2026-2027 Course Catalog
Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/faa/lyric-theatre-bma/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
for the degree of Bachelor of Musical Arts in Lyric Theatre
Students pursuing this major select one of two concentrations:
\ The Bachelor of Musical Arts with a major in Lyric Theatre is an interdisciplinary degree designed for the singer-actor, which incorporates training in dance and theatre in addition to music. This degree requires students to choose one of two Concentrations: Performance (performer) or Creative (director, choreographer, dramaturg, set designer, composer).
The BMA Lyric Theatre curriculum is formed around courses in music, dance, and theatre. Advanced coursework includes a senior project. This degree requires a minimum of 129 semester hours of credit for graduation.
For admission requirements for the Bachelor of Musical Arts, please see the School of Music’s Admissions website or contact the Music Admissions Office:
Music Admissions Office\ School of Music\ 1114 W. Nevada Street\ Urbana, IL 61801\ Phone: (217) 244-7899\ E-mail: musicadmissions@illinois.edu
\
for the degree of Bachelor of Musical Arts in Lyric Theatre
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 129 hours.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
At least one "Storytelling" (writing, telling, or reading stories) course is to be selected in consultation with advisor from the general education requirements.
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Composition I | | 4-6 | | Advanced Composition | | 3 | | Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | | 6 | | fulfilled by MUS 313, MUS 314 | | | | Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | | 6 | | Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | | 6 | | Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | | 6-10 | | Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | | 0-15 |
Music Core
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Orientation to Fine Arts and Music | | | | FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 | | MUS 100 | First-year Seminar for Music Majors | 0 | | Music Theory and Musicianship | | | | MUS 101 | Music Theory and Practice I | 2 | | MUS 102 | Music Theory and Practice II | 2 | | MUS 201 | Music Theory and Practice III | 2 | | MUS 202 | Music Theory and Practice IV | 2 | | MUS 107 | Musicianship I | 2 | | MUS 108 | Musicianship II | 2 | | MUS 207 | Musicianship III | 2 | | MUS 208 | Musicianship IV | 2 | | Musicology | | | | MUS 110 | Introd Art Mus: Intl Perspect | 3 | | MUS 313 | The History of Music I | 3 | | MUS 314 | The History of Music II | 3 | | Keyboard Studies | | | | All students must demonstrate keyboard competency by proficiency examination when they matriculate or by enrolling in MUS 172 and/or MUS 173. | | | | MUS 172 | Grp Instr Pno for Mus Major I | 2 | | MUS 173 | Grp Instr Pno for Mus Maj II | 2 |
Lyric Theatre Core
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Vocal Studies | | | | MUSC 105 | Voice (Years 1 & 2, two credits each semester) | 8 | | MUSC 406 | Lyric Theatre Voice (Years 3 & 4, two credits each semester) | 8 | | Choral Ensemble (MUSC 460-MUSC 465) | | 8 | | MUSC 468 | LTI Studio (Years 2 & 3 ) | 8 | | MUS 121 | Italian Diction | 1 | | MUS 125 | English Diction and Dialects | 1 | | MUS 422 | Musical Theatre Repertoire | 2 | | MUS 472 | Senior Project Showcase (Taken twice) | 2 | | Language | | | | ITAL 101 | Elementary Italian I | 4 | | Dance | | | | DANC 116 | Dance I (Two sections of a dance course taken) | 4 | | or DANC 216 | Dance II | | | DANC 209 | Lyric Theatre Dance (Taken after two semesters of DANC 116 and/or DANC 216) | 2 | | Theatre-Acting | | | | THEA 100 | Practicum I | 2 | | THEA 170 | Acting 1 | 3 | | THEA 175 | Acting 2 | 3 | | Somatics: Choose one course | | 1 | | DANC 245 | Mindful Movement | | | DANC 301 | Yoga Fundamentals | | | DANC 401 | Alexander Tech for Dancers | | | DANC 402 | Alexander Technique Practicum | | | Concentration | | 12 | | Creative | | | | Performance | | |
Degree Hours\ The Bachelor of Musical Arts in Lyric Theatre requires a minimum of 129 hours for graduation. This includes a minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework at the 300- and/or 400-level from all elements of the degree. Additional hours needed to reach the minimum of 40 are chosen in consultation with advisor.
for the degree of Bachelor of Musical Arts in Lyric Theatre
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence. This sample curriculum plan makes the assumption that students will have demonstrated keyboard competency by proficiency examination when they matriculate or they will need to enroll in MUS 172 and/or MUS 173.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. This sample curriculum plan makes the assumption that the foreign language graduation requirement has been satisfied by completing three years of study of a single foreign language in high school. For more information, see the corresponding section on theDegree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 105 | 2 |
| MUS 100 | 0 |
| MUS 101 | 2 |
| MUS 107 | 2 |
| MUS 121 | 1 |
| ITAL 101 | 4 |
| FAA 101 | 1 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| 17 | |
| Total Hours 17 |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 105 | 2 |
| MUS 102 | 2 |
| MUS 108 | 2 |
| MUS 110 | 3 |
| MUS 125 | 1 |
| THEA 100 | 2 |
| General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 105 | 2 |
| MUSC 468 | 2 |
| MUS 201 | 2 |
| MUS 207 | 2 |
| MUS 313 | 3 |
| DANC course | 2 |
| General Education course (choose one which fulfills two categories) | 3 |
| 17 | |
| Total Hours 17 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 105 | 2 |
| MUS 202 | 2 |
| MUS 208 | 2 |
| MUS 314 | 3 |
| MUSC 468 | 2 |
| DANC course | 2 |
| General Education course (choose one which fulfills two categories) | 3 |
| 17 | |
| Total Hours 17 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Ensemble | 1 |
| Concentration course | 3 |
| MUS 422 | 2 |
| MUSC 468 | 2 |
| MUSC 406 | 2 |
| THEA 170 | 3 |
| Somatics Dance course | 1 |
| 14 | |
| Total Hours 14 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Ensemble | 1 |
| Concentration course | 3 |
| MUSC 406 | 2 |
| MUSC 468 | 2 |
| THEA 175 | 3 |
| DANC course | 2 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Ensemble | 1 |
| Concentration course | 3 |
| MUSC 406 | 2 |
| MUSC 470 | 2 |
| MUS 472 | 1 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Storytelling General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
| 17 | |
| Total Hours 17 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Ensemble | 1 |
| Concentration course | 3 |
| MUSC 406 | 2 |
| MUS 472 | 1 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
Total Hours: 129
for the degree of Bachelor of Musical Arts in Lyric Theatre
Bachelor of Musical Arts in Lyric Theatre graduates will:
- Understand, apply, and integrate foundational concepts of musical study in theory, aural skills, history, composition, improvisation, and keyboard competency, and do so independently and cooperatively.
- Understand, apply, and integrate foundational concepts of study in dance and acting and do so independently and cooperatively.
- Demonstrate the ability to learn independently, make inquiries, think critically, discover solutions, and integrate knowledge across both similar and varied areas of musical study.
- Develop and demonstrate effective performance skills (technical and expressive) using critical thinking to inform historical and stylistic performance practices and artistic expression.
- Develop and demonstrate effective communication skills, including artistic self-expression, with diverse audiences through multiple media.
- Acquire a basic understanding of diverse musical systems and traditions across the world, and develop a sensitivity to and awareness of cultural and societal differences, and their contribution to an interdependent global consciousness.
- Acquire an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility as musicians and citizens, and demonstrate the ability to work professionally and effectively as leaders and collaborators.
- Acquire a basic understanding of technology and professional skills, along with knowledge of specific technological developments within area of specialization.
- Appreciate how music interacts with communities to enhance and engage social and cultural identities and enrich lifelong learning.
for the degree of Bachelor of Musical Arts in Lyric Theatre