Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Opus Chamber Choir (Face-to-Face)

MUSC 3350-01

Course: MUSC 3350-01
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: MUSC
CRN: 32023

Course Description

A highly select choral ensemble performing advanced and diverse repertoire in many styles in frequent on and off-campus performances. Admission is by audition only. This course meets the large ensemble requirement for music majors and minors.

Required Texts

Choir Folder - Music

Pencil

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. The SUU Choirs meet SUU’s Essential Learning Outcomes for Creative Thinking, Teamwork and Communication.

Course Requirements

The SUU Opus is the advanced mixed choir on campus. Members of Opus can expect to be engaged in the following activities: a minimum of 2 major concerts each semester, recruitment, recording, touring and other activities. 

GRADING Grades will be based on attendance, preparation and (in some cases) memorization of music, and participation, using the following criteria:
Each student begins with an "A"

Each student will be given a folder containing music for the semester. This folder and its contents are then the student's responsibility, and must be returned at the end of the semester or no final grade will be given.

The following grading standards will be used in this class:

GradeRange
A100 % to 94.0%
A-< 94.0 % to 90.0%
B+< 90.0 % to 87.0%
B< 87.0 % to 84.0%
B-< 84.0 % to 80.0%
C+< 80.0 % to 77.0%
C< 77.0 % to 74.0%
C-< 74.0 % to 70.0%
D+< 70.0 % to 67.0%
D< 67.0 % to 64.0%
D-< 64.0 % to 61.0%
F< 61.0 % to 0.0%

 

Concerts and Performances                 40%

Attendance                                            40%

Dress Rehearsals and Assignments     20%

Course Outline

Oct. 3 - Shakespeare Festival Choir Concert

7:30 @ Heritage Center

Nov. 11 - Veterans Day Concert

10:00 am @ SUU Ballroom

Nov. 15 - Honor Choir

4:00 @ Heritage Center 

Nov. 20 OSU Rock Gold

7:30 @ Heritage Center

Dec. 5 Music Dept. Holiday Concert

7:30 @ Heritage Center

 

 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Instructor's Response Time & Feedback

For messages sent to me, I will respond in the specified amount of time. Feedback is an important part of learning - please look for feedback on your assignments that I provided in the specified amount of time, to find feedback look at this tutorial:

How do I view assignment comments from my Instructor? (Links to an external site.)

How do I view annotation feedback comments from my instructor? (Links to an external site.)

It is my goal to:

  • Respond to student messages within _2_ business days
  • Provide grades and feedback within _2_ - __3__ days from the due date
Assignments

Students may be given memorization, recording and reading assignments during the semester. Failure to complete assignments will result in
lowered grades based on the following schedule:

  1. First missed assignment-Drop of one half letter grade
  2. Second missed assignment-Drop of one letter grade and counsel with instructor
  3. Third missed assignment-Failure

Attendance Policy

Absence from any activity outside of class (e. g. concerts, dress rehearsals, tour, etc.) will result in a drop of TWO letter grades. No absence from these activities is excused. Absences in class the week of a concert may result in the student NOT performing in the concert - please speak to the conductor directly. 

With regard to absences, please speak to the instructor - speaking only with the class/ensemble president does not excuse someone from that class day, they must speak to both. 

  1. Each student is allowed TWO unexcused absences from regular rehearsal per semester.
  2. Each additional unexcused absence will result in a drop of one half-letter grade per absence.
  3. On the FOURTH unexcused absence, the grade is automatically an "F".
  4. All absent students must submit an Absence Form found on Canvas before the absence occurs.

Course Fees

Lost folders will be assessed at the rate of $10.00 plus the face value of any music lost.

Additional Course Information

Mission of the Choral Ensembles

The mission of the choral ensembles at Southern Utah University (SUU) is consistent with that of the University in its objectives.
While each ensemble has different audition and acceptance policies, all ensembles are committed to the following goals:

  • Creating an educational environment wherein SUU music students are encouraged and enabled to develop the performing skills
  • Providing opportunities for faculty, staff and members of the community to participate in music through ensemble participation;
  • Achieving the highest musical standards in rehearsal and performance;
  • Selecting and performing the highest quality repertoire available for each ensemble;
  • Enriching the cultural climate of the region by offering regular concerts on our campus and in the community at large which are
    open to the public.
Communication Channel

Remind group - Text 81010 - @suuopusf25

Canvas Information

Canvas is where course content, grades, and communication will reside for this course.

SUU Campus Resources and Services

SUU has several resources and services available to support you during your time here at SUU, please review this list of SUU Campus Resources and Services (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and the Student Handbook (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. For more information on Canvas and other technologies, and their statements on Accessibility and Privacy statements please review our Vendor Resources page.

Financial Security Statement

Finances are an integral part of maintaining your wellbeing. If you are struggling financially or wish to know more about budgeting, please visit the Financial Wellness Center in room 201C in the Sharwan Smith Center, contact Ashleigh Zimmerman at (435) 865-8436, or text the Financial Wellness line at 435-708-1952.  

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.