Earn your BM in Organ
Learn more about pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Organ at the University of Iowa School of Music.
For additional information or questions about the organ area, contact us, or call the music department at 319-335-1603.
Already applied and admitted to the university? Prepare to audition with the School of Music.
Requirements and program planning
Course Offerings
- Musicianship and Theory I (MUS:1201)*, 4 semester hours
- Musicianship and Theory II (MUS:1202), 4 semester hours
- Musicianship and Theory III (MUS:2203), 4 semester hours
- Musicianship and Theory IV (MUS:2204), 4 semester hours
- Group Instruction in Piano I (MUS:1211)**, 1 semester hour
- Group Instruction in Piano II (MUS:1212)**, 1 semester hour
- Recital Attendance (MUS:1210), 6 semester hours
- History of Western Music I (MUS:2301), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts and Historical Perspectives.
- History of Western Music II (MUS:2302), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts and Historical Perspectives.
- Techniques of Conducting (MUS:3625), 2 semester hours
*Entering students who do not have Advanced Placement (AP) or transfer credit should enroll in MUS:1201:0002, and take Placement Exam A, administered online in the summer before the start of the fall semester, to determine readiness for the sequence. Learn more about this process.
**Students will take a piano placement exam and may place out of one or both group piano classes based on their proficiency.
Select one of the following:
- Jazz Cultures America and Abroad (MUS:1009), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Diversity and Inclusion and Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts.
- World Music (MUS:1310), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts.
- Music of Latin America and Caribbean (MUS:2311), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Diversity and Inclusion and Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts.
- Advanced Jazz History (MUS:4350), 3 semester hours
- Lower level applied lessons (MUS:2022), 8 semester hours*
- Upper level applied lessons (MUS:3022), 8 semester hours
- Major Ensemble (MUS:----), 8 semester hours**
- Senior Recital (MUS:4900), 1 semester hour
*A maximum of 6 semesters (12 semester hours) in lower-level applied instruction is allowed. If piano is your instrument, then a total of 8 semester hours are required.
**With advisor consent, keyboard majors may substitute piano accompaniment for major ensemble participation for a maximum of two semesters during their junior and/or senior years.
Select 3 semester hours from these:
- Form and Analysis (MUS:2206), 3 semester hours
- Introduction to Jazz Improvisation (MUS:3001), 3 semester hours
- Instrumentation (MUS:3220), 2 semester hours
- Arranging for Band (MUS:3665), 2 to 3 semester hours
- Intermediate Jazz Improvisation (MUS:3710), 2 semester hours
- Jazz Theory (MUS:3750), 2 semester hours
- Counterpoint Before 1600 (MUS:4200), 3 semester hours
- Counterpoint After 1600 (MUS:4201), 3 semester hours
- Keyboard Harmony (MUS:4210), 1 to 2 semester hours
- Advanced Jazz Improvisation (MUS:4710), 2 semester hours
- Transcription (MUS:4750), 2 semester hours
- Organ Literature Survey (MUS:4450), 4 semester hours
- Note: Two semesters
- Liturgics (MUS:4452), 2 semester hours
- Service Playing and Improvisation (MUS:4454), 2 semester hours
Choose from any music (MUS) courses, except those closed to music majors.
Recommended for organ majors:
- Organ Pedagogy (MUS:5452), 2 semester hours
- History of Organ Building and Design (MUS:5450), 2 to 3 semester hours
- Organ Literature Special Topics (MUS:5475), 2 semester hours
- Note: This course is repeatable.
- Hymnology (MUS:5465), 2 semester hours
- Communication and literacy
- Rhetoric, 4 semester hours
- Interpretation of Literature, 3 semester hours
- World Language, 0 to 16 semester hours
- Natural, qualitative, and social sciences
- Natural Sciences, 7 semester hours
- Quantitative or Formal Reasoning, 3 semester hours
- Social Sciences, 3 semester hours
- Culture, society, and the arts*
- Diversity and Inclusion, 3 semester hours
- Historical Perspectives, 3 semester hours
- International and Global Issues, 3 semester hours
- Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts, 3 semester hours
- Values and Culture, 3 semester hours
*Music majors may use up to three music courses (MUS) toward completing the General Education Requirements.
Create your academic path
You'll find degree overviews, requirements, course lists, academic plans, and more to help you plan your education and explore your possibilities.
Current course list
The MyUI Schedule displays registered courses for a particular session and is available to enrolled students. The list view includes course instructors, time and location, and features to drop courses or change sections.
Organ faculty
Gregory Hand
Melanie Sigafoose
Practice and perform
Need to book a music room, request an accompanist, check out audition information, rent a locker, or use a recording studio? Visit the Music Callboard for all scheduling and policy information.