School of Music

Bachelor of Music in Composition

Liberal Arts

The 30 credits of liberal arts listed in this group must be taken outside the School of Music. For more information, see "Academic Courses of Study."
Academic Courses of Study

 

Normal

Vocal

Keyb.

Instr.

English or writing

6

6

6

6

Humanities

3

3

3

3

Natural sciences or mathematics (Physics of Sound PHYS 16000 recommended)

3

3

3

3

Social or behavioral sciences

3

3

3

3

Liberal arts electives

15

15

15

15

Total

30

30

30

30

Other Liberal Arts Requirements

  Normal Vocal Keyb. Instr.

Music history

9

9

9

9

History and Literature of Music I-III MUTH 25500, 25600, 35500

        

Total

9

9

9

9

Music Requirements

Each composition student has the following portfolio requirement for graduation: a choral work, a solo voice collection with accompaniment, a solo piano work, a work for one or more strings, a work involving an electronic medium, a chamber work, and a work for a large ensemble (winds, orchestra, or large jazz ensemble).

  Normal Vocal Keyb. Instr.

Composition MUTH 14100 through MUTH 44200

24

24

24

24

Ensemble (at least two choral)

8

8

8

8

Diction

-

4

-

-

Fundamentals of Music Theory+ MUTH 10100

1

1

1

1

Introduction to Musical Styles MUTH 12100

2

2

2

2

Music theory

16

16

16

16

Music Theory I MUTH 12200

        

Music Theory II MUTH 22100

        

Music Theory III MUTH 22200

        

Form and Analysis MUTH 32100

        

Analysis of Music since 1900 MUTH 32200

        

Orchestration MUTH 43700

        

Choral Arranging MUTH 43500

        

Sixteenth-Century Counterpoint MUTH 43100 or Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint MUTH 43200

        

Sight-singing

5

5

5

5

Sight-Singing I MUTH 13300

        

Sight-Singing II MUTH 13400

        

Advanced Sight-Singing III MUTH 23300

        

Advanced Sight-Singing IV MUTH 23400

        

Electroacoustic music §

4

4

4

4

Secondary instruments**

        

Keyboard Musicianship

2

2

2

2

Private piano I-II PFMJ 10302, PFMJ 20302

4

4

6

4

Optional secondary performance area

-

4

2

4

Career Orientation MUMC 16600

1

1

1

1

Introduction to Music Technology MUMC 10300

1

1

1

1

Composition Recital MUTH 49800

2

2

2

2

Conducting

4

4

4

4

Music electives #

11-12

3-4

7-8

7-8

Recital Attendance MUMC 10100 (six semesters required)

0

0

0

0

Total

85

85

85

85

Total for degree

124

124

124

124

** Composition majors must pass a piano proficiency exam by the end of the junior year.

+ Students may fulfill the requirement for Fundamentals of Music Theory by scoring 84 percent or higher on a placement exam administered by the Department of Music Theory, History, and Composition. Students who score below 84 percent on the exam must take the course; those students take the lower number of music electives.

# At least 2 credits from jazz arranging courses or advanced electroacoustic music courses are required.

§ Any two courses in electroacoustic music will fulfill this requirement.

Normal Course Plan

Freshman Year
Fall
Spring

English or writing

3

3

Liberal arts

3

3

Music history

-

3

Ensemble

1

1

(Fundamentals)

(1)

-

Styles/Music Theory I

2

2

Sight-Singing I, II

1.5

1.5

Composition

3

3

Keyboard Musicianship

1

1

Introduction to Music Technology

1

-

Recital attendance

0

0
 

15.5 (16.5)

17.5
Sophomore Year
Fall
Spring

Liberal arts

3

3

Music history

3

3

Private piano

1

1

Ensemble

1

1

Music Theory II, III

2

2

Sight-Singing III, IV

1

1

Composition

3

3

Electroacoustic music

2

2

Career Orientation

-

1

Recital attendance

0

0
 

16

17
Junior Year
Fall
Spring

Private piano

1

1

Liberal arts

3

3

Ensemble

1

1

Music theory

2

2

Composition

3

3

Orchestration

2

-

Choral Arranging

-

2

Music elective

3

3

Recital attendance

0

0
 

15

15
Senior Year
Fall
Spring

Liberal arts

3

3

Ensemble

1

1

Composition

3

3

Conducting

2

2

Counterpoint

2

-

Music elective

3

3(2)

Composition Recital

-

2
 

14

14 (13)

Optional Vocal Emphasis

(Open to composition majors who pass vocal audition)

Freshman Year
Fall
Spring

English or writing

3

3

Liberal arts

3

-

Music history

-

3

Private voice

1

1

Ensemble

1

1

(Fundamentals)

(1)

-

Styles/Music Theory I

2

2

Sight-Singing I, II

1.5

1.5

Composition

3

3

Keyboard Musicianship

1

1

Introduction to Music Technology

1

-

Recital attendance

0

0
 

16.5 (15.5)

15.5
Sophomore Year
Fall
Spring

Music history

3

3

Private voice

1

1

Ensemble

1

1

Diction

2

2

Music Theory II, III

2

2

Sight-Singing III, IV

1

1

Composition

3

3

Electroacoustic music

2

2

Private piano

1

1

Career Orientation

-

1

Recital attendance

0

0
 

16

17
Junior Year
Fall
Spring

Liberal arts

6

3

Ensemble

1

1

Music theory

2

2

Composition

3

3

Private piano

1

1

Orchestration

2

-

Choral Arranging

-

2

Music elective

-

2

Recital attendance

0

0
 

15

14
Senior Year
Fall
Spring

Liberal arts

6

6

Ensemble

1

1

Composition

3

3

Counterpoint

2

-

Conducting

2

2

Music elective

2

-

Composition Recital

-

2
 

16

14

Optional Keyboard Emphasis

(Open to composition majors who pass keyboard audition)

Freshman Year
Fall
Spring

English or writing

3

3

Liberal arts

3

-

Music history

-

3

Private piano

1

1

Ensemble

1

1

(Fundamentals)

(1)

-

Styles/Music Theory I

2

2

Sight-Singing I, II

1.5

1.5

Keyboard Musicianship

1

1

Composition

3

3

Introduction to Music Technology

1

-

Recital attendance

0

0
 

16.5 (17.5)

15.5
Sophomore Year
Fall
Spring

Music history

3

3

Private piano

1

1

Ensemble

1

1

Music Theory II, III

2

2

Sight-Singing III, IV

1

1

Composition

3

3

Electroacoustic music

2

2

Career Orientation

-

1

Recital attendance

0

0

Music electives

2

2
 

15

16
Junior Year
Fall
Spring

Liberal arts

6

3

Private piano

1

1

Ensemble

1

1

Music theory

2

2

Composition

3

3

Music elective

1

3

Orchestration

2

-

Choral Arranging

-

2

Recital attendance

0

0
 

16

15
Senior Year
Fall
Spring

Liberal arts

6

6

Ensemble

1

1

Composition Recital

-

2

Composition

3

3

Counterpoint

2

-

Conducting

2

2

Music elective

2(1)

-
 

16(15)

14

Optional Instrumental Emphasis

(Open to composition majors who pass instrumental audition)

Freshman Year
Fall
Spring

English or writing

3

3

Liberal arts

3

-

Music history

-

3

Private instrument

1

1

Ensemble

1

1

(Fundamentals)

(1)

-

Styles/Music Theory I

2

2

Sight-Singing I, II

1.5

1.5

Keyboard Musicianship

1

1

Composition

3

3

Introduction to Music Technology

1

-

Recital attendance

0

0
 

16.5 (17.5)

15.5
Sophomore Year
Fall
Spring

Music history

3

3

Private instrument

1

1

Private piano

1

1

Ensemble

1

1

Music Theory II, III

2

2

Sight-Singing III, IV

1

1

Composition

3

3

Electroacoustic music

2

2

Career Orientation

-

1

Recital attendance

0

0
 

14

15
Junior Year
Fall
Spring

Liberal arts

6

3

Private piano

1

1

Ensemble

1

1

Music theory

2

2

Music elective

-

2

Composition

3

3

Orchestration

2

-

Choral Arranging

-

2

Recital attendance

0

0
 

15

14
Senior Year
Fall
Spring

Liberal arts

6

6

Ensemble

1

1

Composition

3

3

Counterpoint

2

-

Conducting

2

2

Composition Recital

-

2

Music elective

2

(1)
 

16

15(14)