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 Pre-Composition and Composition Music Majors must participate in large or chamber ensembles to fulfill their Major Performance Organization requirement of 8 units. Prior to UDSE, take one of the following ensembles each semester:

MUS 100: Selected Topics - Major Performing Organization (1 unit)
MUS 200B: New Music Ensemble (1 unit)
MUS 200W: Laptop Ensemble (1 unit)

Post-UDSE, take one of the following ensembles each semester:

MUS 400B: New Music Ensemble (1 unit)
MUS 400W: Laptop Ensemble (1 unit)

Keyboard Proficiency:

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

Requirements

Take all of the following courses:

MUS 129 - Selected Topics - Individual Instruction for Music Majors (1 unit)
X. Composition (2 units)
MUS 244 - Composition Workshop (2 units)
MUS 270 - Introduction to Music Technology (3 units)
MUS 326 - Conducting (2 units)
MUS 423B - Senior Composition Recital (1 unit)
MUS 429 - Selected Topics - Individual Instruction for Music Majors (2 units)
X. Composition (8 units)
MUS 444 - Composition Workshop (2 units)

Take 12 units from the following courses:

MUS 411A - Media Scoring (3 units)
MUS 411B - Advanced Media Scoring Project (3 units)
MUS 442 - Orchestration (3 units)
MUS 443 - Advanced Orchestration (3 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)