Music Theory (BM)

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Departmental Admission Requirements

Students in this unit are admitted directly into their degree program.

General Education Requirements

General Education Requirements 1,231
The following courses are required by this program and should be used to fulfill the respective General Education Requirement:
Music in World Cultures - D2, SB
African-American Music - D1, AH

All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

School of Music Requirements
MUS 141Theory I 34
MUS 142Theory II 34
MUS 241Theory III4
MUS 242Theory IV4
MUS 361Music Literature I (1000-1750)3
MUS 362Music Literature II (Classical & Early Romantic Music)3
MUS 363Music Literature III (1860-present)3
MUS 109Major Ensembles (eight 1-hour courses) 48
MUS 97Recital Attendance (four semesters of “S”)0
MUS 131Piano Class 5,61
MUS 132Piano Class 5,61
MUS 231Piano Class III 5,61
MUS 347Analysis I2
MUS 111Principal Applied Study2
MUS 112Principal Applied Study2
MUS 211Principal Applied Study2
MUS 212Principal Applied Study2
MUS 100Introduction to Music Study1
MUS 297Piano Proficiency0
Minimum Total Hours47

Program/Major Requirements

Music Theory Requirements
MUS 145
MUS 146
Secondary Composition
Secondary Composition
4
MUS 267Music Theory Seminar (six 1/2 hour courses)3
MUS 552Pedagogy of Theory2
One course chosen from the following in consultation with the advisor and private instructor:2
Orchestral Scoring
Band/Choral Scoring
Advanced Instrumental Scoring
MUS 348Analysis II2
MUS 547
MUS 548
Chromatic Harmony and Analysis
Post-Tonal Theory and Analysis
4
MUS 549
MUS 550
Renaissance Counterpoint
Baroque Counterpoint
4
MUS 270Creative Audio Recording and Production Techniques2
MUS 498Thesis Guidance - CUE (CUE)4
Minimum Total Hours27
Supporting Courses
MUS 359Conducting I2
MUS 325
MUS 326
Arts Instrument
Arts Instrument (&)
2
MUS 425
MUS 426
Arts Instrument
Arts Instrument (&)
2
MUS 129Cardinal Singers0.5
or MUS 119 Minor Ensembles
Electives 84.5
GER 121German Language and Culture I4
Minimum Total Hours15

Upper Division Assessment

All students enrolled in a music degree program will be reviewed at the approximate midpoint of the selected program in order for students to achieve Upper Division status. Students must meet the standards of this review to register for 400-level courses in music. Both the elements and standards of the review are established by the faculty and include credit for MUS 242 Theory IV or Analysis (MUS 347 for BA General; MUS 349 for BA Jazz Studies; MUS 350 for BA Music & New Media); MUS 361; 4 semesters of Applied Instrument at the course numbers required for the degree; Piano Proficiency Examination; MUS 97 Recital Attendance with a grade of S for 4 semesters; Ensemble participation; cumulative 2.5 GPA (good standing); minimum of 48 credit hours completed; pass ENGL 101 or ENGL 105; and 3 additional General Education/Cardinal Core courses.

Additional specific elements and standards appropriate to specific degree programs in jazz studies (including jazz performance, music education and music therapy with tracks in jazz studies, and the BA in jazz studies), music composition, music education, music history, instrumental and vocal performance, pedagogy, music theory, and music therapy are required of students in order to achieve Upper Division status and to continue in the degree program.  Specific degree requirements are determined by the concentration and area faculties and are outlined in the Undergraduate Student Handbook.

Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement)
Requirement fulfilled by completing:
Thesis Guidance - CUE
1

Students are required to take MUH 214 African-American Music - D1, AH and MUH 205 Music in World Cultures - D2, SB.

2

MUH courses will not be accepted as music electives or cardinal core courses with the exception of ANTH 205/MUH 205 and PAS 214/MUH 214.

3

Students who do not pass the computer-based Fundamentals Test prior to the beginning of the fall semester are required to enroll in MUS 91 Fundamentals of Music I for 0 credit concurrently with MUS 141 Theory I.  Students who do not pass MUS 141, and students who enter the School of Music in January and do not place into MUS 142 Theory II, must enroll in MUS 92 Musicianship I for the spring semester.  Credits for MUS 92 do not count toward the degree.

4

Strings take section 01, others solely dependent on the ensemble audition.

5

If applied principal is piano, Piano Class is replaced with 3 hours of electives. For students with a piano background, three semesters of MUS 121-MUS 221 (Secondary Piano) may be substituted.

6

Students will take the Piano Proficiency Examination at the end of MUS 231.  Any student not completing the Piano Proficiency Examination will be required to take MUS 232 until the proficiency exam requirement is complete.
 

Students must be enrolled continuously in Piano Class until their requirement has been completed.  Those who pass the Piano Proficiency Examination before the end of the third semester of Piano Class may replace the requirement with electives or with secondary piano if faculty load permits.  Entering students who have a background in piano may register for MUS 297 Piano Proficiency for one semester with approval of the Keyboard Area.

7

Theory majors are strongly advised to take a second semester of German.

8

Music electives in any Bachelor of Music degree should be chosen from courses in Music History, Music Theory/Composition, Music Education, Music Literature, Music Pedagogy, Music Therapy, Jazz, a secondary applied area, or a non-required ensemble. Courses beyond the degree requirement in the student’s major applied area or in the required major ensemble(s) are not appropriate. MUH courses will not be accepted as music electives. School of Music students may count up to two one-hour Physical Education courses toward the general elective requirement.

Flight Plan

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallHours
MUS 100 Introduction to Music Study 1
MUS 111 Principal Applied Study 2
MUS 109 Major Ensembles 1
MUS 141 Theory I 4
MUS 97 Recital Attendance 0
MUS 131 Piano Class (or Music Elective) 1
MUS 145 Secondary Composition 2
ENGL 101 Introduction to College Writing - WC 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S 3
 Hours17
Spring
MUS 112 Principal Applied Study 2
MUS 109 Major Ensembles 1
MUS 142 Theory II 4
MUS 97 Recital Attendance 0
MUS 132 Piano Class 1
MUS 146 Secondary Composition 2
ENGL 102 Intermediate College Writing - WC 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR 3
 Hours16
Year 2
Fall
MUS 211 Principal Applied Study 2
MUS 109 Major Ensembles 1
MUS 241 Theory III 4
MUS 97 Recital Attendance 0
MUS 231 Piano Class III (or Music Elective) 1
MUS 297 Piano Proficiency 0
MUS 267 Music Theory Seminar 0.5
MUH 205 Music in World Cultures - D2, SB 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC 3
 Hours14.5
Spring
MUS 212 Principal Applied Study 2
MUS 109 Major Ensembles 1
MUS 242 Theory IV 4
MUS 361 Music Literature I (1000-1750) 3
MUS 97 Recital Attendance 0
MUS 267 Music Theory Seminar 0.5
MUS 359 Conducting I 2
MUS 270 Creative Audio Recording and Production Techniques 2
 Hours14.5
Year 3
Fall
MUS 325 Arts Instrument 1
MUS 109 Major Ensembles 1
MUS 362 Music Literature II (Classical & Early Romantic Music) 3
MUS 267 Music Theory Seminar 0.5
MUS 345
Orchestral Scoring
or Band/Choral Scoring
or Advanced Instrumental Scoring
2
MUS 347 Analysis I 2
MUS 119
Minor Ensembles
or Cardinal Singers
0.5
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences Lab - SL 1
Music or General Elective 1
 Hours15
Spring
MUS 326 Arts Instrument 1
MUS 109 Major Ensembles 1
MUS 363 Music Literature III (1860-present) 3
MUS 267 Music Theory Seminar 0.5
Band/Choral Scoring (Only if student did not take MUS 345 or MUS 545)
MUS 348 Analysis II 2
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH 3
MUH 214 African-American Music - D1, AH 3
 Hours13.5
Year 4
Fall
MUS 425 Arts Instrument 1
MUS 109 Major Ensembles 1
MUS 549 Renaissance Counterpoint 2
MUS 548 Post-Tonal Theory and Analysis 2
MUS 267 Music Theory Seminar 0.5
Music or General Electives 2
GER 121 German Language and Culture I 4
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH 3
 Hours15.5
Spring
MUS 426 Arts Instrument 1
MUS 109 Major Ensembles 1
MUS 550 Baroque Counterpoint 2
MUS 547 Chromatic Harmony and Analysis 2
MUS 267 Music Theory Seminar 0.5
MUS 552 Pedagogy of Theory 2
Music or General Electives 1.5
MUS 498 Thesis Guidance - CUE (CUE) 4
 Hours14
 Minimum Total Hours120

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan.  What-if reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

  1. Log into your ULink account.
  2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
  3. Select the appropriate report.
    1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
    2. To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
    3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.