Music Department Honors Policy

The honors program in music may follow one of the following two tracks: a performance honors track, or a research honors track. Students pursuing any of the current five concentration areas within the B.A. in Music program are eligible to pursue either one of these two honors tracks. Students earning departmental honors receive official recognition on their final transcript and on their diploma.

The research honors track may cover any one of the following areas: music history, music education, theory or pedagogy, composition, ethno-musicology, performance practice, conducting (score analysis), music therapy, or church music.

A candidate for the honors degree in music must maintain a 3.8 G.P.A. in his or her music courses, and an overall GPA of 3.5.

B.A. in Music Major with the Performance Honors Track

Students in the performance honors track must:

Achieve a GPA of 3.8 within the major, and an overall GPA of 3.5.
Perform a sophomore qualifying recital (20-25 minutes). Passing the sophomore recital marks official acceptance as a music major at Goshen College.
Perform a Junior Recital (30 minutes).
Perform a Senior Recital (50 – 60 minutes). A permission is required one month prior to the public senior recital date.
Include a 15-minute research presentation related to their senior recital repertoire, which may also include brief performance demonstrations or excerpts, at the Annual Goshen College Undergraduate Research Symposium or comparable conference.
(Pianists only) Learn at least 1 full concerto and accompany at least 3 sophomore recitals or comparable collaborative performances. The concerto may be played as the junior recital.
(Violinists only) Learn at least 1 full concerto, which may be played as the junior recital.
(Other instruments) Perform significant sonata repertoire and a full concerto or other collaborative chamber project.
(Composers) Include a 15-minute research presentation related to their senior recital compositions, which may also include brief performance demonstrations or excerpts, at the Annual Goshen College Undergraduate Research Symposium or comparable conference
(Conductors) Conduct one significant work on a major ensemble program during their junior year, and half of a full major ensemble program in their senior year, AND include a 15-minute research presentation related to their senior conducting program repertoire, which may also include brief performance demonstrations or excerpts (if possible), at the Annual Goshen College Undergraduate Research Symposium or comparable conference.

B.A. in Music Major with the Research Honors Track

Students in the research honors track must:

Achieve a GPA of 3.8 within the major, and an overall GPA of 3.5.
Perform a sophomore qualifying recital (15 minutes) or lecture recital (20 minutes) involving live performance. At this time a sample of written scholarly work (approximately 3K words in length including bibliography and end notes) within the realm of music must also be given to the faculty. Passing the sophomore recital and written sample marks official acceptance as a music major at Goshen College.
Present a Junior Project: A lecture or lecture recital (30 minutes) or a 15-minute presentation at the Annual Goshen College Undergraduate Research Symposium or comparable conference. A paper used as the basis of the recital or presented at the symposium must be given to the faculty for approval one month prior to the event.
Produce a Senior Presentation of a Scholarly Paper (60 minutes), which may or may not include performance. A paper of approximately 9-10K words in length including bibliography and endnotes must be submitted to the faculty one month prior to the public presentation.
Present their senior presentation (or a 15-minute abstract of same) at the Annual Goshen College Undergraduate Research Symposium or comparable Academic Conference outside the music department.

For more information:

Contact Dustin George-Miller, Music Department Office Coordinator at (574) 535-7361, or via email