MUSIC (Mus)
Biography of Director of School of Music

All incoming students, whether new or transfer students, are required to take placement exams in Music Theory, Music History and Literature, Conducting, and Applied Music (Performance), regardless of whether these classes may have been taken at other schools. These exams do not affect admission to the program or grades; they are for class placement only. Students who score well on these exams, may be given credit for up to 15 credit hours in those classes.

All incoming students, regardless of major, are required to declare a major instrument or voice, and must complete at least 2 semesters of private study (Applied Music). All graduating students must complete a graduation recital on their major instrument or voice. Composition majors must have a recital of their original works performed.

120 credit hours are required to complete the Bachelor of Music degree program.

Students may enter into a Bachelor's degree program with a minimum of 30 credit hours and one year of credit for documented life/work experience. It is preferable for the student to have completed 60 credit hours before entering into a degree program with Honolulu University, as the University does not generally offer lower division courses.

Students who enroll with more than 120 credit hours of acceptable transfer credit must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework through the University to earn a Bachelor's degree. Students are expected to fulfill general studies requirements through prior educational experiences and through life/work experiences equivalent to college level courses.

In the event an incoming student is lacking some of the general studies requirements, the Faculty Advisor and the student will work out a study plan that includes provisions for making up the deficiencies.

To obtain a Bachelor of Music degree at Honolulu University, a student must have completed 60 hours of General Studies courses distributed in the following subject areas:

* Basic Subjects: Oral and written language, Mathematics, Logic, Statistics or

Computer Science (8 credits)

* Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, Religion, Language or Arts (8 credits)

* Social Sciences: Psychology, History, Sociology, Economics, Political Science,

Anthropology, Women's Studies, Ethnic Studies (8 credits)

* Natural Sciences: Environmental Studies, Geology, Geography, Physics, Chemistry,

Biology, Zoology (8 credits)

* Electives: Additional courses from those listed above (28 credits)

Completion of the Bachelor's degree requires attainment of a grade point average of C (2.0) or higher.

Candidates for the B.M. degree must complete the entire core courses listed below, and complete all of the courses listed for the declared music major. Transfer students may be given up to 15 hours credit for classes previously taken - based on transcripts and placement exams.

Students in all music majors are required to take the following Core Courses:

                                                        Hours

Lower Division Transfer Credit              60

Course     Title                                    Hours

 Transfer students may place out of any of these classes through placement exams

In addition to the Core Courses, students must take these classes for the following declared music majors:

Applied Music Major Courses:

 Course     Title                                 Hours

Music Composition Major Courses:

 Course     Title                                    Hours

Music Education Major Courses:

 Course     Title                                    Hours

 Undergraduate Elective Classes:

Course     Title                                    Hours

Masters degree candidates must hold an equivalent Bachelor degree, which meets the course requirements of the B.M. at Honolulu University.

Candidates for the Masters degree must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours in their major music area. Each major music area lists the required coursework for that particular degree. The balance of the 30 hours for each major, may be student electives in any music subject area.

Placement exams and auditions will be given to determine a candidate's level of proficiency for entrance to the program, and to determine if credit may be given for any required coursework. However, no more than 15 credit hours of the required 30 credit hours may be given. Students who do not score to the subject level of a Bachelor degree in these exams, may be assigned undergraduate level classes as a requirement for admission to the Masters program. These remedial classes do not count toward the Masters degree requirements (30 hrs.).

Transfer students may be given credit for up to 15 credit hours based on transcripts and placement exams.

A Masters Thesis is required of all candidates in non-performance majors. The thesis topic must be approved by the School of Music, and students are required to write an Abstract, Outline and the Thesis. Candidates in performance majors must present a Masters Recital on their major instrument or voice. If a composition major, the student must submit a major work, written by the student, the scope of a symphonic movement or concerto, to be performed in a recital. In lieu of a Thesis, all performance majors must write a Masters Document in an area to be approved by the School of Music.

Completion of the Master's degree requires attainment of a grade point average of B (3.0) or higher.

Applied Music Major Courses:

Course      Title                                          Hours

Music Composition Major Courses:

 Course     Title                                       Hours

Music Education Major Courses:

 Course     Title                                       Hours

Music Business Major Courses:

 Course     Title                                    Hours

Graduate Elective Classes:

Course     Title                                         Hours

Doctor of Philosophy in Music

 The Ph.D. is awarded to candidates majoring in non-performance areas in music.  Honolulu University offers the Ph.D. in Music Education and Musicology.

Candidates for the Ph.D. program must hold an equivalent Master's degree, which meets the course requirements of the M.M. at Honolulu University.

Candidates for the Ph.D. program in music must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours in their major music area.  Each major music area lists the required coursework for that particular degree.  The balance of the 30 hours for each major, may be student electives in any music subject area.  The Graduate Electives are listed with the M.M. course listings.

Placement exams and auditions will be given to determine a candidate's level of proficiency for entrance to the program, and to determine if credit may be given for any required coursework.  However, no more than 15 credit hours of the required 30 credit hours may be given.  Students who do not score to the subject level of a Masters degree in these exams, may be assigned 300-600 level classes as a requirement for admission to the Doctorate program.  These remedial classes do not count toward the Ph.D. degree requirements (30 hrs.).

 Transfer students may be given credit for up to 15 credit hours based on transcripts and placement exams.

 All Ph.D. candidates must complete a Doctoral Dissertation.  The dissertation topic must be approved by the School of Music.  All students are required to write an Abstract, Outline, and the Dissertation. 

Completion of the Ph.D. requires the attainment of the highest level of academic achievement in all coursework.

 Music Education Major Courses:

 Course     Title                                    Hours

 Musicology Major Courses:

 Course     Title                                    Hours

Doctor of Musical Arts

The D.M.A. is awarded to candidates majoring in performance music areas.  Honolulu University offers the D.M.A. in Applied Music (Performance) and Composition.

Candidates for the D.M.A. program must hold an equivalent Master's degree, which meets the course requirements of the M.M. at Honolulu University.

Candidates for the D.M.A. program in music must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours in their major music area.  Each major music area lists the required coursework for that particular degree.  The balance of the 30 hours for each major, may be student electives in any music subject area.  The Graduate Electives are listed with the M.M. course listings.

Placement exams and auditions will be given to determine a candidate's level of proficiency for entrance to the program, and to determine if credit may be given for any required coursework.  However, no more than 15 credit hours of the required 30 credit hours may be given.  Students who do not score to the subject level of a Masters degree in these exams, may be assiged 300-600 level classes as a requirement for admission to the Doctorate program.  These remedial classes do not count toward the D.M.A. degree requirements (30 hrs.).

Transfer students may be given credit for up to 15 credit hours based on transcripts and placement exams.

A Doctoral Recital (Applied Performance) is required of all D.M.A. candidates on their major instrument or voice.  If a composition major, the student must submit a major work, written by the student, the scope of a symphony or concerto, to be performed in a recital.  In lieu of a dissertation, all D.M.A. candidates must write a Doctoral Document in an area approved by the School of Music.

Completion of the D.M.A. requires the attainment of the highest level of academic achievement in all coursework.

Applied Music Major Courses:

Course     Title                                             Hours

Composition Major Courses:

Course     Title                                          Hours

 Diploma in Forensic Musicology

 The Diploma in Forensic Musicology is for students who wish to act as an "expert witness" in music plagiarism lawsuits.  Graduates will be trained to do an analysis of the suspected music, and make a determination of whether musically it meets the law's requirements for plagiarism.

The Diploma program is offered to candidates holding a Doctorate in music.  However, in some cases, candidates who hold a Masters degree may be admitted into the program with the consent of the School of Music.  An extensive background in music theory, harmony, form and analysis, ear training, and knowledge of the literature is required.  In addition to the music studies, candidates must study copyright law, plagiarism laws, intellectual property, as well as courtroom procedures, and a preceptorship in an entertainment law office.

All candidates must take entrance/placement exams in Graduate Music Theory, Harmony, Music History and Literature, and Ear Training, prior to admission.  Candidates found deficient in any of these areas will be required to take appropriate prerequisite courses.

Completion of the Diploma requires the attainment of the highest level of academic achievement in all coursework.

Forensic Musicology Courses:

Course     Title                                          Hours