Academic Planning

All students starting in the Bachelor of Music take the same courses in their first year.

Bachelor of Music first year courses

Course descriptions

Course descriptions provide you with a brief overview of what you study in a course, the credit value and the prerequisites. The course description legend breaks down the structure of a course description. Course descriptions are available in the Academic Calendar.

Prerequisites and corequisites

A prerequisite is a course condition that must be successfully completed with a specific grade prior to attempting the next-level course. The prerequisite grade for most university-level courses in the Bachelor of Music is D, but a few courses may require a higher grade.

The course descriptions in the Academic Calendar may also list corequisites, which are courses that must be taken along with another course in the same term.

You are responsible for using the Academic Calendar to confirm that you have met the high school and/or post-secondary prerequisites for any courses that you enrol in. The Bachelor of Music has the right to withdraw students from a course or withhold credit for a course at any time if prerequisites or corequisites are not in place.

• Courses numbered 100 – 199 are considered junior level.
• Courses numbered 200 and higher are considered senior level.

An elective is any course that does not use the MUSC subject code and is not an AGAD course listed in the music options list. Electives broaden the scope of music education and are necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the world around you.

Here are some things you need to know about electives:

• Each elective course taken towards a Bachelor of Music must be worth three credits.
• The number of elective credits required depends on the major or minor you choose.
• A specific number of junior and senior elective courses are needed based on your program requirements.
• Generally, you have access to most elective courses at MacEwan unless they are restricted to specific programs.
• Changes in the Bachelor of Music program schedule may conflict with elective courses you take outside of the program.

How to find an elective course

To find elective courses, browse the course descriptions in the MacEwan University Academic Calendar, and narrow your search to subjects that interest you. Then search for those subjects in myStudentSystem.

Course load refers to the number of credits you take in a term. When choosing how many courses you should take in a term, consider the following:

• The majority of courses in the Bachelor of Music are 3 credits, but we also have 1.5 credit and CR courses.
• To be a full-time student, you must enrol in 9 credits per term.
• The maximum course load in the Bachelor of Music is 18 credits per term.
• If you have a student loan, you must maintain enrolment in a minimum of 9 credits per term.
• You must enrol in a minimum of 3 credits in the first term you are accepted to our program.
• To remain in the Bachelor of Music, you must enrol in a minimum of 3 credits in an academic year.

Use myStudentSystem to enrol in classes on or after your enrolment date. Check out the step-by-step instructions for using myStudentSystem to learn how to navigate the university’s student information and enrolment system.

When you enrol in a course, myStudentSystem checks for post-secondary prerequisites.

At the beginning of every academic term (Fall, Winter, Spring/Summer), the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications audits every student in every course for post-secondary prerequisites. If you are missing post-secondary prerequisites, you receive one warning email. Failure to withdraw from the indicated course(s) and/or failure to respond to the email warning may result in withdrawal from the course(s).

Prerequisites for courses in future terms

You can enrol in a course in a subsequent term if you are enrolled in the pre-requisite course in the prior term. For example, if you are enrolled in MUSC 103 in the Fall term, you can then also enrol in MUSC 104 in the Winter term.

Please note that if you are waitlisted for the course in the first term, you cannot enrol in the next-level course in the following term. For example, if you are waitlisted for MUSC 103 in the Fall term, you cannot enrol in MUSC 104 in the Winter term. If you get a seat in your waitlisted class, you can then enrol in the next-level class in the following term.

If you withdraw from or fail to successfully complete the prerequisite course, you must remove yourself from the winter term course immediately.

The Bachelor of Music has the right to withdraw students from a course or withhold credit for a course at any time if prerequisites or corequisites are not in place.

Prerequisites from another post-secondary institution

If you met a prerequisite by completing a course at another post-secondary institution, please be aware of the following:

• Indirect course equivalents (e.g., your music course at your previous institution transfers to MacEwan as MUSC 1XX) do not meet the criteria for a prerequisite. Your transfer course must be a direct equivalent to be considered a prerequisite. If you receive generic credit (ex. MUSC 2XX, ENGL 1XX, etc.), please consult with your advisor to see how these courses may or may not fit into your program.
• You should be able to enrol yourself with a direct course equivalent (e.g., a music course at your previous institution transfers to MacEwan as MUSC 111). Direct course equivalents do not normally require permission numbers. (Please see the next section for more information about permission numbers.) If you have a direct course equivalent and you are getting a prerequisite error message when attempting to enrol, contact an academic advisor in the Bachelor of Music.

Permission numbers allow you to enrol in sections that are not available for automatic enrolment in myStudentSystem.

Eligibility

Permission numbers may be granted for the following reasons:

• myStudentSystem does not recognize your direct equivalent transfer credit as the prerequisite.
• You have been placed in a higher-level language course (e.g., 200-level).
• You are taking a special topics course or any other course that requires consent of the department.

Request process

Permission numbers cannot be issued by phone or in person. Permission number requests must be submitted by MacEwan email to an academic advisor in the Bachelor of Music through the following process.

• From your MacEwan University student email account, email musicdegree@macewan.ca.
• Include the following information in the email:
  1. your full name
  2. your student ID number
  3. the term and year you are requesting a section for (e.g., Fall 2025 or Winter 2026)
  4. the course and section number you want to take (e.g., MUSC 431 MU01)
  5. how you have met the pre-requisite(s)
  6. your reason for requesting a permission number

Example

Name: Stu Dent
ID number: 1234567
Term/Year: Fall 2025
Course: MUSC 431
My prerequisites: I have MUSC 313 (B+).
Reason: Prerequisites taken at another institution

Independent study application process

If you wish to complete an independent study course:

1. Contact the Chair in the Department of Music.
2. Make arrangements with an instructor who is willing to supervise you.
3. Create a specialized course outline for the proposed independent study project.
4. Fill out and submit the Independent Study Application Form.

Independent study application deadlines

Fall term: June 1
Winter term: October 1

The application process can take several weeks. Completed and electronically signed applications must be submitted to an academic advisor in the Bachelor of Music by the posted deadlines.

Request visiting student permission

Under special circumstances, Bachelor of Music students may apply for permission to take a course at another post-secondary institution. These requests are occasionally considered to provide exposure to diverse academic experiences and breadth in curriculum to enhance the student experience. The option is in place to give you access to opportunities that are not available at MacEwan.

Process

You must apply for and be granted permission before starting an external course. The visiting student process is governed by the External Course Taking policy. If approved for visiting student permission, MacEwan University’s Office of the University Registrar sends you a Letter of Permission. Without the Letter of Permission, transfer credit cannot be applied to your MacEwan University student record.

Basic requirements

Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis, but the following two lists outline some basic requirements.

Visiting student applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be declared.
• Be in good academic standing at the time of the application.
• Be aware of and adhere to the application, prerequisite and graduation deadlines.
• Be in compliance with program of study residency requirements.

Visiting student permission is not granted under these circumstances:

• for courses considered a program and/or major capstone
• to bypass prerequisite requirements

Important notes

• Approval is given only for the course and term listed on the Letter of Permission. If you wish to take a different course, take the course in a different term, or attend a different institution, you must submit a new visiting student application.
• You must comply with the visiting student deadlines and policies of both MacEwan University and the host institution.
• Students cannot be considered for credit overload under the visiting student application.
• If you begin but withdraw from or fail a course for which visiting student approval was granted, you must still submit an official transcript from the host institution to the Office of the University Registrar.
• If you do not take a course for which visiting student approval was granted, you must inform musicdegree@macewan.ca in writing.
• Your eligibility for academic awards or scholarships may be affected when you complete courses at another institution. Contact the Financial Aid Office in the Office of the University Registrar with any questions.
• If approved, your are responsible for ensuring that you are enrolled in MacEwan University courses as per Withdrawal from University Programs policy.

Procedure

Step 1: Timelines and deadlines

Visiting student requests may take up to four weeks to process. Advisors only review visiting student requests during the following periods.

Step 2: First steps

1. Run and review your Academic Program Progress Report (APPR) to confirm you meet all of the Basic Requirements above.
2. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide to find the course you want to transfer. For institutions outside Canada, we also require the course outline/syllabus. If the document is in a language other than English, a certified translation is required. More details are available at Articulation Requests.
3. Initiate an inquiry by emailing musicdegree@macewan.ca from your student email. An academic advisor reviews your request and responds with further information and, if appropriate, an application form.

Step 3: Request

1. If directed, complete the Visiting Student Letter of Permission application form and return it to musicdegree@macewan.ca.
2. An academic advisor reviews your request and forwards it for consideration.
3. You receive the decision via email. Please note that decisions are final.
4. If your application is approved, the Office of the University Registrar sends a Letter of Permission (LOP) to your MacEwan email. Keep the LOP because it has important information and instructions you need after completing the external course.

Step 4: Enrolling and receiving credit

1. You are responsible for applying to and enrolling at the host institution. MacEwan University has no role in your application, admission or registration at the host institution.
2. Upon completion of the external course, you must arrange for an official transcript to be sent directly from the host institution to MacEwan University’s Office of the University Registrar.
3. You are responsible for ensuring all transcripts are received in the Office of the University Registrar by document deadlines. Failure to meet any deadline may impact your program progress and/or graduation.
4. If you plan to use a visiting student course to meet prerequisites for a MacEwan University course, your transfer credit must be posted to myStudentSystem before you enrol in the next-level course.
5. Check your transfer credit report in myStudentSystem to ensure that transfer credits are properly posted.

Your major allows you to study a subject in great depth. It can lead you towards your career or to graduate studies in a specific area.

You need to officially declare your major and minor. We recommend that you declare after you are admitted to the program and prior to completing 36 credits towards your degree. After you have declared, you are bound by all requirements in the Academic Calendar for the year you declare. You can organize and keep track of your degree planning using the course planning guide.

Within the Bachelor of Music the following majors and minors are non-competitive:

• general major
• general major with minor in Music Career Management
• general major with minor in Music Education
• general major with minor in Songwriting

Declaration period

• Declarations open September 1 for all majors and minors.
• Non-competitive declarations close on February 10.
• Declarations for non-competitive majors and minors may take up to 24 hours to be updated in myStudentSystem.

How to make a declaration

Instructions for making a declaration or changing a declaration can be found at Using myStudentSystem > Academic records > Declare your major/minor.

Changing a declaration

If you decide to change your major and minor, you can re-declare by repeating the declaration process. You can re-declare anytime within the declaration periods for non-competitive or competitive majors and minors. You are bound by any new program of study changes based on the date of your new declaration.

You need to officially declare your competitive major and minor. We recommend that you declare after you are admitted to the program and prior to completing 36 credits towards your degree. After you have declared, you are bound by all requirements in the Academic Calendar for the year you declare. You can organize and keep track of your degree planning using the course planning guide.

Within the Bachelor of Music the following majors and minors are competitive:

• Composition major
• Performance major
• Recording and Production major
• General major with minor in Music Technology and Production

Steps to declare a competitive major/minor

1. Meet the requirements for your chosen major or minor.
2. Declare your major or minor using myStudentSystem.
   • Declarations open September 1.
   • Declarations close January 15.
   • Instructions for making a declaration or changing a declaration can be found at Using myStudentSystem > Academic records > Declare your major/minor.
3. Complete the Letter of Intent for Declaration of BMus Competitive Major/Minor.
4. Receive acceptance confirmation.
   
   • If you are denied acceptance into the composition or performance major, contact an advisor in the Bachelor of Music to choose another major.
   • If you are denied acceptance into the recording and production major or the music technology and production minor, use the general declaration process outlined above to choose an alternative by the deadline of February 10.
   • A maximum number of students is admitted in these disciplines. We recommend that students who apply for a competitive major or minor also prepare an alternate plan.
5. Maintain minimum grades to remain in your competitive major or minor.

Changing a declaration

If you decide to change your major and minor, you can re-declare by repeating the declaration process. You can re-declare anytime within the declaration periods for non-competitive or for competitive majors and minors. You are bound by any new program of study changes based on the date of your new declaration.

Competitive major/minor requirements

• Composition major
• Performance major
• Recording and Production major
• Music Technology and Production minor

Composition major

Performance major

Recording and production major

Music technology and production minor

Important notes for all students

• If you have to reapply to a program, you are considered an undeclared student when you are re-admitted. You need to re-declare and re-compete for competitive majors and minors.
• You are responsible for confirming that your declaration has been updated by checking the Academics section in myStudentSystem.

Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship. It is essential to the mission and vision of MacEwan University. As a student, you are expected to comply with all academic integrity regulations. You can find out more about defining integrity and your rights and responsibilities on MacEwan’s Academic Integrity website.

A course outline, also called a course syllabus, is distributed in the first class of each course. It is an official outline of what you can expect to learn in the course and what is expected of you. It includes such things as required texts and readings, assignment deadlines, assessment dates and the weighting of course requirements.

Read your syllabus carefully and refer to it throughout the term.

Final exams

It is your responsibility to know when and where your final examinations are scheduled and to arrive on time. You must be available for the entire exam period to accommodate exam schedule changes.

For more information about final exams and the final assessment policy, refer to the exams website.

Final Exams

Exam deferrals

• If you need to request a deferral for a midterm exam or assignment, talk to your instructor.
• To request a deferred final exam, follow the process outlined by the Exam Services Centre.

Exam Services Centre // Deferred Exams

The minimum passing grade at MacEwan University is D. However, to be in good academic standing, you must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) each term. Please refer to the Academic Standing Policy for details or speak with an advisor for help understanding the policy.

If you are a declared student and have completed at least 60 credits (20 courses), we strongly recommend requesting a progress check. A progress check is a formal review of your course history and progress toward meeting your major/minor requirements, breadth exit requirements and degree regulations.

It is a good idea to request a progress check when you are at the halfway (or a little more than the halfway) point of your degree because this will give you time to make any scheduling adjustments and complete any outstanding requirements identified in the progress check.

At the absolute latest, we urge you to request a progress check before enrolment opens for your final year.

To request a progress check, email an academic advisor in the Bachelor of Music.

Apply to graduate

Once you are confident that you will meet graduation requirements, you must follow the steps to graduate through MyStudentSystem by the deadline. 

Advisors review all graduation applications. If you are missing requirements, they contact you directly. Students who look like they are on track are not contacted.

MacEwan University holds two convocation ceremonies each year. If you complete your degree in December or April, you convocate in June. If you complete your degree between May and August, you convocate in November.

Check the Convocation website for details on the ceremony and how to confirm your attendance and order your gown.