Major: (from university catalog) “Major” is short for “major field” or “major area of study.” It is the term used to describe the area of human activity in which a student plans to specialize.

Liberal Arts: (from Merriam-Webster) College or university studies (such as language, philosophy, literature, abstract science) intended to provide chiefly general knowledge and to develop general intellectual capacities (such as reason and judgment) as opposed to professional or vocational skills.

Bachelor’s of Arts: A degree that is given to a student by a college or university usually after four years of study; The Bachelor’s of Arts is awarded for undergraduate coursework in the liberal arts.

Emphasis: The specific content area within music which a student can pursue. USAO offers emphases within the Bachelor’s of Arts degree in music education and performance.

Specialization: An area of the Bachelor’s of Arts degree at USAO that specifically caters to a particular purpose/training within an emphasis. In the emphasis of music education, students may specialize in instrumental or vocal music. In the emphasis of performance, students may specialize in the areas of voice, piano, composition, or wind/brass/percussion
/guitar. Students select their area of primary specialization from these broader categories.

Primary specialization: The instrument which a student auditions on and on which they pursue applied studio instruction and “if applicable” perform on their senior recital/project.