FAQs Bachelor of Arts in Music Online
Q: What can I do with this degree?
A: A Bachelor of Arts degree is a generalist degree that can be used for a variety of purposes. There are many students who have earned a BA in Music and gone on to work in the music industry. However, the BA offers other possibilities. Some students want a college degree so they can enter the workforce and they don't have plans to be a professional musician. However, they want to study music because it is their passion - the BA in Music is a perfect degree for this. Other students want the ability to major in more than one field, and a BA in Music allows ample room for additional studies. A BA degree provides maximum flexibility while still earning college credentials that can be used for career advancement, employment, and/or future schooling.
Q: Can I get a Bachelor of Music in Composition, Music Education, or Performance online?
A: We do not currently offer these degrees online.
Q: Are all required courses for this degree available online?
A: Everything except ensembles. Due to the collaborative nature of ensembles and current technological limitations, students are not able to take ensembles online. We do offer applied lessons online.
Q: Are other music electives available online?
A: Many courses offered in music are not available online due to the limitations of technology.
Q: How do I meet ensemble requirements?
A: The preferred way is to transfer music credits for ensembles taken at a local university or community college. Other possibilities of meeting this requirement includes Credit for Prior Learning or setting up an internship with a local ensemble.
Q: Can courses be transferred?
A: Yes. We work with students to transfer coursework completed at other institutions.
Q: Does it matter how old credits are? Can I still transfer them?
A: It does not matter how old the credit is. Certain technology courses offered by FHSU may have restrictions due to changing technological abilities and requirements. Transfer credits do need to come from accredited institutions.
Q: Is there a minimum number of hours that must be taken from FHSU to complete a degree for transfer students?
A: A minimum of 30 hours must be taken from FHSU for transfer students to complete their degree at FHSU. It is also required that a minimum 45 hours must be taken from 4-year institutions. Be aware that the State of Kansas requires 45 hours of upper-division credit (300/400 level courses) to be earned. A lower-division credit (100/200 level courses) cannot be transferred in as an upper-division credit.
Q: What if I already have a bachelors degree? Can I still pursue this major online?
A. Yes, you can. There are some specific rules for students in this case. A minimum of 30 hours must be taken at FHSU, and they must be unique hours. In other words, you can't repeat a course at FHSU that you already took for your Bachelor's degree. Speak with the registrar's office about specifics related to your situation.
Q: Is there a limit to the number of credits that can be taken from FHSU before a degree must be declared?
A: No. However, for Federal Financial Aid, a student must declare a primary school.
Q: How is general education coursework transferred?
A: All courses transferred to FHSU are considered in one of the following ways.
- If a course was taken at another Kansas regent school and is part of a transferability agreement, it is automatically accepted.
- Additionally, pre-determined courses taken at programs that have existing transferability agreements with FHSU are also accepted.
- Determinations about other courses are made on a case-by-case basis by the programs that offer the courses.
Q: Are there any restrictions regarding which state this degree is offered in?
A: No. This degree is offered in all 50 US states and internationally.
Q: Can an international student pursue this degree online?
A: Yes. All international students must meet language requirements in order to be accepted to FHSU. For more information, visit here for language requirements, and here for application information for international students.
Q: Is prior experience in music required?
A: While there is no audition requirement for this degree, previous experience in music is strongly recommended. Students with no previous experience are likely to struggle in the areas of music theory and performance.