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Music, Minor

Overview

Whether you want to be a music minor or just continue to pursue your passion for music, DeSales invites you to become a member of our musical community.

Our choirs, courses in music theory, history, and private instruction in voice, piano, and guitar are taught by faculty who are not only experienced professionals and performing artists, but also serve as coaches and mentors focused on your growth and development as a vocal and instrumental musician.

Admissions Requirements

At DeSales, we not only look at your past academic achievement but also your potential for future growth to determine your admission.

We find that students who have demonstrated significant achievement within a demanding curriculum are best suited for academic life at DeSales. Quality of academic performance plays a critical role in the admissions decision making process. This helps indicate a student's potential for academic growth going forward. We welcome applications from all qualified students regardless of race, religion, sex, national, or ethnic origin.

Application Checklist

  • Application Fee: None
  • Transcripts: Official High School Transcript
  • Standardized Tests: Test-optional, however, an Admissions Interview may be requested
  • Recommendations: Completed Guidance Counselor Form and Teacher Recommendation Form
  • Please refer to the Program Specific Requirements section for any requirements specific to this program

All materials can be mailed to:
DeSales University Admissions Office
2755 Station Ave.
Center Valley, PA 

* SAT scores are highly recommended for students applying for the Nursing and Health Science programs. Please refer to the Program Specific Requirements section for any requirements specific to this program.

Additional recommendations

High School Academics - Remember, there is no single preferred high school academic program, but a college preparatory course of study is highly recommended. Here's an example:

  • Four years of English
  • Three or four years of college preparatory mathematics
  • A minimum of two years of modern, foreign, or classical language
  • At least two laboratory science courses

Visiting DeSales - A personal, on-campus interview is strongly recommended, but is not required. We encourage you to visit so that you'll have a chance to learn more about DeSales, and we'll have the opportunity to learn more about you, too.

Learn more about Undergraduate Admissions & Aid 

When to Apply

We encourage you to apply early in your senior year. We use a rolling admissions system, which means you will be notified promptly about your admissions status—usually within four weeks of our receipt of your completed application.

Priority deadline for scholarship consideration is December 1 of your senior year.

Curriculum

A Minor in Music is sponsored by the humanities department. 

A minor at DeSales consists of 6 courses and will be indicated on your permanent record. Courses for the music minor:

One of the following: 

  • Fine Arts 115 
  • Fine Arts 118 
  • Fine Arts 120 

Two of the following: 

  • Fine Arts 362 
  • Fine Arts 364 
  • Fine Arts 366 
  • Fine Arts 368 
  • Fine Arts 370 

Two of the following: 

  • Fine Arts 1111.1, ,2, .3 
  • Fine Arts 1121.1, .2, .3 
  • Fine Arts 1131.1, .2, .3 

One additional course from the above lists, or one additional approved elective in music.

Facilities

The Connelly Chapel of the Sacred Heart

In keeping with DeSales University’s Roman Catholic, Salesian tradition, Connelly Chapel sits on the top of the hill, keeping watchful eye over the entire campus. The worship space is intimate but reverberant, as the room is shaped somewhat like the inverted hull of a massive schooner. This curious pattern delivers a worship space where one cannot find a bad seat for hearing either voice or organ clearly. This acoustical gem is graced by brilliant blue-toned stained glass windows featuring the academic disciplines.

The Austin Opus 2800 Organ

The stunning Austin (Opus 2800) pipe organ features an exposed Great division comprising a rich diapason chorus, and a Swell that delivers not only the essence of a classic English full Swell, but more than meets the requirements for performance of the literature. The Choir/Orchestral organ fills the middle ground—its ensemble serves as a tertiary chorus, while maintaining many solo voices and shaded colors. The beautiful rosewood console is movable, built on an Austin enclosed dolly system.   

The Gallagher Studio

This versatile space is designed to serve many purposes: a choral rehearsal space, a venue for intimate chamber music performances, and a common space for social gatherings of our choir family. The Gallagher Studio includes two Wenger sound-isolation practice rooms each with a Steinway piano while an additional Steinway concert grand piano creates a dramatic centerpiece for intimate concert performances.

Connelly Chapel DeSales U Pipe Organ

The Connelly Chapel of the Sacred Heart at DeSales University

 Austin Organ DeSales University

The Austin Opus 2800 Organ

DeSales University Musical Programs

The Gallager Studio in Brisson Hall

Tuition & Fees

DeSales can help make your college expenses affordable through a combination of grants, loans, student employment, and scholarship resources.

View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and undergraduate program information sheets

Cost of attendance for undergrads for 2024-2025

 

Resident Students

Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Room and Board - $13,800
Mandatory Fees - $1,800
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $60,800 (including first-year/transfer fees)

Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Total cost for resident students: $67,116

Commuter Students

Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Mandatory Fees - $1,400
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $46,600 (including first-year/transfer fees)

Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Transportation Costs - $1,908
Living Expenses - $2,298
Total cost for commuter students: $57,122

Off-Campus*

Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Mandatory Fees - $1,400
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $46,600 (including first-year/transfer fees)

Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Transportation Costs - $1,908
Living Expenses - $9,192
Total cost for off-campus students: $64,016
*First-year students are required to reside on campus or commute from home.

Parking Fee - $100

View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and undergraduate program information sheets

Dual Degree Undergraduate-to-Graduate Programs

If you are enrolled in an undergraduate-to-graduate degree program — for example a 5-year, 3+2, 3+3, program — the undergraduate tuition and fees apply only to the undergraduate portion of the program. As you progress into the graduate phase of your program, graduate tuition and fees apply. Please see your respective graduate program for more information. 

The financial aid process may appear overwhelming at first glance, but don't worry, we'll help you through it.

Accepted students are automatically considered for scholarships upon receipt of a completed application and are awarded regardless of financial need. Funds for scholarships are limited, so we do encourage students to apply early.

Our comprehensive financial aid packages carefully explain the types and amounts of assistance —including federal, state, and institutional — that you may be eligible for to help cover education related expenses.

Total cost of attendance includes estimates for tuition, fees, room, board, books, and personal, transportation, and living expenses.

You can estimate your total cost of attendance with our Net Price Calculator

 

Applied Lessons

Applied Lessons in Voice, Piano, and Guitar

Lessons are offered to all students regardless of skill or experience level as one-credit courses. Each student receives 13 private lessons per semester. Lessons are 45 minutes in length. A lab fee is required for these lesson/courses.

 

Course Registration - DO NOT register for these course through WebAdvisor. All applied music course rosters are managed by the Division of Performing Arts.

Applied Music Courses

To register, drop, or add a course in applied music please email amy.diehl@desales.edu. Once your request has been processed, it will be reflected in WebAdvisor.

Applied Music Lessons

To register for Applied Music Lessons, students are to go to Webadvisor to sign up for their class. Then, email Amy Diehl at amy.diehl@desales.edu to have a teacher assigned to you. Or, if you are a current student, inform her of the teacher that you have at DeSales.

Your email should contain the following information:

  • Course Title: (Applied Voice/Piano/Guitar, etc.)
  • Student Name:
  • Student ID:
  • Email:
  • Phone:
  • Teacher Requested: (If any)
DeSales Chorale

It Pays to Sing at DeSales!

Our outstanding three-choir program is at the core of the University’s musical and spiritual life. And, singing in our choirs can substantially finance your DeSales education  — up to and including full-tuition! — with scholarship opportunities for singers who do NOT wish to pursue music as a major.

 

Learn More

Contact Us

Undergraduate Admissions