catalog link below.

COURSE CATALOGUE
Sacred Music

The Core Arts Practicum Requirement

MUSC 101 Gregorian Chant in History and Liturgy This course is typically taken during the fall or spring semester of the freshmen year. Students who complete MUSC 101M/W Men’s/Women’s Schola or MUSC 200 University Choir need not take this course.

The Music Major with Concentration in Sacred Music

Students majoring in Music help to realize Ave Maria University’s reputation as “the university that sings” by singing in the Ave Maria University Choir. The first two years of the major consist of Music Theory, Musicianship, Music History and AMU Choir. While Applied Music may be taken in the first two years, it is typically taken in the Junior and Senior years. In the third year of study, students begin to branch out into their areas of interest or specialization. The major requires a minimum of forty credits in music courses.

REQUIRED COURSES:

* Need 6 credits of AMU Choir (MUSC 200/300) or 4 credits of AMU Choir and 2 credits of MUSC 410 - Chamber Choir

the sacred music minor