Music Minor FAQ

The Music Minor is open to all students in good academic standing who have a sincere interest in making music a part of their university education, regardless of prior experience levels or backgrounds.

Complete the declaration form on the College of Music website. You must have a CU GPA to declare the minor, i.e., the earliest you may declare is your second semester at CU Boulder. The minor must be declared by junior year.

While applied study is not required as part of the Music Minor program, it is possible for minor students to count up to four credits of applied study toward the “Creating Music Electives” category. This requires a successful audition, applied faculty approval (minor students would normally study with a Doctoral Teaching Assistant) and adequate studio space.

The College of Music offers a 19-credit Music Minor for students across the CU Boulder campus.

Grades in courses applied to the Music Minor must be a C- or higher.

Many elective course options for the Music Minor have been approved for the Arts & Sciences General Education requirements.

Students pursuing the Music Minor are required to complete a basic music theory course and participate in at least one music ensemble. Beyond that, students may choose among a variety of course options focused on creating or making music, as well as appreciating and thinking about music in relation to historical or sociocultural issues.

A maximum of six credits from an accredited music school may be transferred and applied toward the Music Minor. Grades in courses applied to the Music Minor must be C- or higher.

Yes. Run a What If Audit, selecting Music Minor under the College of Music.

You need a CU GPA to apply. You can apply anytime after the first semester of your freshman year and gain admission as early as your second semester at CU Boulder.

You can apply for admission using the GPA and credits earned from your previous institution.

Yes, a maximum of four credits of applied instruction completed may be applied toward the “Creating Music Electives” requirement. Also, completed music ensemble credits can be applied toward Music Minor ensemble requirements; as well, “Intro to Musicial Styles” can be applied toward “Thinking Music Electives.”

If you’ve been waitlisted, it means that the cohort you’ve applied to is full and we cannot accommodate additional students at this time. However, you do not need to wait until you’ve been taken off the waitlist to enroll in MUEL courses as they are open to any CU Boulder student other than Music Majors.

No need to reapply. If you’ve been waitlisted, you meet eligibility requirements and have been formally admitted into the next entering cohort. Expect an email before next semesters’ course registration with details on your formal admission into the Music Minor.

Mark Arnett. Contact him at music.minor@colorado.edu.

Yes, EMUS music ensemble courses applicable to your primary instrument and specific degree program can be applied. Most MUEL courses cannot be applied, but you may petition for some courses with similar content to required MUSC courses to be applied.

Yes, you may take time off from the Music Minor as long as you complete it in six semesters or less.

Music Minor courses must be taken at CU Boulder.

No. University policy does not allow students to complete a minor after graduation.

Music minors have limited practice room access in the east wing basement and the south wing second floor of the Imig Music Building during regular building hours (7 a.m.-11 p.m.) on a first-come, first-served basis. Access to the main practice room corridors is restricted to Music Majors only. 

No, all coursework must be taken for a letter grade.

Submit your intentions to drop the Music Minor by sending us an email at music.minor@colorado.edu.

Declaration forms submitted during any given semester will be reviewed and processed at the end of said term, after grades are submitted.

You may take the Theory/Aural Skills placement test offered each fall (in the week before classes begin) for placement consideration into major-level theory. To reserve your spot, contact us at music.minor@colorado.edu after Aug. 1.