Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) in Music
Degree Guidelines

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide programmatic guidelines for MnSCU institutions that intend to establish or maintain an AFA articulation with MnSCU, University of Minnesota, or private college institutions. 

The guiding principles for this document are intended to be consistent with the national standards such as the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and more specifically the “Standards for Community/Junior Colleges and Associate Degree Programs.”

MnSCU AFA granting institutions are not required to be NASM members but are encouraged to become NASM accredited institutions.

Definitions

The AFA degree in music is a performance or pre-professional degree designed for transfer toward the baccalaureate of liberal arts or music (Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board Policy 3.17, Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates).

The degree shall consist of 60-64 total semester credits.  General Education courses should consist of 30 semester credits (with a maximum of 6 credits of music from the Humanities and the Arts area).  The remaining 30-34 credits shall be music courses (Thus a total of 36-40 music course credits).

For further information, see MnSCU Board Policy 3.25 (Degree Granting Authority) section 1, subpart D.

AFA Structure and Content

The degree standards shall include courses that would be included in the first two years of preparation at a four-year institution and shall include courses in at least four of the five areas as described by the NASM Handbook (Basic Musicianship, Performance, Basic Analysis, Music Education, and General Studies [i.e., General Education including courses for the non-Major such as Music Fundamentals, Music Appreciation, etc.]).

The chart on the following page (Table 1) is a guideline of courses that will comprise the Associate of Fine Arts degree in music:      

Course Area	Credit Range
Music Theory- Sight Singing areaFull two-year sequence	16-20
Ensemble (Large and/or Small) (Four semesters)	4-8
Private Lessons (Single Instrument/Voice focus, four semesters)	4-8
Other Music Prefix Courses (Core Sequence relative to articulation)	6-12
General Education Courses (May include 6 credits of MNTC Goal 6 Courses)	30
Total Credits:	60-64

(Table 1)

All students are expected to demonstrate piano proficiency to complete the AFA degree. Students should be prepared for entrance requirements for the program at the receiving institution in theory, history, sight-singing/ear-training, and performance.

Institutional Mission and Resources

Each music department or unit must have: