Major Requirements
The requirements for a major in composition leading to a Bachelor of Music degree are 56 credits plus 28 private instruction credits and ensemble participation plus 20 credits in non-music electives:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music Core Courses | ||
| MUS 111 | Materials of Music I | 1 |
| MUS 112 | Materials of Music II | 1 |
| MUS 115 | Rhythm Performance and Hearing | 1 |
| MUS 116 | Tonal Singing and Hearing | 1 |
| MUS 211 | Tonal Theory | 4 |
| MUS 222 | Music In/As Social Life | 4 |
| MUS 232 | History of Western Music: Medieval to the Mid-19th Century | 4 |
| MUS 312 | Counterpoint | 2 |
| MUS 315 | Post-Tonal Theory and History | 4 |
| MUS 343 | Orchestration | 2 |
| MUS 363 | Global Materials and Processes | 4 |
| MUS 423 | Critical Analysis I | 2 |
| MUS 424 | Critical Analysis II | 2 |
| MUS 425 | Choral Conducting I | 2 |
| or MUS 427 | Instrumental Conducting I | |
| MUS 437 | Music Technology I | 2 |
| MUS 438 | Music Technology II | 2 |
| MUS 450 | Technology Capstone | 4 |
| MUS 482 | Senior Recital/Project | 2 |
| Contextual Studies Courses | ||
| Select at least one of the following: | 4 | |
| Contextual Studies II - Genre | ||
| Contextual Studies II - Period | ||
| Contextual Studies II - Topic | ||
| Music Elective Courses | ||
| 8 credits from music elective courses | 8 | |
| Non-Music Elective Courses | ||
| 20 credits from non-music elective courses | 20 | |
| Private Instruction | ||
| 28 credits of private instruction: | 28 | |
20 credits of private instruction in composition (MUS 264) | ||
8 credits of private instruction or class piano as a minor instrument or voice | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| 8 semesters in ensemble 1 | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 104 | |
- 1
Participation in an appropriate ensemble as designated by the music faculty and as related to the major area of study is required each semester of enrollment.
Degree and Graduation Requirements
In addition to the program-specific requirements listed above, all students must complete the graduation requirements specified for their degree. See the Degree and Graduation Requirements section for more information.
Suggested Four-Year Plan
The four-year plan detailed below is a suggested coursework sequence. This plan may need to be adapted based on course offerings as well as individual student circumstances, such as transfer credit and study away experiences.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| FYS 110 | Engaged Citizenship Seminar | 4 |
| COM 110 or ENG 110 |
Communicating to Engage or Writing to Engage |
4 |
| MUS 111 | Materials of Music I | 1 |
| MUS 115 | Rhythm Performance and Hearing | 1 |
| MUS 116 | Tonal Singing and Hearing | 1 |
| MUS 130 | Class Piano I (or Piano Lessons) | 1 |
| Non-Music Elective (or MUS 222 - Music In/As Social Life) | 4 | |
| MUS 264 | Composition | 1 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| COM 110 or ENG 110 |
Communicating to Engage or Writing to Engage |
4 |
| MUS 112 | Materials of Music II | 1 |
| MUS 222 | Music In/As Social Life (or Non-Music Elective) | 4 |
| MUS 131 | Class Piano II (or Piano Lessons) | 1 |
| WELL 110 | Engaging in Lifelong Wellness | 1 |
| Elective - Music or Non-Music (if needed) | 1-4 | |
| MUS 264 | Composition | 1 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Hours | 13-16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MUS 211 or MUS 232 |
Tonal Theory or History of Western Music: Medieval to the Mid-19th Century |
4 |
| REL 200 | Christianity and Religious Diversity (or Non-Music Elective) | 4 |
| MUS 230 | Class Piano III (or Piano Lessons) | 1 |
| Non-Music Elective | 4 | |
| Non-Music Elective | 4 | |
| MUS 264 | Composition | 1 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Hours | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUS 232 or MUS 211 |
History of Western Music: Medieval to the Mid-19th Century or Tonal Theory |
4 |
| Non-Music Elective (or REL 200) | 4 | |
| MUS 427 or MUS 425 |
Instrumental Conducting I or Choral Conducting I |
2 |
| MUS 231 | Class Piano IV (or Piano Lessons) | 1 |
| MUS 264 | Composition | 1 |
| WELL 111 | Engaging in a Balanced Life | 1 |
| Elective - Music or Non-Music (if needed) | 1-4 | |
| Ensemble | ||
| Hours | 14-17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MUS 363 or MUS 315 |
Global Materials and Processes or Post-Tonal Theory and History |
4 |
| MUS 312 | Counterpoint * | 2 |
| MUS 423 | Critical Analysis I * | 2 |
| MUS 424 | Critical Analysis II * | 2 |
| Music Elective * | 2 | |
| MUS 266 | Piano | 1 |
| MUS 464 | Composition | 4 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUS 315 or MUS 363 |
Post-Tonal Theory and History or Global Materials and Processes |
4 |
| MUS 343 | Orchestration * | 2 |
| Music Elective * | 2 | |
| Non-Music Elective Course | 4 | |
| MUS 266 | Piano | 1 |
| MUS 464 | Composition | 4 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Hours | 17 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MUS 4xx - Contextual Studies II (or MUS 450 - Technology Capstone) | 4 | |
| MUS 437 | Music Technology I * | 2 |
| Religion 3xx | 4 | |
| MUS 266 | Piano | 1-6 |
| MUS 464 | Composition | 2-4 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Hours | 13-20 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUS 450 | Technology Capstone | 4 |
| MUS 438 | Music Technology II * | 2 |
| Music Electives | 4 | |
| MUS 482 | Senior Recital/Project | 2 |
| MUS 464 | Composition | 4 |
| MUS 266 | Piano | 1 |
| Ensemble | ||
| Hours | 17 | |
| Total Hours | 126-139 | |
*can be taken junior or senior year based on department offerings