The major in music---
Thirteen courses, with grades of C- or better, are required. Students
may choose either the general music major or one of three specialized
tracks: American popular music, ethnomusicology/world music, or musical
theater.
For all music
majors, the following core of courses is required:
- MUSC 113. World Music
- MUSC 201. Diatonic Harmonic Practice
- MUSC 202. Chromatic Harmonic Practice
- MUSC 311. The History of Western Music I
- MUSC 312. The History of Western Music II
- MUSC 313. Music of the 20th Century
- A 400-level senior exercise
(senior recital, project, thesis, presentation, or seminar)
In
addition, there are specialized requirements for the general
music major and for each of three optional tracks.
General music major
- Four elective courses in music, at least one from any one of
the following categories:
- Topics in world music: MUSC 214,
215, 216
- Topics in popular music: MUSC 117,
218, 224,
272, 274
- Music in culture and society: MUSC 150,
224
- At least four semesters of participation in department performance courses
- MUSC 420. Advanced Topics in Music History
American popular music track
- MUSC 218. American Popular Music
- MUSC 224. Music of Black American Women
- MUSC 274. Jazz: 1900 to the Present
- One American studies course, 200 level or higher, approved in advance by the student's adviser
- At least four semesters of participation in department performance courses
Ethnomusicology/world music track
- MUSC 222. Investigating Music
and Culture
- One other course in ethnomusicology
- One course in anthropology, approved in advance
by the student's adviser
- One course in a relevant geographical or cultural
area, approved in advance by the student's adviser
- At least four semesters of participation in
MUSC 111. World Music Ensemble
- A 400-level ethnomusicology-based senior project or thesis
Musical theater track
- MUSC 272. Contemporary Musical Theater
- MUSC 218. American Popular Music or
MUSC 274. Jazz: 1900 to the Present
- One course in acting, approved in advance by the student's adviser
- One course in dance technique, approved in advance by the student's adviser
- Participation in one musical theater production in each of
four different semesters by means of enrollment in MUSC 119
All music majors must work closely
with their adviser to arrange for a proper choice of electives
and sequencing of courses. Students contemplating the major
should, if possible, take MUSC 101
in the first year; MUSC 201,
202, and 311
in the sophomore year; and MUSC 312
and 313 in the junior year.
Credit
for musical performance will be granted in the following
courses: MUSC 102,
105, 107,
109, 111,
119, and 407.
All these except the last invite repeated enrollment;
simultaneous enrollment in these courses may not exceed one
course credit. No more than two course credits in musical
performance may be counted toward fulfillment of the
credit-requirement for the major in music
(MUSC 407 is not subject to this
restriction).
The
Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by one
of the following courses:
- MUSC 222. Investigating Music and Culture
- MUSC 224. The Music of Black American Women
- MUSC 311. The History of Western Music I
- MUSC 312. The History of Western Music II
Cognate courses---
Because of the diversity inherent in the discipline, study, and
practice of music, it is difficult to isolate specific courses
or areas as being preferentially cognate. For example, those
students interested in music's relations to other performing
arts would be directed towards courses in theater and dance;
those concerned with music as a force in society might consider
courses in anthropology, educational studies, or international
studies; those fascinated by music's acoustical properties or
its application to computers should investigate courses in physics,
mathematics, or engineering; those pursuing liturgy-related
studies should seek courses in religion. Appropriate cognate
courses should be determined in consultation with the adviser
at the time a student decides to declare the major.
Particularly
helpful to any music major's curriculum would be an understanding
of foreign languages (especially Spanish, German, French,
Italian, or Latin) and a basic grounding in world history.
Honors---Honors
in music are awarded based on distinguished performance in the
major, as evaluated by the entire music faculty.
The minor in music
The minor in music is designed
to introduce students to a range of topics in music that
includes the fundamentals of music theory as well as
traditions in world, Western, and American popular music.
Students who elect the minor in music will also perform in
one of the department's numerous ensembles for at least
two semesters.
The
minor consists of six courses:
- One course in music practices and musicianship
(MUSC 101 or
201)
- One course in music history and literature or
repertoire and listening (MUSC 121,
264, 266)
- One course in music's intersection with culture,
class, gender, or politics (MUSC 113,
150, 215,
218, 219,
223, 224,
274)
- Two elective courses in the department, approved by the chair
- Two semesters of performance activities.
Students may pursue a track in either
world music or American popular music within the minor. The
track in world music consists of the following courses:
MUSC 101 or 201;
MUSC 121, 264,
or 266; MUSC 113;
two among MUSC 215,
219, 221,
and 222; and two semesters of
performance in a world music ensemble. The track in American
popular music consists of the following courses:
MUSC 101 or 201;
MUSC 121, 264,
or 266; MUSC 218,
224, and 274;
and two semesters of performance activities.