Music - Composition Major (B.Mus.)
Major Requirements
Degree Type: B.Mus. Minimum Credits Required: 123
University Degree Requirements
For complete details on these and other university degree requirements, refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section in the University Catalog.
- Minimum of 120 semester credits (some programs may exceed this minimum).
- Complete the University General Education requirements.
- Minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- Minimum of 30 credits in resident at NDSU.
- Minimum of 36 upper level credits (courses numbered 300 or higher).
- Students with transfer credit must meet the NDSU 30 credits in residence (#4). Of these 30 credits in residence, a minimum of 15 credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 credits must be in the student's declared major curricula.
University General Education Requirements
A list of university approved general education courses along with the administrative policies governing the requirement and the categories is available here.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Category C: Communication | 12 | |
| Category R: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Category S: Science and Technology | 10 | |
| Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts | 6 | |
| Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 6 | |
| Category W: Wellness | 2 | |
| Category D: Cultural Diversity | ||
| Category G: Global Perspectives | ||
| Category L: Digital Literacy | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Music Core Requirements | ||
| MUSC 103 | Introduction to Music History | 3 |
| MUSC 130 | Theory and Analysis I | 3 |
| MUSC 131 | Theory and Analysis II | 3 |
| MUSC 132 | Ear Training & Sight Singing I | 1 |
| MUSC 133 | Ear Training & Sight Singing II | 1 |
| MUSC 189 | Skills for Academic Success 1 | 1 |
| MUSC 230 | Theory and Analysis III | 3 |
| MUSC 231 | Theory and Analysis IV | 3 |
| MUSC 232 | Ear Training & Sight Singing III | 1 |
| MUSC 233 | Ear Training & Sight Singing IV | 1 |
| MUSC 340 | Music History I | 3 |
| MUSC 341 | Music History II | 3 |
| MUSC 385 | Music Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MUSC 480 | Recital | 1 |
| MUSC 494 | Individual Study | 1 |
| Applied Music | ||
| Select 6 credits from one of the following applied music disciplines: | 6 | |
| Applied Piano | ||
| Applied Piano | ||
| Applied Piano | ||
| Applied Piano | ||
| Applied Piano | ||
| Applied Voice | ||
| Applied Voice | ||
| Applied Voice | ||
| Applied Voice | ||
| Applied Voice | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments | ||
| Applied Wind Instruments | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments | ||
| Applied Upper Strings | ||
| Applied Upper Strings | ||
| Applied Upper Strings | ||
| Applied Upper Strings | ||
| Applied Upper Strings | ||
| Applied Lower Strings | ||
| Applied Lower Strings | ||
| Applied Lower Strings | ||
| Applied Lower Strings | ||
| Applied Lower Strings | ||
| Applied Guitar | ||
| Applied Guitar | ||
| Applied Guitar | ||
| Applied Guitar | ||
| Applied Guitar | ||
| Major Ensembles | ||
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Marching Band | ||
| University Band | ||
| Cantemus | ||
| Statesmen of NDSU | ||
| University Chamber Singers | ||
| Wind Symphony | ||
| University Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Concert Choir | ||
| Minor Ensembles | ||
| Select 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Percussion Ensemble | ||
| Brass Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Woodwind Chamber Ensemble | ||
| String Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Madrigal Singers | ||
| Mixed Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Vocal Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Piano Chamber Music | ||
| Jazz Combo | ||
| Piano Classes | ||
| MUSC 160 | Piano Class I | 1 |
| MUSC 161 | Piano Class II | 1 |
| MUSC 260 | Piano Class III | 1 |
| MUSC 261 | Piano Class IV | 1 |
| Composition Core | ||
| MUSC 331 | Instrumental Arranging | 2 |
| MUSC 351 | Instrumental Conducting & Literature | 2 |
| or MUSC 352 | Choral Conducting & Literature | |
| Applied Composition | ||
| One semester of 100 level, 2 semesters each of 200 level, 300 level, and 400 level | ||
| MUSC 166 | Applied Composition | 1 |
| MUSC 266 | Applied Composition (Enroll two times but in different semesters) | 2 |
| MUSC 273 | Supplementary Applied Study (Enroll two times but in different semesters) | 2 |
| MUSC 366 | Applied Composition (Enroll two times but in different semesters) | 2 |
| MUSC 373 | Supplementary Applied Study (Enroll two times but in different semesters) | 2 |
| MUSC 466 | Applied Composition (Enroll two times but in different semesters) | 2 |
| MUSC 473 | Supplementary Applied Study (Enroll two times but in different semesters) | 2 |
| Upper Division Theory | ||
| MUSC 435 | Topics in Music Theory (must be taken two times ) | 6 |
| Major Electives | ||
| Selected in consultation with Advisor 2 | 10 | |
| Total Credits | 84 | |
- 1
MUSC 189 is only required for first-time, first-year students. A first-time, first-year student is defined as a student who has not yet completed a college course as a college student. Students that are not first-time, first-year students that either transfer into the university or change their major are not required to take MUSC 189.
- 2
Courses selected in consultation with an advisor will require a substitution form to be submitted to the Office of Registration and Records for degree progress inclusion.