B.A. in Humanities: Music Composition
See the BA in Humanities: Music Composition Advising Worksheet.
Music composition involves the creation of original music with a comprehensive study of compositional technique, music theory, music history, and an analysis of music literature of all types and styles. Further study in electronic music includes the use of computers and other electronic means of music creation.
The student in enrolled in music composition as a concentration area will take four semesters of coursework in music theory and music history, perform in university ensembles, and receive four semesters of private one-on-one lessons in composition with faculty. The program culminates in the review and performance of original music by the student prepared in careful consultation with their primary composition instructor.
Degree Requirements
- You must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours, of which 100 must be in the Arts and Sciences.
- You must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) on 4.0 scale. A course taken to fulfill requirements of the major must be completed with a grade of C or better, and the grade point average for all courses in the major must be C (2.0) or better.
- A minimum of 36 credits must be in courses at the 300 and 400 levels.
- You must complete a minimum of 24 credits at Indiana University East, and at least 15 credits in the major must be completed at Indiana University East.
General Education (39 cr)
Composition & Communication (9)
- ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition I
- Choose one secondary Composition course:
- Choose one Communication course:
- SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking
- CMCL-C 223 Business Communication
College-level Mathematics (3)
Natural Science & Mathematics (9)
- Choose one Natural Science with lab:
Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Astronomy, Biology, Physical Geography
- Choose enough additional Natural Science or Mathematics courses to complete 9 credits
(The course used for the College-Level Mathematics requirement above may not be used for this requirement)
Humanities & Fine Arts (9)
- Choose 9 credits from at least 2 of the following disciplines:
Fine Art, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, English, Theater, Music, Foreign Language, Telecommunications.
(Only one studio course)
Behavioral & Social Sciences (9)
- Choose 9 credits from at least 2 of the following disciplines:
Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Political Science, Social Geography (G110 and higher), Criminal Justice
Additional Requirements (15-17 cr)
First-Year Seminar (0-2)
Students entering the program with less than 12 credit hours of transferable credit are required to complete the First Year Seminar (UCOL-U 101).Information Literacy (0)
- Satisfied by MUS-K 361 below.
World Languages & Cultures (12)
This requirement may be met by our World Language courses in one of the following ways:
- Four courses in sequence in a single non-English language
- Three non-English language courses (with at least two in sequence) and one culture course taught in English
- Two courses in sequence in two different non-English languages (totaling 4 courses)
- Two courses in seqeuence in one non-English language and two culture courses taught in English.
Senior Project (3)
Consult with your advisor.
Concentration Requirements (66 cr)
Courses applied to general education or distribution may not be counted toward the concentration. Courses counted toward the concentration must be taken for a letter grade. At least 36 hours of the curriculum must be at the 300 level or higher, including 15 at the 300 level of the major.
Core Courses: Music Theory (16)
- MUS-T 101 Introduction to Music - Remedial prerequisite if needed.
- MUS-T 113 Music Theory I
- MUS-T 114 Music Theory II
- MUS-T 115 Sight-Singing and Aural Perception I
- MUS-T 116 Sight-Singing and Aural Perception II
- MUS-T 213 Music Theory III
- MUS-T 214 Music Theory IV
- MUS-T 215 Sight-Singing and Aural Perception III
- MUS-T 216 Sight-Singing and Aural Perception IV
Core Courses: Music History & Literature (16)
- MUS-I 101 Literature and Structure 1
- MUS-I 102 Literature and Structure 2
- MUS-M 403 History of Music I
- MUS-M 404 History of Music II
- MUS-M 450 Music of the 20th Century I (PENDING)
- MUS-M 451 Music of the 20th Century II (PENDING)
Composition Track (34)
- MUS-K 300 Composition Concentration (4 semesters min.)
- MUS-K 415 Composition Seminar (PENDING)
- MUS-K132 Composition Workshop
- MUS-K 140 Music Notation Workshop
- MUS-K 240 Instrumentation Workshop
- MUS-K 340 Orchestration and Arranging I (PENDING)
- MUS-K 440 Orchestration and Arranging II (PENDING)
- MUS-K 361 Introduction to MIDI and Computer Music
- MUS-K 430 Electronic and Computer Music I
- MUS-K 431 Electronic and Computer Music II
Other Requirements
- MUS-P 110 Beginning Piano Class - Remedial prerequisite if needed
- MUS-V 101 Beginning Voice Class - Remedial prerequisite if needed
- Secondary Applied Area (2 semesters, 6 credits min. at 200 level or higher)
- Music Electives (as needed, 200 level or higher)
- Ensemble (4 semesters with at least 2 enrolled in Chorus, MUS-X 070)
- Undergraduate Composition Thesis
- Final Capstone Project: Composition Portfolio: 45+ mins. of music
The student must complete a minimum of four semesters of private, applied instruction in composition at the concentration level. In addition, the student will concurrently enroll in K410 for each semester taking applied composition instruction. The student must also complete a minimum of four semesters of ensemble.
As determined by the primary music advisor and director of music studies any remedial or prerequisite music theory and music history courses, noted above, must be taken before enrolling in the primary music theory and music history course sequences. Remedial or prerequisite courses will not count toward the concentration area total but will count toward overall degree completion.
Music electives will be counted toward program requirements only at the 200 level or higher. Electives are chosen in consultation with the primary area advisor or the director of music studies. Composition students with an emphasis in electronic music are advised to take Electronic Studio Resources I and II (MUS K-403 and MUS-K404) as part of their music electives.
The student will submit a final composition project (thesis) and cumulative portfolio of work upon completion of all coursework. The portfolio will consist of a minimum of forty-five (45) minutes of original music composed by the student while in residency.
The Director of Music studies reserves the right to replace any of the courses above on a case by case basis pending course availability.
