Music, BA

The music major is founded on a balance in the core training between the fields of music history, ethnomusicology, theory, and composition. Through a series of requirements, you will acquire a foundation that introduces you to the sheer range of musical traditions available for study and to a series of specialist skills and tools that facilitate and deepen that study.

The minimum total course units for graduation in this major is 34.0. Double majors may entail more course units.

For information about the General Education requirements, please visit the College of Arts & Sciences Curriculum page.

College General Education Requirements and Free Electives
Foundational Approaches + Sectors1 + Free Electives20
Music History Core Courses
MUSC 2300Introduction to European Art Music1
MUSC 2400Introduction to the Music Life in America1
MUSC 2500Introduction to Ethnomusicology1
Music Theory Core Courses
MUSC 2700Theory and Musicianship I1.5
MUSC 2710Theory and Musicianship II1.5
Tier Two Courses
Select 4 course units of Tier Two courses4
Historical Eras and Topics: Earlier Periods
Historical Eras and Topics: Later Periods
Themes in Music History
Performers: Music, Rhetoric, Performance
Performers: Dancers and Musicians
Performers: The Singer ca. 800-1400
Performers: Celebrity
Studies in African-American Music
Performance, Analysis, History
Music, Religion, Ritual in South and Southeast Asia.
Accordions of the New World
Music and Performance of Africa
Caribbean Music and Diaspora
Latin American Music
Theory and Musicianship III
Composition I: Historical Practices
Composition II: Contemporary Practices
Orchestration
Modular Electronic Music Systems & Performance
Recording Music: Theory & Methods
Composition for Musicians
Tier Three Courses
Select 2 course units of Tier Three courses2
Seminar in Music History
Seminar in Ethnomusicology
Seminar in Theory & Composition
Any Graduate course MUSC 5080 and above
Performance Requirement
Select 2 course units of Performance Requirement courses2
Ensemble Performance
Marian Anderson Performance Program
Marian Anderson Performance Program
Marian Anderson Group Performance Program
Marian Anderson Group Performance Program
Total Course Units34
1

You may count no more than one course toward both a Major and a Sector requirement. For Exceptions, check the Policy Statement.

Honors

Applicants must have completed one Guided Reading course, have a G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher, and complete a research paper.

Guided Reading Courses
MUSC 4097Honors Thesis (sem1/.5 c.u.)0.5
MUSC 4098Honor's Thesis (Sem2/.5 c.u.)0.5

 


The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.