Bachelor of Music (B.M.) Degree Requirements for Music Composition


Contact Rita Riley, in the School of Music Student Services Office, Room 450 Murphy Hall, with any questions about this degree program.

A printed or PDF copy of this document may be requested from the Student Services Office.

120 credits required (45 at Jr/Sr level 300+)

Effective Fall 2021

Bachelor of Music (B.M.) Degree Check Sheet

KU Core (not fulfilled by Music courses) (21 credits)

CreditsCourse
3Goal 2 Outcome 1: English (GE21)
3Goal 2 Outcome 1: English (GE21)
3Goal 1 Outcome 2: Math (GE12)
3Goal 2 Outcome 2: Communications (GE22) 
3Goal 3N: Natural Science (GE3N)
3Goal 3S: Social Science (GE3S)
3Goal 5: Social Responsibility & Ethics (AE51 or AE52)
5Foreign Language FREN, GERM, or ITAL (2 semesters of the same)
5Foreign Language FREN, GERM, or ITAL (2 semesters of the same)

Music Theory and Composition (22 credits)

CreditsCourse
3MTHC 105 Theory I (Fall only)
1MTHC 106 Aural Skills I (Fall only)
 Fulfills Goal 1 Outcome 1 (GE11):
3MTHC 115 Theory II (Spring only)
1MTHC 116 Aural Skills II (Spring only)
4MTHC 205 Theory III (Fall only)
4MTHC 315 Theory IV (Spring only)
2MTHC 252 Intro to Composition (Fall only)
2MTHC 253 Composition
3MTHC 410 Form & Analysis (Fall only)
3MTHC 433 Advanced Analysis of Contemporary Music (Spring only)
3MTHC 442 Modal Counterpoint (Spring only)
3MTHC 471 Tonal Counterpoint (Fall only)
3MTHC 474 Orchestration I (Fall only)
3MTHC 476 Orchestration II (odd year Spring only)
3MTHC 477 Electro Acoustic Composition I (Fall only)
3MTHC 480 Electro Acoustic Composition II (Spring only)
2MTHC 583 Composition
2MTHC 583 Composition
2MTHC 583 Composition
 Fulfills Goal 6 Outcome 1 with 422 Lessons (AE61):
1MTHC 498 Senior Composition Recital

Musicology (12 credits)

CreditsCourse
 Fulfills Goal 4 Outcome 2 (AE42):
3MUSC 320 Music History I (Fall only)
 Fulfills Goal 3H Arts & Humanities (AE3H):
3MUSC 340 Music History II (Spring only)
3MUSC 440 Music History III (Fall only)
 Fulfills Goal 4 Outcome 1 (AE41):
3MUSC 480 Music History IV (Spring only)

REC 100: 2 semesters S (Satisfactory) (0 credits)

CreditsCourse
0REC 100
0REC 100

Conducting (2 credits)

CreditsCourse
2COND 245 Conducting I

Piano: minimum of PIAN 288 (2-6 credits)

CreditsCourse
1PIAN 144, if needed
1PIAN 148, if needed
2PIAN 284, if needed
2PIAN 288

Applied Music Lessons (for pianists and organists) (16 credits)

CreditsCourse
2121
2121
2221
2221
2321
2321
2421
2422

Applied Music Lessons (for non-keyboard instruments and voice) (18 credits)

CreditsCourse
1121
1121
1221
1221
1321
1321
1421
1422
 Piano, organ, or harpsichord:
 This requirement includes piano proficiency courses (PIAN 144, 148, 284, 288) and piano lessons. Other lessons as approved by your MTHC faculty advisor may fulfill this requirement with a Course Substitution Petition.
8Piano Proficiency and Lessons

Ensembles: 8 semesters (8 credits)

CreditsCourse
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 

Bachelor of Music (B.M.) Degree Plan for Non-Keyboard Instrumentalists and Voice

First Year - Fall Semester (15 credits)

CreditsCourse
3ENGL 101 Composition or any GE21 (English)
3MTHC 105 Theory I (Fall only)
1MTHC 106 Aural Skills I (Spring only)
1PIAN 144, if needed (or PIAN lessons)
0REC 100 (2 semesters)
1121 Lessons
1Ensemble
5Foreign Language (FREN, GERM, ITAL)

First Year - Fall Semester (15 credits)

CreditsCourse
3ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing or any GE21 (English)
3MTHC 115 Theory II (Spring only)
1MTHC 116 Aural Skills II (Spring only)
1PIAN 148, if needed (or PIAN lessons)
0REC 100 (2 semesters)
1121 Lessons
1Ensemble
5Foreign Language (continue the same)

Second Year - Fall Semester (16 credits)

CreditsCourse
3COMS 130 or any GE22
4MTHC 205 Theory III (Fall only)
3MUSC 320 Music History I (Fall only)
2MTHC 252 Intro to Composition
2PIAN 284, if needed (or PIAN lessons)
1221 Lessons
1Ensemble

Second Year - Spring Semester (16 credits)

CreditsCourse
3MATH 101 or any GE12
4MTHC 315 Theory IV (Spring only)
3MUSC 340 Music History II (Spring only)
2MTHC 253 Composition
2PIAN 288 (or PIAN lessons)
1221 Lessons
1Ensemble

Third Year - Fall Semester (15 credits)

CreditsCourse
3MTHC 410 Form & Analysis (Fall only)
3MUSC 440 Music History III (Fall only)
2MTHC 583 Composition
1321 Lessons
1Ensemble
2COND 245 Conducting I
3Natural Science any GE3N

Third Year - Spring Semester (15 credits)

CreditsCourse
3MUSC 480 Music History IV (Spring only)
3MTHC 433 Advanced Analysis of Contemporary Music (Spring only)
3MTHC 442 Modal Counterpoint (Spring only)
2MTHC 583 Composition
2PIAN/ORGN/HPCD lessons
1321 Lessons
1Ensemble

Fourth Year - Fall Semester (16 credits)

CreditsCourse
3MTHC 471 Tonal Counterpoint (Fall only)
2MTHC 583 Composition
3MTHC 474 Orchestration I (Fall only)
3MTHC 477 Electro Acoustic Composition I (Fall only)
1422 Lessons
1Ensemble
3Social Science any GE3S

Fourth Year - Spring Semester (12-14 credits)

CreditsCourse
1MTHC 498 Senior Composition Recital
2MTHC 583 Composition (optional)
3MTHC 476 Orchestration II (Spring only)
3MTHC 480 Electro Acoustic Composition II (Spring only)
1422 Lessons (Senior Recital)
1Ensemble
3Ethics any AE51 or AE52

Bachelor of Music (B.M.) Degree Plan for Keyboard Instrumentalists

First Year - Fall Semester (15 credits)

CreditsCourse
3ENGL 101 Composition or any GE21 (English)
3MTHC 105 Theory I (Fall only)
1MTHC 106 Aural Skills I (Spring only)
0REC 100 (2 semesters)
2PIAN 121 Lessons
1Ensemble
5Foreign Language (FREN, GERM, ITAL)

First Year - Spring Semester (15 credits)

CreditsCourse
3ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing or any GE21 (English)
3MTHC 115 Theory II (Spring only)
1MTHC 116 Aural Skills II (Spring only)
0REC 100 (2 semesters)
2PIAN 121 Lessons
1Ensemble
5Foreign Language (continue the same)

Second Year - Fall Semester (15 credits)

CreditsCourse
3COMS 130 or any GE22 (Communications)
4MTHC 205 Theory III (Fall only)
3MUSC 320 Music History I (Fall only)
2MTHC 252 Intro to Composition
2PIAN 221 Lessons
1Ensemble

Second Year - Spring Semester (15 credits)

CreditsCourse
3MATH 101 or any GE12 (Math)
4MTHC 315 Theory IV (Spring only)
3MUSC 340 Music History II (Spring only)
2MTHC 253 Composition
2PIAN 221 Lessons
1Ensemble

Third Year - Fall Semester (16 credits)

CreditsCourse
3MTHC 410 Form & Analysis (Fall only)
3MUSC 440 Music History III (Fall only)
2MTHC 583 Composition
2PIAN 321 Lessons
1Ensemble
2COND 245 Conducting I
3Natural Science any GE3N

Third Year - Spring Semester (14 credits)

CreditsCourse
3MUSC 480 Music History IV (Spring only)
3MTHC 433 Advanced Analysis of Contemporary Music (Spring only)
3MTHC 442 Modal Counterpoint (Spring only)
2MTHC 583 Composition
2PIAN 321 Lessons
1Ensemble

Fourth Year - Fall Semester (17 credits)

CreditsCourse
3MTHC 471 Tonal Counterpoint (Fall only)
2MTHC 583 Composition
3MTHC 474 Orchestration I (Fall only)
3MTHC 477 Electro Acoustic Composition I (Fall only)
2PIAN 421 Lessons
1Ensemble
3Social Science any GE3S

Fourth Year - Spring Semester (13-15 credits)

CreditsCourse
1MTHC 498 Senior Composition Recital
2MTHC 583 Composition (optional)
3MTHC 476 Orchestration II (Spring only)
3MTHC 480 Electro Acoustic Composition II (Spring only)
2PIAN 422 Lessons (Senior Recital)
1Ensemble
3Ethics any AE51 or AE52