What is the Bachelor of Music in Combination with an Outside Field (BMO) degree?
- A BMO degree is a Bachelor of Music (BM) degree with the full core of music requirements and expectations, as with any other BM degree.
- A BMO includes an Outside Field consisting of a set of 24 credits approved by the student’s outside field advisor, the Composition and Music Studies department chair, and the associate dean of music.
How does a student choose courses for an outside field?
- Students consult with their outside field advisor to choose a collection of courses that best suits their goals for their field studies.
- They can build an outside field by beginning with the courses in a minor and adding to it, or by putting together a set of courses not related to a minor at all. Courses counting toward the Outside Field cannot also fulfill ICC, ICSM, capstone or Academic Writing requirements. However, courses in the outside field may satisfy Diversity (DV), Writing Intensive (WI), and/or Quantitative Literacy (QL) attributes
What happens if a student makes an outside field plan and then some of those classes aren't offered or don't fit into their schedule later on?
- The student can come up with an alternate plan (working with their outside field advisor) and submit a new form at any time.
How can I be helpful to my BMO advisee?
- Work with your advising to make sure that they are completing their music requirements and progressing through the degree at a suitable rate. In the first two years, encourage the student to take courses outside of music (approximately one course each semester) in areas that they might want to explore as a possible outside field. Exploration is a positive goal during this time.
- Encourage the student to find an outside field advisor.
- Remind the student to submit the BMO Outside Field Approval form, declaring their outside field plan, by the end of their sophomore year. If you wish you may review the blank form here.