East Carolina University

Transfer Guide

East Carolina University
Music, BM

Transfer Guide for Associate in Arts

2025-2026

Concentration(s): Music Performance
Delivery Method: On-Campus

Program Admission Notes:

To apply to ECU as a transfer student:

  • Complete, or have in progress, a minimum of 24 transferable college-level courses
  • Have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA for all college-level coursework attempted

Admission to the School of Music is determined through a competitive audition process. Click here for more information.

Due to the nature of this program, transfer students should expect 3-4 years at ECU for completion of degree.

Contact:

School of Music Advising
somadvising@ecu.edu

Revised: May, 2025

College Level Foreign Language Requirements:

No foreign language is required for this major.

Major-Specific Course Recommendations:

Students are encouraged to build the North Carolina Community College (NCCC) course recommendations below into the associate degree to best prepare for the intended university and major.

Recommended NCCC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
ENG 111: Writing and Inquiry 3 ENGL 1100: Foundations of College Writing English Composition Required Course
ENG 112: Writing/Research in the Disc 3 ENGL 2201: Writing About the Disciplines English Composition Required Course
MUS 114: Introduction to World Music 3 MUSC 2248: Intro to World Music Cultures Additional General Education Courses Required Course
HEA 110: Personal Health/Wellness 3 HLTH 1000: Health in Modern Society & KINE 1000: Lifetime Phys Act and Fit Lab Elective/Pre-Major Courses Suggested Course

Remaining Associate Degree Requirements:

In addition to major-specific course recommendations above, students should work with a community college advisor to select additional community college courses to fulfill the remaining associate degree requirements identified below.

Recommended NCCC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 9 University Equivalencies UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 9 University Equivalencies UGETC Social/Behavioral Sciences General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 4 University Equivalencies UGETC Math General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 4 University Equivalencies UGETC Natural Sciences General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 11 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses General Education
ACA 122: College Transfer Success 1 COAD 1XXX: College Transfer Success Academic Transition Elective
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 11 University Equivalencies Elective/Pre-Major Courses Elective

Additional Information From East Carolina University:

General Education waiver information, for students completing an AA, AS, AATP, or ASTP, can be found on our Transfer Hub.

ECU does not have a transfer credit limit.

  • A minimum of 25 percent of the credit hours required for the degree and at least 50 percent of the total hours required in the major must be completed through enrollment in East Carolina University. 

New updates of ECU's Undergraduate Catalog are published in July each year. For the most up to date information, visit https://registrar.ecu.edu.

Remaining Bachelor’s Degree Requirements at University:

University Course Credit
Hours		 University Course Notes
All Concentrations 4

A minimum of four semester hours (4 s.h.) and maximum of six semester hours (6 s.h.) of large ensemble may count toward the general education fine arts (GE:FA) requirement. MUSC 1406 - Music History and Literature I * counts 3 s.h. toward the general education social sciences (GE:SO) requirement. MUSC 2248 - Introduction to World Music Cultures** counts as the 3 s.h. general education elective.

  •     MUSC 1605 - Opera Theatre
  •     MUSC 1615 - Varsity Choir
  •     MUSC 1625 - Concert Choir
  •     MUSC 1635 - University Chorale
  •     MUSC 1665 - Women’s Glee Club
  •     MUSC 1675 - Chamber Singers
  •     MUSC 1706 - Marching Band Field Experience
  •     MUSC 1715 - Concert Band
  •     MUSC 1735 - Wind Ensemble
  •     MUSC 1745 - Symphony Orchestra
  •     MUSC 1765 - Symphonic Band
  •     MUSC 1775 - Jazz Ensemble

         MUSC 1406 - Music History and Literature I *     MUSC 2248 - Introduction to World Music Cultures **

Notes:

  •     Approval of the student’s major applied instructor and ensemble directors is required for ensemble registration.
  •     Music majors may count only two semester hours of MUSC 1706 - Marching Band Field Experience for large ensemble credit.
  •     Music majors may not count MUSC 1705 - Marching Band toward large ensemble credit.
  •     Music majors taking more than 2 s.h. of MUSC 1706 or 1705 must sign a release form (available in the music office). The form will help clarify that hours above the required 2 s.h. of MUSC 1706 will not count as part of a music degree plan at ECU, and that these extra hours may lead to additional hours on a student’s transcript before graduation.

 
MUSC 1156: Basic Musicianship I 3
MUSC 1166: Basic Musicianship II 3
MUSC 1176: Basic Musicianship Lab I 1
MUSC 1186: Basic Musicianship Laboratory 1
MUSC 2406: Music History & Literature II 3
MUSC 2416: Music History & Literature III 3
MUSC 2156: Basic Musicianship III 3
MUSC 2166: Basic Musicianship IV 3
MUSC 2176: Basic Musicianship Laboratory 1
MUSC 2186: Basic Musicianship Laboratory 1
MUSC 3156: Conducting 1
MUSC 3166: Conducting 1
MUSC 3176: Basic Musicianship V 3
Music Performance Concentration 53

Choose an area of study (jazz studies, instrumental or vocal; performance, percussion or piano; sacred music, organ or vocal; performance, string, voice or wind).
Jazz Studies, instrumental 0

a. Applied major - 20 s.h.

  •     4 s.h. applied major (traditional) required.
  •     16 s.h. applied jazz major required.
  •     Students must present a full senior recital.

b. Applied minor - 2 s.h.

Keyboard students:

  •     MUSC 1010 - Lower-Level Applied Music: Piano or
  •     MUSC 1011 - Lower-Level Applied Music: Piano (can be repeated)

Non-keyboard students:

  •     MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano and
  •     MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano

c. Jazz studies - 15 s.h.

  •     MUSC 2095 - Jazz Keyboard Harmony I
  •     MUSC 2096 - Jazz Keyboard Harmony II
  •     MUSC 2195 - Jazz Improvisation
  •     MUSC 2196 - Advanced Jazz Improvisation
  •     MUSC 2295 - Jazz Theory and Arranging I
  •     MUSC 2296 - Jazz Theory and Arranging II
  •     MUSC 4195 - Advanced Jazz History

d. Pedagogy - 5 s.h.

  •     MUSC 2280 - Applied Music Technology
  •     MUSC 4657 - Directed Study in Instrumental Pedagogy for Brass, Percussion, Strings, or Woodwinds

e. Additional ensembles - 6 s.h.

Choose 6 s.h. from the following:

  •     MUSC 1775 - Jazz Ensemble
  •     MUSC 1855 - Jazz Chamber Music

f. MUSC electives - 5 s.h.

 
Jazz Studies, vocal 0

a. Applied major - 22 s.h.

  •     6 s.h. applied major (traditional) is required.
  •     16 s.h. applied jazz major is required.
  •     Students must present a full senior recital.

b. Applied minor - 2 s.h.

  •     MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
  •     MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano

c. Jazz studies - 15 s.h.

  •     MUSC 2095 - Jazz Keyboard Harmony I
  •     MUSC 2096 - Jazz Keyboard Harmony II
  •     MUSC 2195 - Jazz Improvisation
  •     MUSC 2196 - Advanced Jazz Improvisation
  •     MUSC 2295 - Jazz Theory and Arranging I
  •     MUSC 2296 - Jazz Theory and Arranging II
  •     MUSC 4195 - Advanced Jazz History

d. Pedagogy - 6 s.h.

  •     MUSC 1627 - Italian and English Lyric Diction for Singers
  •     MUSC 2280 - Applied Music Technology
  •     MUSC 3637 - Voice Pedagogy

e. Additional ensembles - 6 s.h.

Choose 6 s.h. from the following:

  •     MUSC 1775 - Jazz Ensemble
  •     MUSC 1855 - Jazz Chamber Music

f. MUSC electives - 2 s.h.

 
Percussion Performance 0

a. Applied major - 24 s.h.

  •     No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.

b. Applied minor - 2 s.h.

  •     MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
  •     MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano

c. Pedagogy - 3 s.h.

  •     MUSC 4660 - Percussion Pedagogy and Literature

d. Additional ensembles - 6 s.h.

  •     A minimum of two semester hours (2 s.h.) of large ensemble (1 s.h. per semester) is required.
  •     A minimum of four semesters of small ensembles is required.

e. Music history and literature electives - 6 s.h

f. MUSC electives - 6 s.h.

g. Free electives - 6 s.h.

 
Piano Performance 0

a. Applied major - 24 s.h.

  •     No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.
  •     Students must present a full junior recital and full senior recital.

b. Applied minor - 2 s.h. c. Pedagogy - 6 s.h.

  •     MUSC 2125 - Basic Keyboard Skills I
  •     MUSC 2135 - Basic Keyboard Skills II
  •     MUSC 3707 - Foundations and Principles of Piano Pedagogy
  •     MUSC 4717 - Advanced Piano Performance Problems

d. Additional ensembles - 4-10 s.h.

A minimum of 2 semesters of accompanying, to be taken consecutively fall and spring, is required.

  •     MUSC 3455 - Accompanying I
  •     MUSC 3465 - Accompanying II
  •     MUSC 4455 - Accompanying III

e. Piano literature and advanced pedagogy - 6 s.h.

  •     MUSC 4737 - Piano Literature and Advanced Pedagogy I
  •     MUSC 4747 - Piano Literature and Advanced Pedagogy II

f. MUSC electives - 7 s.h.

g. Free electives - 4 s.h.

 
Sacred Music, organ 0

a. Applied major - 16 s.h.

  •     No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.
  •     Students are required to present a full organ senior recital.

b. Applied minor - 9 s.h.

  •     MUSC 1205 - Beginning Voice Group I
  •     MUSC 1215 - Beginning Voice Group II
  •     MUSC 2125 - Basic Keyboard Skills I
  •     MUSC 2135 - Basic Keyboard Skills II
  •     4 s.h. applied piano
  •     1 s.h. applied harpsichord

c. Organ literature and history - 4 s.h.

  •     MUSC 4667 - Organ History, Literature, and Design I
  •     MUSC 4677 - Organ History, Literature, and Design II

d. Additional ensembles - 2 s.h.

Select a minimum of 2 semesters of accompanying from the following:

  •     MUSC 3455 - Accompanying I
  •     MUSC 3465 - Accompanying II
  •     MUSC 4455 - Accompanying III

e. Sacred music - 13 s.h.

  •     MUSC 2476 - Introduction to Service Playing
  •     MUSC 4417 - Service Playing I
  •     MUSC 4437 - Service Playing II
  •     MUSC 4525 - History of Sacred Music and Worship
  •     MUSC 4526 - Philosophy and Practice of Sacred Music I
  •     MUSC 4527 - Philosophy and Practice of Sacred Music II
  •     MUSC 4528 - Sacred Music Internship

f. Advanced conducting - 3 s.h.

  •     MUSC 4706 - Advanced Applied Conducting or
  •     MUSC 4716 - Advanced Applied Conducting

g. MUSC electives - 2 s.h.

h. Free electives - 4 s.h.

 
Sacred Music, vocal 0

a. Applied major - 16 s.h.

  •     No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.
  •     Students are required to present a full voice senior recital.

b. Applied minor - 2 s.h.

A minimum of 2 s.h. is required from the following:

  •     MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
  •     MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano

c. Advanced conducting - 3 s.h.

  •     MUSC 4706 - Advanced Applied Conducting or
  •     MUSC 4716 - Advanced Applied Conducting

d. Pedagogy - 6 s.h.

  •     MUSC 1627 - Italian and English Lyric Diction for Singers
  •     MUSC 1637 - French Lyric Diction for Singers
  •     MUSC 1647 - German Lyric Diction for Singers
  •     MUSC 3637 - Voice Pedagogy

e. Additional ensembles - 2 s.h.

  • A minimum of 2 semesters of small ensemble is required.

f. Sacred music - 12 s.h.

  •     MUSC 4525 - History of Sacred Music and Worship
  •     MUSC 4526 - Philosophy and Practice of Sacred Music I
  •     MUSC 4527 - Philosophy and Practice of Sacred Music II
  •     MUSC 4528 - Sacred Music Internship
  •     MUSC 4906 - Choral Literature I
  •     MUSC 4916 - Choral Literature II

g. MUSC electives - 5 s.h.

h. Free electives - 7 s.h.

 
String Performance 0

a. Applied major - 24 s.h.

  •     No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.
  •     Students must present at least a half junior recital and full senior recital.

b. Applied minor - 4 s.h.

  •     MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
  •     MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano
  •     Bowed string majors select a 2 s.h. minor.
  •     Violin or viola majors select 2 s.h. of cello.
  •     Cello or string bass majors select 2 s.h. of violin or viola.
  •     Guitar majors select a 2 s.h. minor applied from bowed strings, piano, jazz guitar, early plucked strings; or other area with permission of the appropriate applied instructor.

c. Pedagogy - 3 s.h.

  •     MUSC 4657 - Directed Study in Instrumental Pedagogy for Brass, Percussion, Strings, or Woodwinds

d. Additional ensembles - 6 s.h.

  •     A minimum of 2 semesters of large ensemble is required.
  •     A minimum of 4 semesters of MUSC 1805 is required.

Performance groups for guitar majors:

  •     A minimum of 4 semesters of large ensemble and a minimum of 2 semesters of MUSC 1805 is required.

e. Music history and literature electives - 6 s.h.

f. MUSC electives - 4 s.h.

g. Free electives - 6 s.h.

 
Voice Performance 0

a. Applied major - 16 s.h.

  •     No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied are required.
  •     Students are required to present a half junior recital and a full senior recital.

b. Applied minor - 2 s.h.

  •     2 s.h. minor of applied piano is required.
    • Students are required to pass a departmental piano proficiency examination. 
    • In preparation for the exam, students must enroll in MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano and MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano.
  •     Students desiring further preparation are encouraged to use MUSC electives for additional piano proficiency.
  •     MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
  •     MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano

c. Additional ensembles - 4 s.h.

  •     A minimum of 2 semesters of large choral ensemble is required.
  •     A minimum of 2 semesters of MUSC 1605 - Opera Theatre is required.

d. Foreign language and diction - 21 s.h.

  •     MUSC 1627 - Italian and English Lyric Diction for Singers
  •     MUSC 1637 - French Lyric Diction for Singers
  •     MUSC 1647 - German Lyric Diction for Singers
  •     Minimum of 6 s.h. of FREN is required.
  •     Minimum of 6 s.h. of GERM is required.
  •     Minimum of 6 s.h. of ITAL is required.

e. Voice pedagogy - 3 s.h.

  •     MUSC 3637 - Voice Pedagogy

f. Music history and literature - 4 s.h.

  •     MUSC 4496 - Opera History
  •     MUSC 4596 - Historical Development of Solo Vocal Literature

g. MUSC electives - 2 s.h.

h. Free elective - 1 s.h.

 
Wind Performance 0

a. Applied major - 24 s.h.

  •     No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.
  •     Students are required to present a half junior recital and full senior recital.

b. Applied minor - 2 s.h.

  •     MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
  •     MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano

c. Pedagogy - 3 s.h.

  •     MUSC 4657 - Directed Study in Instrumental Pedagogy for Brass, Percussion, Strings, or Woodwinds

d. Additional ensembles - 6 s.h.

  •     A minimum of 2 semesters of large ensemble is required.
  •     A minimum of 4 semesters of small ensemble is required.

e. Music history and literature electives - 6 s.h.

f. MUSC electives - 6 s.h.

c. Free electives - 6 s.h.