Major Requirements
The music major offers world-class training in music theory and performance within Boston College's distinctive liberal arts framework. Students encounter historical, theoretical, cultural, ethnographic, and performance perspectives on music, preparing for a wide range of careers.
12
courses (minimum)
38
credits (minimum)
2
semesters of ensemble performance and/or private lessons
Through a combination of coursework, ensemble performance, and individual instruction in voice or an instrument, music majors acquire a robust base of knowledge in music theory, history, performance, ethnography, and culture. They also gain higher-level knowledge in a particular area of music through their choice of one of four specializations:
- Composition
- Performance
- Music History
- Cultural Studies
Courses
The music major requires a minimum of 12 courses (38 credits), to be taken across the following categories.
MUSA 1100 Fundamentals of Music Theory*
* Depending on your previous knowledge of music theory, MUSA1100 may be substituted for one of the electives with the approval of the director of undergraduate studies.
After completing MUSA 1100 or an equivalent elective as a prerequisite, all music majors must complete four Theory, Analysis, and Composition courses:
- All three of the following:
- MUSA2100: Harmony
- MUSA3100: Chromatic Harmony
- MUSA3106: Counterpoint
- Any one of the following:
- MUSA 3114: Jazz Harmony
- MUSA 3120: Composition Seminar
- MUSA 3126: Tonal Composition
- MUSA 3130: Orchestration
All majors must complete three courses in music history—MUSA 2209 (Music of the Modern Era) and their choice of two of the following period courses.*
- MUSA 2201 Medieval-Renaissance Music
- MUSA 2203 Music of the Baroque
- MUSA 2205 Music of the Classic Period
- MUSA 2207 Music of the Romantic Era
* With the permission of the director of undergraduate studies, a composer or genre course may be substituted for a period course.
All majors must take one course from each of the following two groups:
- Group I – Non-Western Tradition
- MUSA 1320 Introduction to Musics of the World
- MUSA 2304 Musics of India
- MUSA 2306 Musics of Africa
- MUSA 2307 Musics of Asia
- MUSA 2308 Music in the Medieval Islamic World
- MUSA 2309 Music and Culture in the Middle East
- MUSA 3342 Music & Ecstasy
- MUSA 1320, 2306, 2307 and 2309 also satisfy the Core Cultural Diversity requirement
- Group II – Western Tradition
- MUSA 2320 Music and America
- MUSA 2330 History of Jazz
- MUSA 2340 Introduction to Irish Folk Music
- MUSA 3224 Dance to the Music: Choreomusicality from the Baroque Court to YouTube
- MUSA 3350 Beatles
- MUSA 2334 Hip Hop in American Culture
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 who focus on performance must complete 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. Credit for Performance.
The Senior Seminar, MUSA 4941, 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 following areas—theory and composition, history, cross-cultural studies, or performance. It serves as preparation for a senior project that involves supervised reading, research, writing, and discussion.
Other Requirements
Each major must have at least two semesters of experience in performance in some capacity. This requirement can be met by participating in an organized performance group at Boston College, such as the Boston College Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Ensemble, Popular Styles Ensemble, Irish Traditional Music classes, University Chorale, Madrigals, Voices of Imani, Concert Band, or BC bOp. It can also be met be performing in a student a capella group, or through more informal students groups or private lessons (with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies).
Majors will be asked to identify important works from the Western tradition in a series of Listening Repertory 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.
All majors are expected to pass the minimum competency requirements in Ear Training and Sight-Singing before graduation. The one-credit course MUSA 1090-2090 Ear-Training and Sight-Singing is designed and recommended as an aid to passing this test.
Recommended Course of Study
Prospective music majors should reference the Recommended Course of Study listed below. Students with advanced musical backgrounds and interests should speak to the Director of Undergraduate Studies to determine placement in appropriate upper-level courses.
During their first year, all students interested in declaring a music major should take or test out of MUSA 1100: Fundamentals of Music Theory, a course covering the fundamentals of music notation and ear-training. This is a general introduction to the field and its various methodologies, and a student may receive retroactive credit for the major if passed with a B+ or higher.
Harmony and Chromatic Harmony should be taken in sequence along with MUSA 1090 - 2090, Ear Training/Sight Singing Labs. Two history courses in Western Music (selected from Medieval-Renaissance, Baroque Music, Music of the Classical Era, Music of the Romantic Era, Music of the Modern Era, or a composer or genre course) or, one history course and one cross-cultural course should be taken. The first year's required Listening Repertoire should be mastered. Some performance experience (Orchestra, Chorale, Band, Chamber Music, non-Western performance and/or private lessons) should be started and pursued throughout the rest of the major.
Counterpoint and a choice of Jazz Harmony, Form and Analysis, Orchestration or Composition and a second or third history course and/or a cross-cultural course should be taken. The second year of the required Listening Repertoire should be mastered.
Any advanced courses in the department relevant to the particular emphasis the student has chosen – performance, composition, history, or cross-cultural – in conjunction with the Senior Seminar, which will help the student synthesize previous course work, should be taken. The final year of the required Listening Repertoire should be mastered.
The Music Department also offers several courses that fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in Arts and Cultural Diversity, designed for the non-musician as well as the student who has studied music.