Composition, B.Mus.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Required Credits: 137-141

First Year

Semester 1 (15.5 credits)

APC 122 - Piano Keyboard Class 2 credit(s) ¹
COM 110 - First Course Composition 3 credit(s)
COM 461 - Music Technology I 3 credit(s)
COM 470 - Composers’ Seminar 0 credit(s)
RPW 110 - Rhetoric and Writing I 3 credit(s)
TH 111 - Diatonic Harmony 2 credit(s) ²
TH 120 - Elementary Ear Training I 2 credit(s)
HLM 020 - Information Literacy in the Performing Arts 0 credit(s)
MUS 110 - Paranov Performance Hour 0.5 credit(s)
Performing Organization ³

Semester 2 (15.5 credits)

APC 123 - Piano Keyboard Class 2 credit(s) ¹
COM 111 - First Course Composition 3 credit(s)
COM 471 - Composers’ Seminar 0 credit(s)
RPW 111 - Rhetoric and Writing II 3 credit(s)
TH 112 - Chromatic Harmony 2 credit(s)
TH 121 - Elementary Ear Training II 2 credit(s)
AUC - All-University Curriculum 3 credit(s)
MUS 111 - Paranov Performance Hour 0.5 credit(s)
Performing Organization ³

Second Year

Semester 1 (18.5 credits)

APC 222 - Piano Keyboard Class 2 credit(s) ¹
COM 210 - Second Course Composition 3 credit(s)
COM 340 - Orchestration 3 credit(s)
COM 470 - Composers’ Seminar 0 credit(s)
HLM 212 - Perspectives on Music History 3 credit(s)
TH 210 - Tonal Form and Analysis 2 credit(s)
TH 220 - Intermediate Ear Training I 2 credit(s)
MUS 110 - Paranov Performance Hour 0.5 credit(s)
AUC - All-University Curriculum 3 credit(s)
Performing Organization ³

Semester 2 (18.5 credits)

APC 223 - Piano Keyboard Class 2 credit(s) ¹
COM 211 - Second Course Composition 3 credit(s)
COM 471 - Composers’ Seminar 0 credit(s)
HIS 213 - Europe: Napoleon to Gorbachev 3 credit(s)
TH 211 - Post-Tonal Form and Analysis 2 credit(s)
TH 221 - Intermediate Ear Training II 2 credit(s)
MUS 111 - Paranov Performance Hour 0.5 credit(s)
AUC - All-University Curriculum 3 credit(s)
M - Mathematics elective 3 credit(s)
Performing Organization ³

Third Year

Semester 1 (17.5 - 18.5 credits)

Instrumental/vocal study or elective 2–3 credit(s)
COM 310 - Third Course Composition 3 credit(s)
HLM 316 - Medieval through Baroque 3 credit(s)
Foreign language 3 credit(s)
COM 470 - Composers’ Seminar 0 credit(s)
Theory or composition electives 6 credit(s)
COM 472 - Composers’ Ensemble 0.5 credit(s)

Semester 2 (17.5 - 18.5 credits)

Instrumental/vocal study or elective 2–3 credit(s)
COM 311 - Third Course Composition 3 credit(s)
HLM - Music history elective 3 credit(s)
Foreign language 3 credit(s)
COM 471 - Composers’ Seminar 0 credit(s)
Theory or composition electives 6 credit(s)
COM 473 - Composers’ Ensemble 0.5 credit(s)

Fourth Year

Semester 1 (17.5 - 18.5 credits)

Instrumental/vocal study or elective 2–3 credit(s)
COM 410 - Fourth Course Composition 3 credit(s)
COM 470 - Composers’ Seminar 0 credit(s)
COM 472 - Composers’ Ensemble 0.5 credit(s)
ES 262 - Introduction to Musical and Architectural Acoustics 3 credit(s)
Theory or composition electives 6 credit(s)
All-University Curriculum 3 credi(ts)

Semester 2 (16.5 - 17.5 credits)

Instrumental/vocal study or elective 2–3 credit(s)
COM 411 - Fourth Course Composition 3 credit(s)
COM 471 - Composers’ Seminar 0 credit(s)
TH 441 - Music since 1950 3 credit(s)
Theory or composition electives 3 credit(s)
Academic elective 3 credit(s)
CON 314 - Conducting Fundamentals 2 credit(s)
COM 473 - Composers’ Ensemble 0.5 credit(s)

Note(s):

¹Exempted students take private instrumental/vocal study.

²Enrollment dependent on placement exam.

³Major choral or instrumental performing organization, four semesters. Composers’ ensemble, four semesters. Other approved performing organizations may be substituted.

Students with a major in composition must have the equivalent of one evening’s performance of their music before graduation. Programs of performances must be submitted at least four months before the anticipated date of graduation.

Composition majors should refer to the Hartt Undergraduate Handbook for departmental grade requirements.

Students wishing to specialize in composition for electronic and digital instruments should include the following courses in their elective choices: COM 462 - Music Technology II ; COM 463 - Music Technology III ; COM 466 - Introduction to Computer Music ; COM 468 - Scoring for Film, TV, and Video ; MPT 450 - Sound Technology I , MPT 451 - Sound Technology II .

Students wishing to specialize in composition using more traditional musical materials should include the following courses in their elective choices: TH 330 - Keyboard Harmony , TH 333 - Score Reading , TH 420 - Modal Counterpoint , TH 421 - Tonal Counterpoint , and CON 314 - Conducting Fundamentals .