Major Requirements
(Minimum of 12 courses)
* Optional Introductory Course (depending on previous knowledge of music theory):
MU 070 Fundamentals of Music Theory
(may be substituted for one of the electives, with the approval of the Chairperson).
* Theory, Analysis, and Composition Courses: (4 courses total)
Prerequisite:
- MU 070 Fundamentals of Music Theory (or equivalent)
Required of all majors:
- MU 110 Harmony
- MU 211 Chromatic Harmony
- MU 312 Counterpoint
Choice of any one course:
- MU 212 Orchestration
- MU 214 Form and Analysis
- MU 215 Jazz Harmony
- MU 315 Composition Seminar
* Historical Courses: (3 courses total)
Required of all majors:
- MU 209 Twentieth Century Music
Choice of any two:
- MU 201 Medieval-Renaissance Music
- MU 203 Music of the Baroque
- MU 205 Music of the Classic Era
- MU 207 Music of the Romantic Era
(With permission of the Chairperson, a composer or genre course may be substituted for a period course).
* Cross-Cultural Courses: (2 courses total)
Required of all majors, a choice of one from each of the following two groups:
- Group I - Non-Western tradition
- MU 301 Introduction to World Music
- MU 325 Musics of the Mediterranean
- MU 350 Topics in Ethnomusicology
- (MU 301 and MU 325 also satisfy the Core Cultural Diversity requirement)
- Group II - Western tradition
- MU 320 Music and America
- MU 321 Rhythm and Blues in American Music
- MU 322 Jazz in America
- MU 330 Introduction to Irish Folk Music
- MU 331 Introduction to Celtic Musics
* Required Senior Seminar: (1 semester)
The Senior Seminar (MU 405) is ordinarily open only to senior music majors. The Seminar entails a series of weekly projects allowing majors to investigate issues in depth with special emphasis in one of the areas listed above (theory and composition, history, cross-cultural, or performance). The Seminar serves as preparation for a senior project, with supervised reading, research, writing, and discussion.
* Electives: (2 courses)
The student will choose a minimum of two semester courses in whatever category is appropriate to his or her particular interest, whether it is in music theory and composition, performance, history, or cross-cultural studies. Students with performance emphasis must have three semesters of private instruction for credit. The three credits for private instruction will be bundled into a full course only upon completion of the jury at the end of the third semester of lessons (see Credit for Performance).
* Performance/Ensemble Experience: (Minimum of two semesters)
Each major must have two semester of experience in performance in some capacity and may choose from any organized performance group at Boston College (such as Boston College Symphony Orchestra; Chamber Music Ensemble; Popular Styles Ensemble; Irish Traditional Music classes; University Chorale, Madrigals, Voices of Imani, or student a capella group; Concert Band, BC bOp), through more informal students groups (by consultation with Chairperson), or through private lessons.
* Cumulative Listening Competency
Majors will be asked to identify important works from the Western tradition in a series of Listening Competency exams. Each year of the music major (normally three), a list of works will be given to the student that they must be able to identify by the end of the year. A listening test on each of three lists of works will be administered until the student passes.
* Ear Training/Sight Singing
All Majors will be expected to have passed the minimum competency requirements in Ear Training and Sight-Singing before graduation. The course MU 081-082 Ear-Training and Sight-Singing, a one-credit course, is designed and recommended as an aid to passing this test.