College of Music Exploratory Program

The College of Music Exploratory program is designed for students who are deciding among one or more majors in the College. It allows students to explore major options as well as make progress toward graduation through the completion of Volunteer Core courses and some music courses. Exploratory students are required to meet with their advisor every semester.

Acceptance into this program does not require successful acceptance into the College of Music. If students wish to take MUPF applied lessons they must be admitted to the College. Some other courses (e.g., Music Ensembles) are by audition only and some courses (e.g., Music Theory) require the completion of placement tests.

Before changing their major from Music Exploratory to another program in Music, students must be accepted into the College of Music. Application information is available on the College of Music website.

All full-time, degree-seeking UT Knoxville students who first entered Fall 2024 or later must transition out of the exploratory track into a major no later than the end of their third tracking semester. Transfer students with less than 45 hours of transferrable work who are admitted as exploratory students must transition out of the exploratory track into a major no later than the end of their second full semester at UT. The showcase below assumes Term 1 occurs in a Fall semester.

Campus

Knoxville

uTrack Requirements

Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. In order to remain on track, students must complete the minimum requirements for each tracking semester, known as milestones. Milestones include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students.

Term 1

Select one of the following First-Year Seminars:
FYS 101 - The UT Experience 1 Credit Hours
FYS 129 - Special Topics Seminar 1 Credit Hours
MUSC 100 - The College of Music Experience 1 Credit Hours
Select one Music Ensemble (MUEN) course:
Option A: Students with potential interest in studying Music Education with either Woodwind/Brass/Percussion or Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Jazz Emphasis should select the following course:
MUEN 359 - Marching Band 1 Credit Hours
Option C: Students with potential interest in studying Music Performance, Studio Music and Jazz, Applied Music (BA), or Sacred Music should select one of the following ensembles:
MUEN 303 - Small Jazz Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 304 - Jazz Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 306 - Trombone Choir 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 309 - Tuba Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 310 - Percussion Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 313 - Trumpet Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 314 - Horn Choir 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 315 - Chamber Music Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 319 - Saxophone Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 321 - Flute Choir 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 322 - Clarinet Choir 1 Credit Hours
Option B: Students with potential interest in studying Music Education with either String, String Jazz, or Vocal Emphasis should select one of the following courses:
MUEN 330 - Chamber Singers 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 340 - Opera Theatre 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 350 - Concert Band 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 352 - Symphonic Band 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 353 - Wind Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 370 - Symphony Orchestra 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 380 - Concert Choir 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 383 - Men’s Chorale 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 389 - Women’s Chorale 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 399 - Accompanying 1 Credit Hours
Option D: All other Music Exploratory students take:
- Any MUEN course. 1 Credit Hour
Select one Music Theory course:
MUTH 100 - Fundamentals of Music 3 Credit Hours
MUTH 110 - Theory I 3 Credit Hours
MUTH 115 - Harmony and Analysis through Popular Music 3 Credit Hours
Select one Applied Music course:
- Any MUPF course. Requires successful studio audition before enrolling.
- Credits: 2 credit hours suggested for students interested in Music Performance, Music Education, Studio Music and Jazz, and Sacred Music. Those interested in all other programs and accepted into a studio take 1-2 credit hours.
MUSC 101 - Fundamentals of Performance 1-2 Credit Hours
Select one Musicology course:
- Any MUCO 100-level
Select one Written Communication course (WC): SAT/ACT/EPE and AP/dual enrollment credit determines placement in English Composition.
- Recommended: First Year Composition ENGL 101 or equivalent
Select one Quantitative Reasoning course (QR):
- SAT/ACT or Math Department Placement Exam or AP/dual enrollment credit determines placement in mathematics.
- Option A For students whose major or minor interests do not include programs with specific math requirements:
  - Any QR course
- Option B For students whose major or minor interests include programs with specific math requirements:
MUTC 290 - Sound Recording Techniques 3 Credit Hours
MATH 115 - Statistical Reasoning 3 Credit Hours
STAT 201 - Introduction to Statistics 3 Credit Hours *

Credit Hours 15-17

Term 1 Milestone Notes

Completion of at least 12 credit hours

Term 2

Written Communication (WC) Courses 3 Credit Hours

SAT/ACT/EPE and AP/dual enrollment credit determines placement in English Composition.
- Recommended: First Year Composition ENGL 102 or equivalent
Select one Music Ensemble (MUEN) course:
Option A Students with potential interest in studying Music Education with either Woodwind/Brass/Percussion or Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Jazz Emphasis should take:
MUEN 344 - University Band 1 Credit Hours
Option C Students with potential interest in studying Music Performance, Studio Music and Jazz, Applied Music (BA), or Sacred Music should choose from the following ensembles:
- Any MUEN course 1 Credit Hour
Option D All other Music Exploratory students take:
- Any MUEN course 1 Credit Hour
Select one Music Theory course:
MUTH 110 - Theory I 3 Credit Hours
MUTH 115 - Harmony and Analysis through Popular Music 3 Credit Hours
MUTH 120 - Theory II 3 Credit Hours
¹Select one Applied Music course:
- Any MUPF course. Requires successful studio audition before enrolling. Credits: 2 credit hours suggested for students interested in Music Performance, Music Education, Studio Music and Jazz, and Sacred Music. Those interested in all other programs and accepted into a studio take 1-2 credit hours.
MUSC 101 - Fundamentals of Performance 1-2 Credit Hours
Select one or both Ear Training and/or Class Piano course(s) 1-2 Credit Hours
MUTH 130 - Ear Training I 1 Credit Hours
MUKB 110 - Class Piano I 1 Credit Hours
Option B Students with potential interest in studying Music Education with either String, String Jazz, or Vocal Emphasis should take:
Select one Elective course 1-4 Credit Hours
Option A Students interested in any Music Education emphasis should select from:
MUEN 330 - Chamber Singers 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 340 - Opera Theatre 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 350 - Concert Band 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 352 - Symphonic Band 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 353 - Wind Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 370 - Symphony Orchestra 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 380 - Concert Choir 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 383 - Men’s Chorale 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 389 - Women’s Chorale 1 Credit Hours
Option B Students with potential interest in studying Music Performance, Studio Music and Jazz, Applied Music (BA), or Sacred Music should choose from the following electives: Professional Skills Electives: CMST 210 *; BUAD 202 *; ENT 350 ; ²MUJZ 110 ; ²MUTC 290 *, ²MUTC 320 , MUTC 325 , MUTC 330 , MUTC 340 , MUTC 390 ; NUTR 100 *, PYED 237 , PYED 254 ; THEA 220 . Additional Ensembles: MUEN 303 , MUEN 304 , MUEN 306 , MUEN 309 , MUEN 310 , MUEN 313 , MUEN 314 , MUEN 315 , MUEN 319 , MUEN 321 , MUEN 322 , MUEN 330 , MUEN 340 , MUEN 350 , MUEN 352 , MUEN 353 , MUEN 370 , MUEN 380 , MUEN 383 , MUEN 389 , or MUEN 399
Option C All other Music Exploratory students should select from:
ACCT 200 - Foundations of Accounting 3 Credit Hours
ADVT 250 - Advertising Principles 3 Credit Hours *
BUAD 202 - Personal Finance 3 Credit Hours *
CCI 150 - Communication in an Information Age 3 Credit Hours
ECON 201 - Introductory Economics: A Survey Course 4 Credit Hours
ENT 350 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3 Credit Hours
JMED 175 - Introduction to Journalism and Creative Media 3 Credit Hours
MGT 201 - Introduction to Business Management for Non-Majors 3 Credit Hours
MUTC 290 - Sound Recording Techniques 3 Credit Hours *
PSYC 110 - General Psychology 3 Credit Hours *
Select one Natural Sciences (NS) Course The first class of any two-semester lab sequence chosen from this list. Credits / Units: 4 STAT 201 - Introduction to Statistics 3 Credit Hours

Credit Hours 14-19

Term 2 Milestone Notes

At least one MUEN course

ENGL 101 - English Composition I 3 Credit Hours *

Term 3

Oral Communication (OC) Elective 3 Credit Hours *

Select one Music Ensemble (MUEN) course:
Option A Students with potential interest in studying Music Education with Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Emphasis should take the following: (Note: those interested in studying Music Education with Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Jazz Emphasis do not take MUEN 359.)
MUEN 359 - Marching Band 1 Credit Hours
and one of the following courses:
Option C Students with potential interest in studying Music Performance, Studio Music and Jazz, Applied Music (BA), or Sacred Music should choose from the following ensembles:
MUEN 303 - Small Jazz Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 306 - Trombone Choir 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 309 - Tuba Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 310 - Percussion Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 313 - Trumpet Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 314 - Horn Choir 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 315 - Chamber Music Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 319 - Saxophone Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 321 - Flute Choir 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 322 - Clarinet Choir 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 399 - Accompanying 1 Credit Hours
Option D All other Music Exploratory students take:
- Any MUEN 1 Credit Hour
Select one Music Theory course:
MUTH 120 - Theory II 3 Credit Hours
MUTH 210 - Theory III 3 Credit Hours
¹Select one Applied Music course:
- Any MUPF course. Requires successful studio audition before enrolling. Credits: 2 credit hours suggested for students interested in Music Performance, Music Education, Studio Music and Jazz, and Sacred Music. Those interested in all other programs and accepted into a studio take 1-2 credit hours.
MUSC 101 - Fundamentals of Performance 1-2 Credit Hours
Select one or both EAR TRAINING AND/OR CLASS PIANO course(s) 1-2 Credit Hours
MUKB 120 - Class Piano II 1 Credit Hours
MUTH 140 - Ear Training II 1 Credit Hours
Option B Students with potential interest in studying Music Education with either String, String Jazz, or Vocal Emphasis should take:
and one of the following courses:
MUEN 304 - Jazz Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 330 - Chamber Singers 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 340 - Opera Theatre 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 350 - Concert Band 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 352 - Symphonic Band 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 353 - Wind Ensemble 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 370 - Symphony Orchestra 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 380 - Concert Choir 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 383 - Men’s Chorale 1 Credit Hours
MUEN 389 - Women’s Chorale 1 Credit Hours
Option C Students with potential interest in pursuing the Music Theory/Composition tracks should take:
MUTH 250 - Composition Class 2 Credit Hours
Option D All other Music Exploratory students should select from:
ACCT 200 - Foundations of Accounting 3 Credit Hours
ADVT 250 - Advertising Principles 3 Credit Hours *
BUAD 202 - Personal Finance 3 Credit Hours *
CCI 150 - Communication in an Information Age 3 Credit Hours
ECON 201 - Introductory Economics: A Survey Course 4 Credit Hours
ENT 350 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3 Credit Hours
JMED 175 - Introduction to Journalism and Creative Media 3 Credit Hours
JMED 200 - Multimedia Writing 3 Credit Hours *
MGT 201 - Introduction to Business Management for Non-Majors 3 Credit Hours
Select one Elective course:
Option A Students interested in any Music Education emphasis should select from:
Option B Students with potential interest in studying Music Performance, Studio Music and Jazz, Applied Music (BA), or Sacred Music should choose from the following electives: Professional Skills Electives: CMST 210 *; BUAD 202 *; ENT 350 ; ²MUJZ 110 ; ²MUTC 290 *, ²MUTC 320 , MUTC 325 , MUTC 330 , MUTC 340 , MUTC 390 ; NUTR 100 *, PYED 237 , PYED 254 ; THEA 220 . Additional Ensembles: MUEN 303 , MUEN 304 , MUEN 306 , MUEN 309 , MUEN 310 , MUEN 313 , MUEN 314 , MUEN 315 , MUEN 319 , MUEN 321 , MUEN 322 , MUEN 330 , MUEN 340 , MUEN 350 , MUEN 352 , MUEN 353 , MUEN 370 , MUEN 380 , MUEN 383 , MUEN 389 , or MUEN 399
MUCO 210 - History of Western Music, Ancient to the Baroque 3 Credit Hours
MUTC 290 - Sound Recording Techniques 3 Credit Hours *
PSYC 110 - General Psychology 3 Credit Hours *
Select one Global Citizenship - US (GCUS) course:
Option A Students with potential interest in studying Music Education should take:
- Any GCUS course
Option B Students with potential interest in studying Music Performance, Studio Music and Jazz, Applied Music (BA), or Sacred Music should choose from the following ensembles:
- Any GCUS course 3 Credit Hours
- Foreign Language 3 Credit Hours
Option C All other Music Exploratory students should select from:
- Any GCUS course 3 Credit Hours
- Foreign Language 3 Credit Hours
STAT 201 - Introduction to Statistics 3 Credit Hours

Credit Hours 13-18

Term 3 Milestone Notes

Natural Sciences (NS) course 4 Credit Hours

ENGL 102 - English Composition II 3 Credit Hours *

Footnotes

¹Note: this category is optional for those who eventually pursue BA concentrations in Music Business Administration, Music Journalism and Media, Music Advertising and Public Relations, and Music & Culture. These concentrations do not specifically require applied lessons.

² Denotes instructor permission required.

* Meets Volunteer Core requirement

Undergraduates

Graduate Students