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)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | Goal 2 Outcome 1: English (GE21) |
| 3 | Goal 2 Outcome 1: English (GE21) |
| 3 | Goal 1 Outcome 2: Math (GE12) |
| 3 | Goal 2 Outcome 2: Communications (GE22) |
| 3 | Goal 3N: Natural Science (GE3N) |
| 3 | Goal 3S: Social Science (GE3S) |
| 3 | Goal 5: Social Responsibility & Ethics (AE51 or AE52) |
| 5 | Foreign Language FREN, GERM, or ITAL (2 semesters of the same) |
| 5 | Foreign Language FREN, GERM, or ITAL (2 semesters of the same) |
Music Theory and Composition (22 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | MTHC 105 Theory I (Fall only) |
| 1 | MTHC 106 Aural Skills I (Fall only) |
| Fulfills Goal 1 Outcome 1 (GE11): | |
| 3 | MTHC 115 Theory II (Spring only) |
| 1 | MTHC 116 Aural Skills II (Spring only) |
| 4 | MTHC 205 Theory III (Fall only) |
| 4 | MTHC 315 Theory IV (Spring only) |
| 2 | MTHC 252 Intro to Composition (Fall only) |
| 2 | MTHC 253 Composition |
| 3 | MTHC 410 Form & Analysis (Fall only) |
| 3 | MTHC 433 Advanced Analysis of Contemporary Music (Spring only) |
| 3 | MTHC 442 Modal Counterpoint (Spring only) |
| 3 | MTHC 471 Tonal Counterpoint (Fall only) |
| 3 | MTHC 474 Orchestration I (Fall only) |
| 3 | MTHC 476 Orchestration II (odd year Spring only) |
| 3 | MTHC 477 Electro Acoustic Composition I (Fall only) |
| 3 | MTHC 480 Electro Acoustic Composition II (Spring only) |
| 2 | MTHC 583 Composition |
| 2 | MTHC 583 Composition |
| 2 | MTHC 583 Composition |
| Fulfills Goal 6 Outcome 1 with 422 Lessons (AE61): | |
| 1 | MTHC 498 Senior Composition Recital |
Musicology (12 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| Fulfills Goal 4 Outcome 2 (AE42): | |
| 3 | MUSC 320 Music History I (Fall only) |
| Fulfills Goal 3H Arts & Humanities (AE3H): | |
| 3 | MUSC 340 Music History II (Spring only) |
| 3 | MUSC 440 Music History III (Fall only) |
| Fulfills Goal 4 Outcome 1 (AE41): | |
| 3 | MUSC 480 Music History IV (Spring only) |
REC 100: 2 semesters S (Satisfactory) (0 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 0 | REC 100 |
| 0 | REC 100 |
Conducting (2 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 2 | COND 245 Conducting I |
Piano: minimum of PIAN 288 (2-6 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 1 | PIAN 144, if needed |
| 1 | PIAN 148, if needed |
| 2 | PIAN 284, if needed |
| 2 | PIAN 288 |
Applied Music Lessons (for pianists and organists) (16 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 2 | 121 |
| 2 | 121 |
| 2 | 221 |
| 2 | 221 |
| 2 | 321 |
| 2 | 321 |
| 2 | 421 |
| 2 | 422 |
Applied Music Lessons (for non-keyboard instruments and voice) (18 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 1 | 121 |
| 1 | 121 |
| 1 | 221 |
| 1 | 221 |
| 1 | 321 |
| 1 | 321 |
| 1 | 421 |
| 1 | 422 |
| 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. | |
| 8 | Piano Proficiency and Lessons |
Ensembles: 8 semesters (8 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 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)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | ENGL 101 Composition or any GE21 (English) |
| 3 | MTHC 105 Theory I (Fall only) |
| 1 | MTHC 106 Aural Skills I (Spring only) |
| 1 | PIAN 144, if needed (or PIAN lessons) |
| 0 | REC 100 (2 semesters) |
| 1 | 121 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
| 5 | Foreign Language (FREN, GERM, ITAL) |
First Year - Fall Semester (15 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing or any GE21 (English) |
| 3 | MTHC 115 Theory II (Spring only) |
| 1 | MTHC 116 Aural Skills II (Spring only) |
| 1 | PIAN 148, if needed (or PIAN lessons) |
| 0 | REC 100 (2 semesters) |
| 1 | 121 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
| 5 | Foreign Language (continue the same) |
Second Year - Fall Semester (16 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | COMS 130 or any GE22 |
| 4 | MTHC 205 Theory III (Fall only) |
| 3 | MUSC 320 Music History I (Fall only) |
| 2 | MTHC 252 Intro to Composition |
| 2 | PIAN 284, if needed (or PIAN lessons) |
| 1 | 221 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
Second Year - Spring Semester (16 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | MATH 101 or any GE12 |
| 4 | MTHC 315 Theory IV (Spring only) |
| 3 | MUSC 340 Music History II (Spring only) |
| 2 | MTHC 253 Composition |
| 2 | PIAN 288 (or PIAN lessons) |
| 1 | 221 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
Third Year - Fall Semester (15 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | MTHC 410 Form & Analysis (Fall only) |
| 3 | MUSC 440 Music History III (Fall only) |
| 2 | MTHC 583 Composition |
| 1 | 321 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
| 2 | COND 245 Conducting I |
| 3 | Natural Science any GE3N |
Third Year - Spring Semester (15 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | MUSC 480 Music History IV (Spring only) |
| 3 | MTHC 433 Advanced Analysis of Contemporary Music (Spring only) |
| 3 | MTHC 442 Modal Counterpoint (Spring only) |
| 2 | MTHC 583 Composition |
| 2 | PIAN/ORGN/HPCD lessons |
| 1 | 321 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
Fourth Year - Fall Semester (16 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | MTHC 471 Tonal Counterpoint (Fall only) |
| 2 | MTHC 583 Composition |
| 3 | MTHC 474 Orchestration I (Fall only) |
| 3 | MTHC 477 Electro Acoustic Composition I (Fall only) |
| 1 | 422 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
| 3 | Social Science any GE3S |
Fourth Year - Spring Semester (12-14 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 1 | MTHC 498 Senior Composition Recital |
| 2 | MTHC 583 Composition (optional) |
| 3 | MTHC 476 Orchestration II (Spring only) |
| 3 | MTHC 480 Electro Acoustic Composition II (Spring only) |
| 1 | 422 Lessons (Senior Recital) |
| 1 | Ensemble |
| 3 | Ethics any AE51 or AE52 |
Bachelor of Music (B.M.) Degree Plan for Keyboard Instrumentalists
First Year - Fall Semester (15 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | ENGL 101 Composition or any GE21 (English) |
| 3 | MTHC 105 Theory I (Fall only) |
| 1 | MTHC 106 Aural Skills I (Spring only) |
| 0 | REC 100 (2 semesters) |
| 2 | PIAN 121 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
| 5 | Foreign Language (FREN, GERM, ITAL) |
First Year - Spring Semester (15 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing or any GE21 (English) |
| 3 | MTHC 115 Theory II (Spring only) |
| 1 | MTHC 116 Aural Skills II (Spring only) |
| 0 | REC 100 (2 semesters) |
| 2 | PIAN 121 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
| 5 | Foreign Language (continue the same) |
Second Year - Fall Semester (15 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | COMS 130 or any GE22 (Communications) |
| 4 | MTHC 205 Theory III (Fall only) |
| 3 | MUSC 320 Music History I (Fall only) |
| 2 | MTHC 252 Intro to Composition |
| 2 | PIAN 221 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
Second Year - Spring Semester (15 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | MATH 101 or any GE12 (Math) |
| 4 | MTHC 315 Theory IV (Spring only) |
| 3 | MUSC 340 Music History II (Spring only) |
| 2 | MTHC 253 Composition |
| 2 | PIAN 221 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
Third Year - Fall Semester (16 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | MTHC 410 Form & Analysis (Fall only) |
| 3 | MUSC 440 Music History III (Fall only) |
| 2 | MTHC 583 Composition |
| 2 | PIAN 321 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
| 2 | COND 245 Conducting I |
| 3 | Natural Science any GE3N |
Third Year - Spring Semester (14 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | MUSC 480 Music History IV (Spring only) |
| 3 | MTHC 433 Advanced Analysis of Contemporary Music (Spring only) |
| 3 | MTHC 442 Modal Counterpoint (Spring only) |
| 2 | MTHC 583 Composition |
| 2 | PIAN 321 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
Fourth Year - Fall Semester (17 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 3 | MTHC 471 Tonal Counterpoint (Fall only) |
| 2 | MTHC 583 Composition |
| 3 | MTHC 474 Orchestration I (Fall only) |
| 3 | MTHC 477 Electro Acoustic Composition I (Fall only) |
| 2 | PIAN 421 Lessons |
| 1 | Ensemble |
| 3 | Social Science any GE3S |
Fourth Year - Spring Semester (13-15 credits)
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| 1 | MTHC 498 Senior Composition Recital |
| 2 | MTHC 583 Composition (optional) |
| 3 | MTHC 476 Orchestration II (Spring only) |
| 3 | MTHC 480 Electro Acoustic Composition II (Spring only) |
| 2 | PIAN 422 Lessons (Senior Recital) |
| 1 | Ensemble |
| 3 | Ethics any AE51 or AE52 |