The School of Humanities and Performing Arts is comprised of baccalaureate degree programs, academic minors, and formal curricular experiences that broaden human potential, promote intellectual and aesthetic inquiry, and foster artistic creativity and growth. The School’s programs include Literature, Language, Philosophy, Music and Theatre which provide an aesthetic, intellectual and multicultural environment that is vital to the greater institutional community, engaging that community in actively “doing art,” and preparing Kentucky State University’s students for a variety of professions in the Humanities, Arts and related fields. Through presentations such as concerts, recitals, theatre productions, exhibitions, lectures, master classes and workshops, the school provides an aesthetic and cultural environment vital to academic life. The School prepares its majors for a variety of professions in the arts and related fields and gives them a foundation for graduate study.
The School additionally supports the University's mission by providing liberal studies courses in music and theater; by providing students with opportunities to develop and enhance effective oral and interpersonal communication skills for life in today's multicultural society; by providing professional services to public schools; and by preparing students to make significant contributions to society as arts educators, performers, and producers. Finally, the Division promotes teaching excellence through its maintenance of a low student-faculty ratio and its emphasis on performance-based goals. The School of Humanities and Performing Arts offers several scholarships. To view the scholarships available and the award criteria, visit http://kysu.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/music.
Maintaining membership with and accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) since 1971, the School of Music has a long and distinguished legacy of award-winning performance ensembles and has produced leaders in the fields of musical performance and music education.
The unit counts among its alumni Grammy-nominated musicians and performers who have attained distinguished national and international careers. A survey of professional venues reveals the department's students to be active in a wide variety of regional, as well as national performance arenas, including Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera.
The music degree programs include the Bachelor of Arts in Music with tracks in General Music, Music Industry and Production, Music and Theatre*, and Jazz and World Music*, the Bachelor of Music-Education, and the Bachelor of Music-Performance. Additionally, the Department offers the minor in Music and Short-term certificates in Music and Culture of the African Diaspora and Music Industry and Production. *These tracks are not currently offered.
All majors in the Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Music degree programs must successfully complete either the University Liberal Studies General Core Requirements (except for the Fine Arts component—ART 130 or THE 130)—or the Whitney Young School Honors Core. If the University Liberal Studies General Core is chosen, then MUS 323 African American Music or MUS 325 Jazz History and Literature may be substituted for the IGS elective (IGS 301, 302, 303, or 304).
Bachelor of Arts in Music - The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree is intended for the Kentucky State University student who wishes to study music within a liberal studies framework and use the degree as a foundation for a wide range of career options and/or graduate study in music or other academic areas. The emphasis placed on electives in music and general studies provides the student with opportunities for distinctive educational experiences oriented to his or her specific needs and interests, for example, music industry studies, jazz studies, music theory/composition, performance, and music history/literature. The degree requires the successful completion of 120 semester credit hours.
Bachelor of Music Education - The Bachelor of Music Education degree prepares students to seek teacher certification in grades primary-12. The Teacher Education Program in Music has specific admissions requirements and coursework.