Music, Composition Option, B.M.

(132 units)

The Bachelor of Music degree is a high-unit professional degree and requires 132 units for graduation. Music units include the core requirements and one option. Students interested in the BM in Composition Option must submit a portfolio for entrance to the program. This must be accomplished prior to entrance to the University. Students wishing to consider the BM program after they have enrolled at CSULB may not apply after they have completed more than a maximum of 96 units.

Music, B.M. Core Requirements

Music History and Literature:

Take the following courses:

MUS 191A - Western Art Music I: Antiquity to Beethoven (3 units)
Must be completed with a “C” or better.
MUS 191B - Western Art Music II: Beethoven to Present (3 units)
Must be completed with a “C” or better.
MUS 490 - Introduction to Music Cultures (3 units)

Music History Electives (6 units):

Choose a minimum of 6 units from two different topics. May be repeated with different topics in the same semester.

MUS 350 - Topics in Musicology (3 units)

Music Theory:

Take all the following courses:

MUS 141A - Musicianship I (2 units)
Must be completed with a “C” or better.
MUS 141B - Musicianship II (2 units)
Must be completed with a “C” or better.
MUS 142A - Harmony I (3 units)
Must be completed with a “C” or better.
MUS 142B - Harmony II (3 units)
Must be completed with a “C” or better.
MUS 240 - Advanced Musicianship (2 units)
Must be completed with a “C” or better.
MUS 341 - Musical Form and Analysis (3 units)
Must be completed with a “C” or better.
MUS 342 - Materials of Modern Music (3 units)

Major Performance Organization:

All Music Majors must audition for an MPO in their area each semester and must participate in the MPO as determined by audition. Participation in additional ensembles may be used as electives.

MUS 100/MUS 300 MPO, one topic each semester in residence.

Piano: Upon passing the Upper Division Screening Exam (UDSE) piano students may take MUS 400 (topic U) for MPO

Strings: Take MUS 100/MUS 300 (topics I or J)

Winds and Percussion: Take MUS 100/MUS 300 (topics A, B, or C)

Vocal: Take MUS 100/MUS 300 (topics E, F, or G)

Opera: Take at least 6 semesters of MUS 100/MUS 300 (topics E, F, or G) and at least 2 semesters of MUS 330

Jazz Studies: Take at least 4 semesters of MUS 100 (topics A, B, C, E, F, G, I, or J). Upon passing the Upper Division Screening Exam (UDSE) take MUS 300 (topics K, L, M, N, O, or P) for a minimum of 4 semesters

Composition: Take at least 8 semesters of MUS 100 or MUS 300 or MUS 200 (topic B) or MUS 400 (topic B). At least 4 units must be in MUS 200 (topic B) or MUS 400 (topic B).

MUS 100 - Selected Topics - Major Performance Organization (1 unit)
or
MUS 300 - Selected Topics - Major Performance Organization (1 unit)
or
MUS 200 - Selected Topics - Chamber Music (1 unit)
or
MUS 400 - Selected Topics - Chamber Music (1 unit)

Keyboard Proficiency:

Successful completion of conservatory’s piano proficiency examination (equivalent to MUS 220B) (piano majors excepted)

Requirements

Take the following course:

Minimum of 15 units and maximum of 20 units with an achievement of senior level on major performance medium.

MUS 129 - Selected Topics - Individual Instruction for Music Majors (1 unit)
X. Composition
MUS 229 - Selected Topics - Individual Instruction for the Music Major (2 units)
X. Composition
MUS 429 - Selected Topics - Individual Instruction for Music Majors (2 units)
X. Composition

Take all of the following courses:

MUS 244A - Composition Workshop I (2 units)
MUS 244B - Composition Workshop II (2 units)
MUS 326 - Conducting (2 units)
MUS 344 - Composition (2 units)
MUS 423B - Senior Composition Recital (1 unit)
MUS 444 - Advanced Composition (2 units)

Take 12 units from the following courses:

(at least 3 units must be selected from MUS 370 , MUS 447 , MUS 455 , MUS 456 , MUS 457 or MUS 497 E):

MUS 272A - Jazz Theory I (2 units)
MUS 272B - Jazz Theory II (2 units)
MUS 370 - Introduction to Music Technology (3 units)
MUS 371A - Improvisation Techniques I (2 units)
MUS 371B - Improvisation Techniques II (2 units)
MUS 411A - Media Scoring (3 units)
MUS 411B - Advanced Media Scoring Project (3 units)
MUS 422 - Advanced Choral Conducting and Literature (2 units)
MUS 425 - Advanced Instrumental Conducting (2 units)
MUS 441 - Studies in Musical Analysis (3 units)
MUS 442 - Orchestration (3 units)
MUS 443 - Advanced Orchestration (3 units)
MUS 444 - Advanced Composition (2 units)
MUS 447 - Counterpoint (3 units)
MUS 448 - Musicianship for Media Recording Artists (2 units)
MUS 455 - Electronic Music (3 units)
MUS 456 - Sound Design (3 units)
MUS 457 - Composition with Digital Media (3 units)
MUS 458 - Literature and Aesthetics of Interactive Media (3 units)
MUS 474A - Jazz Arranging I (2 units)
MUS 474B - Jazz Arranging II (2 units)
MUS 491 - Writing about Music (3 units)
MUS 497 - Selected Topics - Music Composition (3 units)