Music Major, Composition Concentration (BMus)

Program Requirements

  • Total Units Required: 68-79
  • Grade Requirement: C- or better; Pass/No Pass grades do not count for the major.

Declaration of this major must be approved by the department before the end of a student's sophomore year. In addition to the required courses, majors must complete a minimum of 12 to 30 units in advanced courses, depending on the area of concentration. Students may earn the BMus degree with concentration in performance, composition, music theory, or music history and culture, or they may pursue a general program that combines two or more of these areas.

Each concentration requires a major senior capstone, such as a thesis, recital, lecture-demonstration, or composition portfolio. All majors must also pass a keyboard proficiency examination.

Required Courses

MUSIC 1240 Classical Theory I & MUSIC 1241 Classical Theory II or MUSIC 1260 Jazz Theory I & MUSIC 1261 Jazz Theory II6
MUSIC 2070Classical Theory III3
MUSIC 3291Music Theory IV: Topics in Music Theory3
MUSIC 1270Musicianship I1
MUSIC 1290Musicianship II1
MUSIC 3014Ethnomusicology3
MUSIC 3015American Popular Music & Media3
MUSIC 3016Topics in Music History & Culture3
MUSIC 3019The Invention of Classical Music3
MUSIC 4141Analysis II3
1 unit of keyboard skills per semester as necessary to complete MUSIC 20811-4
MUSIC 4971 Senior Project: Musicology or Analysis or MUSIC 4972 Senior Capstone: Performance, Composition, or Theory or MUSIC 4973 Senior Honors Capstone: Musicology or Analysis or MUSIC 4974 Honors Project: Performance, Composition, or Theory3

Lesson and Ensemble Requirements

In addition to the courses listed above, BMus students must also register for music lessons (1-2 units) and at least one ensemble (1 unit) every semester once the major has been declared (no later than the second semester of their sophomore year). Note: Students with a performance emphasis must take at least 2 units of music lessons per semester; all other students must take at least 1 unit per semester.

Elective Courses

MUSIC 4001Elementary Techniques in Electronic Music3
MUSIC 4002Advanced Techniques in Electronic Music3
Upper-level music composition (MUSIC 4108, MUSIC 4109; repeatable)12
4000-level music theory electiveAll Music Theory courses at the 4000 level or higher except MUSIC 4001 Elementary Techniques in Electronic Music, MUSIC 4002 Advanced Techniques in Electronic Music, MUSIC 4108 Composition, MUSIC 4109 Composition, and MUSIC 4141 Analysis II6
Total Units24

Additional Information

  • Courses taken Pass/No Pass and courses in which a student earns less than a C- do not fulfill the major requirements.
  • A maximum of 6 credits earned via study abroad and/or transfer are allowed upon department approval.
  • Music majors may take advantage of music-focused study abroad programs in Italy, Ireland, France, South Africa, or other countries upon request and approval. To learn more about these opportunities, please visit the Overseas Programs page of the Arts & Sciences website.

Becoming a Music Major

Students who plan to declare a major in music should consult with the department as early as possible. Students interested in pursuing a Music major should begin the appropriate course sequences in music theory, music history, keyboard skills, and musicianship. All Music majors must complete a senior capstone, which could take the form of a thesis, recital, lecture-demonstration, composition portfolio, or 4000-level course.

Senior Honors

Music majors are encouraged to work toward Latin Honors. To qualify, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.65 at the end of the sixth semester, complete all core Music requirements by the end of the junior year, and satisfactorily complete a senior honors capstone project, including an oral examination with a faculty committee. Project proposals are due at the end of the junior year.

Contact Info

Contact:Jessica Flannigan
Phone:314-935-5566
Email:flanniganj@wustl.edu
Website: http://music.wustl.edu/undergraduate