BACHELOR OF MUSIC WITH A MAJOR IN COMPOSITION

Degree Coordinator: Dr. Phillip Magnuson

WHAT IS THE MUSIC COMPOSITION DEGREE PROGRAM?
This degree is constructed to develop majors into composers of vision, depth, and experience. Writing music is a highly subjective field, and requires a knowledge of all facets of music making in order to be a successful composer.

WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE MUSIC COMPOSITION DEGREE PROGRAM?
Composition majors are guided to learn from music history, acquaint themselves with the present, and form a concept for their future works. They are encouraged to develop creative, critical, esthetic, and intellectual musical skills. Graduates from this program should plan on continuing their musical growth in a reputable graduate degree program.

Listed below are the required courses for a major in composition.

MUSIC REQUIREMENTS (87)

• Basic Theory (16)
  
  • MUS 111-114 Theory and Aural Skills I (8)
  • MUS 211-214 Theory and Aural Skills II (8)
• Theory/Composition Requirements (28)
  • MUS 121-122 Composition I (2)
  • MUS 221-222 Composition II (2)
  • MUS 314 Score Reading (2)
  • MUS 316 or 318 Orchestration or Arranging (2)
  • MUS 321-322 Composition III (4)
  • MUS 416 Advanced Orchestration (2)
  • MUS 421-422 Composition IV (4)
  • Theory/Composition electives (10)
    (MUS 440 recommended)
• Music History and Literature (9)
  • MUS 301-302 Music History I and II (6)
  • Elective (3)
• Conducting (4)
  • MUS 240 Fundamentals of Conducting (2)
  • MUS 345 or 346 Advanced Conducting (2)
• Performance Studies (12)
  • MUS 399 or 499 Major performance area
    (Must include piano performance or MUS 296-299)
• Ensembles (8)
  • MUS 491 or 492 Orchestra or Wind Ensemble (2)
  • MUS 493 Chorale (2)
  • Electives (4)
• Music Electives (10)
• Recital Requirement: Each major will present a minimum of one-half recital during the junior year and one full recital during the senior year.
• Students are expected to attend and perform 7 semesters on student recitals (MUS 200).

UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS (49)

• Humanities Base
  • ENG 102 or 114 or 198 (3)
  • HST 101 or 102 or 198 (3)
  • PHL 103 (3)
  • REL 103 (3)
• General Education Requirements
  Arts Cluster:
  • Arts/Language: MUS 302
  • Historical Study: MUS 301
  • PHL 325 Philosophy of Music (3)
  • One additional Philosophy/Religion course (3)
  • Social Science: (recommended) PSY 375 (3)
  • Physical/Life Sciences: Elective (3)
• Basic Skills
  • ASI 150 First-Year Experience (1)
  • CMM 101 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3)
  • ENG 101 College Composition (3) (only if ENG 102 is taken for Humanities Base)
  • Math (3) (not MTH 102, 204, or 205)
  • Social Science (3)
  • Physical/Life Science (3)
  • Humanities Elective (3) (Beyond Music courses)
  • General Electives (6)
    (Coursework in computers is recommended)

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