Music Composition, B.Mus. Four-Year Degree Map for Bulletin Year 2023-2024

First Year

Fall Classes - 16 credits Credits Spring Classes - 15 credits Credits
ENGL 1010: English Composition I
Pathways Required Core
3 ENGL 1012: English Composition II
Pathways Required Core
3
Math & Quantitative Reasoning
Pathways Required Core
3 Life & Physical Sciences
Pathways Required Core
3
MUSC 1300: Its Language, History, and Culture
Major (Also satisfies Pathways Creative Expression)
3 MUSC 3235: Theory I: Eighteenth-Century Studies
Major
3
MUSC 1400: Fundamentals of Music
Major (Also satisfies Pathways Creative Expression)
3 MUSC 3211: Introductory Studies in Musicianship: Ear Training I
Major
2
MUSC 3221: Keyboard workshop I
Major
1 MUSC 3222: Keyboard Workshop II
Major
1
MUSC 3251: Composition I
Major
3 MUSC 3252: Composition II
Major
3

Second Year

Fall Classes - 15 credits Credits Spring Classes - 14 credits Credits
Individual & Society
Pathways Flexible Core
3 MUSC 3213: Nineteenth-Century Studies: Ear Training III
Major
2
U.S. Experience in Its Diversity
Pathways Flexible Core
3 MUSC 3224: Keyboard Workshop IV
Major
1
MUSC 3212: Eighteenth-Century Studies: Ear Training II
Major
2 MUSC 3237: Theory III: Modern and Contemporary Studies
Major
3
MUSC 3223: Keyboard Workshop III
Major
1 MUSC 3241W: Music History and Score Analysis I: Ancient Music through 1750
Major
4
MUSC 3236: Advanced Keyboard Workshop 2
Major
3 MUSC 3700-81
Major
1
MUSC 3253: Composition III
Major
3 MUSC 3254: Composition IV
Major
3

Third Year

Fall Classes - 15 credits Credits Spring Classes - 15 credits Credits
MUSC 3214: Twentieth-Century Studies: Ear Training IV
Major
2 Scientific World
Pathways Flexible Core
3
MUSC 3225 or 3791
Major (MUSC 3225 recommended)
2 World Cultures & Global Issues
Pathways Flexible Core
3
MUSC 3242: Music History and Score Analysis II: Late 18th and 19th Century
Major
4 MUSC 3226 or 3792
Major (MUSC 3226 recommended)
2
MUSC 3700-81
Major
1 MUSC 3243: Music History and Score Analysis III: Twentieth-Century to the Present
Major
4
MUSC 3255: Composition V
Major
3 MUSC 3256: Composition VI
Major
3
MUSC 3315: Orchestration
Major
3    

Fourth Year

Fall Classes - 15 credits Credits Spring Classes - 15 credits Credits
College Option
Pathways College Option
3 College Option
Pathways College Option
3
College Option
Pathways College Option
3 College Option
Pathways College Option
3
MUSC 4430 through 4479, or MUSC 4900-level seminar
Major
3 General Elective
General Elective (MUSC 4862 recommended as Honors Elective)
3
General Elective
General Elective (MUSC 4861 recommended as Honors Elective)
3 General Elective
General Elective
3
General Elective
General Elective
3 General Elective
General Elective
3

Degree Details

36 Pathways Credits*

69 Major Credits

15 General Elective Credits

Students may apply a minor towards their general elective credits.

120 Total Credits

*The Pathways curriculum is typically 42 credits. However, the Music Composition major includes two courses (MUSC 1300 and MUSC 1400) that also satisfy Pathways requirements. Therefore, students majoring in Music Composition only need to complete 36 additional Pathways credits.

The major recommends foreign language or proficiency in addition to the courses listed above. A faculty approved portfolio and approval of the Conservatory faculty are also required for the degree. The portfolio will consist of representative works from required (Music 3251 through Music 3256), elective, and honors composition courses.

Students must submit a portfolio of work for review by a music composition jury at the end of each semester of MUSC 3251-3256 or 4861-4862 (Music Composition). A special jury for students in MUSC 3252 includes evaluation of overall progress in the program, on the basis of which permission to continue in the music composition program is granted or denied.

Students who wish to be considered for performance lessons, MUSC 3791 and 3792, in place of advanced keyboard classes, MUSC 3225 and 3226, must demonstrate proficiency in an audition no later than the beginning of their junior year. Final approval will be given by the director.

All MUSC courses offered to satisfy the requirements for a major in Music must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Music majors must meet with their advisor in the department prior to every semester in order to review their degree progress and to receive registration permissions for their MUSC courses in the following term.

The four-year degree map is designed to help you take the right courses in the right order so you can graduate in four years. It also helps you distinguish what courses qualify as Pathways courses, or Major courses, or General Elective courses. Ideally, you should follow the four-year degree map as closely as possible, but you are free to make some adjustments so long as the prerequisite requirements are satisfied.

In conjunction with the four-year degree map, you should review Degree Works, and the Brooklyn College website, for an approved list of courses in your major. Overall, it is best to review your academic plan with your advisor on a regular basis.

Contact Information

Department of Music
423 Whitehead Hall
Douglas Cohen, Asst. Director
dcohen@brooklyn.cuny.edu

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