Music, Composition, BM
Bachelor of Music, Composition (C50003BM)
More on the Music, Composition major
This program of study is designed to offer students a professional degree in music with an emphasis on the highest standards of musical composition. Core coursework includes classes in music theory and musicianship, music history, keyboard skills, applied lessons, and participation in major ensembles. The Bachelor of Music program in Composition includes intensive private study in traditional and contemporary compositional techniques in preparation for varied careers involving the creation and production of original music or as preparation for further study at the graduate level.
Requirements for Admission
Students wishing to major in music must complete the standard undergraduate application for admission and return it to the Office of Admissions. A student cannot be formally admitted to the School of Music until admitted to the University.
To be accepted as a music major, both freshmen and transfer students must successfully complete an audition on their major applied instrument, complete The Undergraduate Placement Examination in Music Theory, and be evaluated in keyboard skills.
Before the start of the third year: (1) a portfolio of three substantial works in contrasting genres submitted to the composition faculty must meet an acceptable standard for the pursuit of an undergraduate degree in composition; (2) An average of B- or higher must be achieved in Theory and Musicianship I, II, III, and IV
The following information has official approval of The School of Music and The Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (DPR) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.
Requirements
Summary
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Requirements * | 34 | |
Music Core | 32 | |
Applied Music and Performance Courses | 37 | |
Additional Required Music Courses | 13 | |
Music Electives | 4 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
- *
Several courses required for the major also satisfy General Education requirements. The University minimum of 36 credits are required for General Education and credit for these courses will apply to multiple requirements.
Recommended General Education Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major. | ||
Students are not required to enroll in the specific courses listed below. However, to facilitate successful degree completion, the academic department strongly encourages completion of the following recommendations. | ||
Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
Breadth of Knowledge | 22 | |
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours | ||
Music Literature I | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
Diversity | ||
Domestic Diversity | ||
Music Literature II | ||
Global Diversity | ||
Integrated and Applied Learning | 2 | |
Select one class from one of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Issues Facing Society | ||
Capstone | ||
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
Total Hours | 36 |
College of Arts & Sciences Requirement
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Students must also complete a minimum of 40 credits (excluding workshops) consisting of either: | ||
Upper-level (300/400) courses both in and outside of the student’s major; | ||
or other courses outside the major department approved by the student’s major department chair (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment); these may not include workshops |
Music Core
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
MUSIC:101 | Introduction to Music Theory 1 | |
MUSIC:104 | Class Piano I 1 | |
MUSIC:105 | Class Piano II 1 | |
MUSIC:106 | Music Orientation | 0 |
MUSIC:121 | Theory and Musicianship I | 4 |
MUSIC:122 | Theory and Musicianship II | 4 |
MUSIC:154 | Music Literature I | 2 |
MUSIC:155 | Music Literature II | 2 |
MUSIC:221 | Theory and Musicianship III | 4 |
MUSIC:222 | Theory and Musicianship IV | 4 |
MUSIC:261 | Keyboard Harmony I | 2 |
MUSIC:262 | Keyboard Harmony II | 2 |
MUSIC:351 | Music History I | 3 |
MUSIC:352 | Music History II | 3 |
MUSIC:453 | Music Software Survey and Use | 2 |
Total Hours | 32 |
1 | Not counted in degree program total; required or excused per placement audition/test |
Applied Music and Performance Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
MUSIC:157 | School of Music Performance Seminar (eight semesters) | 0 |
MUSEN:1xx | Major Conducted Ensemble 1 | 8 |
MUSEN:1xx | Chamber Music Ensemble | 1 |
MUSAP:1xx | Applied Music Primary Instrument | 4 |
MUSAP:2xx | Applied Music Primary Instrument 2 | 4 |
MUSAP:242 | Composition | 4 |
MUSAP:342 | Composition | 8 |
MUSAP:442 | Composition 3 | 8 |
MUSIC:457 | Senior Recital (full recital) | 0 |
Total Hours | 37 |
1 | Students must complete the 8 credits for the ensemble requirement in 8 separate semesters. |
2 | Completion of 200 level required prior to graduation. |
3 | Completion of 400 level required prior to graduation. |
Additional Required Music Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
MUSIC:353 | Electronic Music | 3 |
MUSIC:361 | Conducting | 2 |
MUSIC:371 | Analytical Techniques | 2 |
MUSIC:372 | Post-Tonal Analytic Techniques | 2 |
MUSIC:454 | Orchestration | 2 |
MUSIC:471 | Counterpoint | 2 |
Total Hours | 13 |
Music Electives
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Complete four credits | 4 | |
MUSIC:xxx | ||
The following courses do not satisfy this requirement: | ||
MUSIC:101 | Introduction to Music Theory | |
MUSIC:104 | Class Piano I | |
MUSIC:105 | Class Piano II | |
Total Hours | 4 |
Recommended Sequence
If placed into Intro to Music Theory
1st Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Hours | |
MUSIC:157 | School of Music Performance Seminar | 0 |
MUSEN:1xx | Major Conducted Ensemble | 1 |
MUSAP:142 | Composition 1 | 2-4 |
MUSAP:1xx | Applied Music | 2 |
MUSIC:106 | Music Orientation | 0 |
MUSIC:101 | Introduction to Music Theory 2 | 2 |
MUSIC:154 | Music Literature I | 2 |
Writing Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 12-14 | |
Spring Semester | ||
MUSIC:157 | School of Music Performance Seminar | 0 |
MUSEN:1xx | Major Conducted Ensemble | 1 |
MUSIC:142 | Ear Training/Sight Reading II 1 | 1 |
MUSAP:1xx | Applied Music | 2 |
MUSIC:121 | Theory and Musicianship I | 4 |
MUSIC:104 | Class Piano I 2 | 2 |
MUSIC:155 | Music Literature II | 2 |
ENGL:112 | English Composition II | 3 |
Hours | 15 | |
Summer Semester | ||
MUSIC:122 | Theory and Musicianship II | 4 |
MUSIC:105 | Class Piano II 2 | 2 |
Hours | 6 | |
Total Hours | 33-35 |
If placed into Theory & Musicianship I
1st Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Hours | |
MUSIC:157 | School of Music Performance Seminar | 0 |
MUSAP:142 | Composition 1 | 2-4 |
MUSAP:1xx | Applied Music | 2 |
MUSEN:1xx | Major Conducted Ensemble | 1 |
MUSIC:106 | Music Orientation | 0 |
MUSIC:121 | Theory and Musicianship I | 4 |
MUSIC:104 | Class Piano I 2 | 2 |
MUSIC:154 | Music Literature I | 2 |
Writing Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 16-18 | |
Spring Semester | ||
MUSIC:157 | School of Music Performance Seminar | 0 |
MUSAP:142 | Composition 1 | 2-4 |
MUSAP:1xx | Applied Music | 2 |
MUSEN:1xx | Major Conducted Ensemble | 1 |
MUSIC:122 | Theory and Musicianship II | 4 |
MUSIC:105 | Class Piano II 2 | 2 |
MUSIC:155 | Music Literature II | 2 |
ENGL:112 | English Composition II | 3 |
Hours | 16-18 | |
Total Hours | 32-36 |
1 | Recommended but not required for degree completion. |
2 | Not counted in degree program total; required or excused per placement audition/test. |
ALL
2nd Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Hours | |
MUSIC:157 | School of Music Performance Seminar | 0 |
MUSAP:242 | Composition | 2-4 |
MUSAP:2xx | Applied Music | 2 |
MUSEN:1xx | Major Conducted Ensemble | 1 |
MUSIC:221 | Theory and Musicianship III | 4 |
MUSIC:261 | Keyboard Harmony I | 2 |
MUSIC:351 | Music History I | 3 |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 17-19 | |
Spring Semester | ||
MUSIC:157 | School of Music Performance Seminar | 0 |
MUSAP:242 | Composition | 2-4 |
MUSAP:2xx | Applied Music | 2 |
MUSEN:1xx | Major Conducted Ensemble | 1 |
MUSIC:222 | Theory and Musicianship IV | 4 |
MUSIC:262 | Keyboard Harmony II | 2 |
MUSIC:352 | Music History II | 3 |
Speaking Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 17-19 | |
3rd Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
MUSIC:157 | School of Music Performance Seminar | 0 |
MUSAP:342 | Composition | 2-4 |
MUSEN:1xx | Major Conducted Ensemble | 1 |
MUSIC:371 | Analytical Techniques | 2 |
MUSIC:454 | Orchestration | 2 |
Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
Natural Science with Lab Requirement | 4 | |
Hours | 14-16 | |
Spring Semester | ||
MUSIC:157 | School of Music Performance Seminar | 0 |
MUSIC:342 | Group Vocal Techniques for Choral Music Education | 2 |
MUSEN:1xx | Major Conducted Ensemble | 1 |
MUSEN:1xx | Chamber Music Ensemble | 1 |
MUSIC:353 | Electronic Music | 3 |
MUSIC:372 | Post-Tonal Analytic Techniques | 2 |
MUSIC:xxx | Music Elective | 2 |
Natural Science Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 14 | |
4th Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
MUSIC:157 | School of Music Performance Seminar | 0 |
MUSAP:442 | Composition | 2-4 |
MUSEN:1xx | Major Conducted Ensemble | 1 |
MUSIC:453 | Music Software Survey and Use | 2 |
MUSIC:361 | Conducting | 2 |
Arts/Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 13-15 | |
Spring Semester | ||
MUSIC:157 | School of Music Performance Seminar | 0 |
MUSIC:457 | Senior Recital | 0 |
MUSAP:442 | Composition | 2-4 |
MUSEN:1xx | Major Conducted Ensemble | 1 |
MUSIC:471 | Counterpoint | 2 |
MUSIC:xxx | Music Elective | 2 |
Arts/Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
Integrated and Applied Learning Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 13-15 | |
Total Hours | 88-98 |