Program Overview

As a performing arts major with a concentration in music, you will study performance, studio, history, and theory. As a songwriter, composer, or musician of any instrument, you will develop the facility to perform at a professional level or attend graduate school.

In performance courses, you will be members and sometimes soloists in ensembles in front of live audiences. These courses emphasize collaborative skills and ensemble performance. In studio courses, you will study your instrument(s) (or voice as an instrument) in depth. Studio courses highlight technique, repertoire, presentation, and ultimately, solo performance. History courses provide the context for all musical practice and enhance your ability to play, write about, promote, or work with artists playing the music of all periods. Seminar courses will give you the theoretical foundation for your craft. You will learn music theory, including notation, harmony, counterpoint, composition, and software used in working with musical notation.

You will undertake a total of three internships, including a semester-long, full-time professional experience relevant to performing arts and music. You will complete a two-semester senior thesis on a topic relevant to music and containing interdisciplinary components. You will experience the integration of theory and practice through coursework, experiential learning, and independent field research and/or creative composition in the senior thesis sequence.

Curriculum Requirements - Total Credits Required: 125

*Any MUSXXX Ensemble course can be taken to fulfill this requirement including: MUS105, MUS107, MUS109, MUS113, MUS114, MUS115, MUS116. DAN105 or DRA105 are also permitted for 3 of these credits.

Performance - 7 credits required
In these courses, students will experience performance as members and sometimes soloists in ensembles in front of live audiences. The emphasis is on collaborative skills and ensemble performance.
Studio - 9 credits required
In these courses, students study their instrument(s) in depth. Studio courses emphasize technique, repertoire, presentation, and ultimately, solo performance.
History - 6 credits required
History courses provide the context for all musical practice and enhance students' ability to play, write about, promote, or work with artists playing the music of all periods.
Seminar Requirement Courses - 6 Credits 
Seminar courses give students the theoretical foundation for their craft. They learn music theory including notation, harmony, counterpoint, composition, and software used in working with musical notation.

First Year - Credits: 30

  • Performing Arts Elective (Cr: 3)
  • MUS1XX Music Ensemble Electives* (Cr: 2)
  • ENG 111 - Critical Reading and Writing I (Cr: 3)
  • ENG 112 - Critical Reading and Writing II (Cr: 3)
  • INT 100 - Internship I (Cr: 2)
  • MUS 106 - Private Music Instruction (Cr: 0.5 - 3)
    (Students will take twice)
  • MUS 110 - Fundamentals of Music (Cr: 3)
  • MUS 201 - Music Theory I (Cr: 3)
  • MUS 220 - Studio Audio Production (Cr: 3)
  • MUS 111 - History of Western Music (Cr: 3)
  • PA 100 - Introduction to Performing Arts (Cr: 3)
    Satisfies Aesthetic Awareness General Elective

Second Year - Credits: 35

  • MUS1XX Music Ensemble Elective* (Cr: 2)
  • Performing Arts Electives (Cr: 6)
  • Science and Technology General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
  • Literary Perspectives General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
  • Global Issues General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
  • Individual and Society General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
  • Free Elective (Cr: 3)
  • INT 200 - Internship II (Cr: 2)
  • MUS 106 - Private Music Instruction (Cr: 0.5 - 3)
    (Students will take twice)
  • PA 101 - Performance Review (Cr: 1)
    (Students will take twice)
  • PA 300 - Performance Workshop I (Cr: 3)
  • PA 305 - Performance Workshop II (Cr: 3)

Third Year - Credits: 29

  • MUS1XX Music Ensemble Elective* (Cr: 2)
  • General Education Electives (Cr: 6)
  • Values and Ethical Reasoning General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
  • Quantitative Reasoning General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
  • World Cultures General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
  • ART 265 - Arts Administration I (Cr: 3)
  • MUS 106 - Private Music Instruction (Cr: 0.5 - 3)
  • PA 101 - Performance Review (Cr: 1)
  • PA 310 - Audition and Portfolio (Cr: 3)

Fourth Year - Credits: 31

  • MUS1XX Music Ensemble Elective* (Cr: 1)
  • Performing Arts Elective (Cr: 3)
  • General Education Electives (Cr: 6)
  • MUS 230 - Jazz Styles (Cr: 3)
  • PA 480 - Semester Internship (Cr: 12)
  • PA 489 - Senior Research (Cr: 3)
  • PA 491 - Senior Capstone (Cr: 3)

Performing Arts Elective

Students must take 12 credits under the designation of Performing Arts Elective. For this elective requirement, students may take up to nine credits in any courses in their designed concentration area (MUS). However, three credits must be in an area outside the student's concentration area in order to promote cross-discipline growth. Students may choose from any DAN, DRA, MUS, PA  or any of the following courses:

  • AET 100 - Foundations of Creative Therapies (Cr: 3)
  • AET 200 - Materials, Media, and Metaphor (Cr: 3)
  • AET 205 - Music Therapy Foundations (Cr: 3)
  • AET 206 - Guitar for Therapy and Education (Cr: 3)
  • AET 207 - Drumming for Healing (Cr: 3)
  • AET 210 - Therapeutic Writing (Cr: 3)
  • AET 215 - Dance/Movement Therapy Foundations (Cr: 3)
  • AET 225 - Jung and Art Therapy (Cr: 3)
  • AET 305 - Cultural Humility in the Arts Therapies (Cr: 3)
  • AET 306 - Drama Therapy and Psychodrama (Cr: 3)
  • ART 240 - Imagination and Creativity (Cr: 3)
  • ART 365 - Arts Administration II (Cr: 3)
  • DM 110 - Introduction to Digital Filmmaking (Cr: 3)
  • DM 255 - Writing for the Screen (Cr: 3)
  • DM 280 - TV Studio Production (Cr: 3)
  • DRA 215 - Acting for Film (Cr: 3)
  • ED 215 - Creative Arts in the Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms (Cr: 3)
  • ENG 103 - Public Speaking (Cr: 3)
  • ENG 212 - Drama Survey (Cr: 3)
  • ENG 229 - Playwriting and Screenwriting I (Cr: 3)
  • ENG 340 - Playwriting and Screenwriting II (Cr: 3)
  • ENG 365 - Shakespeare (Cr: 3)
  • IDS 301 - Yoga: Theory, Culture & Practice (Cr: 3)
  • MTH 105 - The Mathematics of Music (Cr: 3)

Music Performance Ensemble Electives

*Any MUSXXX Ensemble course can be taken to fulfill this requirement including: MUS105, MUS107, MUS109, MUS113,MUS114, MUS115, MUS116, DAN105 or DRA105 are also permitted for 3 of these credits.

  • DAN 105 - Repertory Dance Ensemble (Cr: 1)
  • DRA 105 - Theater Performance (Cr: 1 or 3)
  • MUS 105 - Endicott College Chorus (Cr: 1)
  • MUS 107 - Constellation Interfaith Music Ensemble (Cr: 1)
  • MUS 109 - Percussion Ensemble (Cr: 1)
  • MUS 113 - Jazz Band (Cr: 1)
  • MUS 114 - Chamber Ensemble (Cr: 1)
  • MUS 115 - Modern Band Project (Cr: 1)
  • MUS 116 - Pep Band (Cr: 1)

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this major, students will be able to:

  1. Perform showing originality and innovation in their chosen discipline at a level of professional competency, including collaborations with others in different art forms.
  2. Demonstrate understanding of theoretical concepts in their chosen discipline.
  3. Identify, describe and analyze well-recognized genres, artistic eras, areas of thought, and specific works in their chosen discipline as well as in dance, music, and theater.
  4. Display a working knowledge of technical practices and equipment used in the performing arts.
  5. Exhibit an understanding of business practices in the performing arts: grant writing, copyright law, budgeting, and contracts. 
  6. Show the ability to speak, write, and advocate for performing arts.
  7. Demonstrate the ability to promote and market events and organizations in performing arts.
  8. Become employed as performers, support crew, or support staff at performing arts organizations at local, state, national, or international levels, including in educational settings.

View academic catalog and learning outcomes

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