Arizona State University Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts 64 courses
In the Bachelor of Music in theory and composition, you choose a concentration in either theory or composition. As a composition student, you focus on developing varied techniques for writing music for assorted genres and media, including chamber, orchestra and electronic music, and film and video scoring. You have multiple performance opportunities each year, including readings by the ASU Symphony Orchestra and visiting ensembles; yearlong residencies with the ASU Wind Bands and the Philharmonia Orchestra; commissions for the PRISMS contemporary music festival; and collaborations with student performers and student animators, filmmakers and dancers. This degree program provides you with extensive faculty interaction and professional development. You have opportunities to broaden your skills in compositional techniques from a wide variety of styles and traditions, with emphasis on fostering your personal approach to composition. Opportunities to collaborate with music scholars, theorists, performers, educators and other composers give you a broad and well-rounded foundation for careers in music. If you are interested in the theory concentration, you can look into the BMUS in theory and composition program with a concentration in theory for more information.
Program Requirements
Upper Division MHL Elective AND Upper Division Humanities, Arts and Design (HUAD) 3 credit hours Upper Division MHL Elective AND Upper Division Humanities, Arts and Design (HUAD) 3 credit hours
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MHL 140 | Sounds and Cultures | 3 |
| Total Program Requirements | 3 credits | |
Program Requirements - Upper Division MHL Through Present Time Course:
Choose from this list.
Program Requirements
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MTC 123 | Beginning Composition | 4 |
| MTC 125 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MTC 221 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MTC 222 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| Total Program Requirements | 13 credits | |
Program Requirements - Complete one of the following:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MTC 294 | Topic: Instrumentation | 8 |
| MUP 111 | Studio Instruction | 8 |
| MUP 121 | Studio Instruction | 8 |
| MUP 311 | Studio Instruction | 8 |
| MUP 321 | Studio Instruction | 8 |
Program Requirements
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MTC 320 | Modal Counterpoint | 2 |
| MTC 321 | Tonal Counterpoint | 3 |
| MTC 323 | Composition | 12 |
| MTC 327 | Form and Analysis I | 3 |
| MTC 425 | Studies in 20th- and 21st-Century Theory | 3 |
| MTC 433 | Orchestration | 3 |
| MTC 436 | Electronic Studio Techniques I | 2 |
| MTC 495 | Final Project | |
| Total Program Requirements | 28 credits | |
Program Requirements - Music Theory Core Elective:
Choose from this list.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MTC 223 | Music Theory: 20th Century | 3 |
| MTC 225 | Popular Music Theory | |
| MTC 251 | Introduction to Music Cognition | 3 |
| MTC 422 | Musical Acoustics | |
| MTC 440 | Jazz Theory and Ear Training | 2 |
| MTC 441 | Jazz Composition | 2 |
| MTC 494 | Topic: Composing for Film and Media | |
| Total | 3 credits | |
Program Requirements - Complete one of the following:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MDC 484 | Internship | 3 |
| MHL 484 | Internship | 3 |
| MSC 484 | Internship | 3 |
| MTC 484 | Internship | 3 |
| MUE 484 | Internship | 3 |
| MUP 484 | Internship | 3 |
Program Requirements
Completion of Piano Diagnostic Exam determines placement into Class Piano courses.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUP 131 | Class Piano | 1 |
| MUP 132 | Class Piano | 1 |
| MUP 209 or MUP 210 | Beginning Choral Conducting or Beginning Instrumental Conducting | 1 |
| MUP 231 | Class Piano | 1 |
| MUP 232 | Class Piano | 1 |
| Total Program Requirements | 5 credits | |
Program Requirements - 400-Level MUP Music Ensemble:
Choose from this list.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUP 442 | Instrumental Ensembles | 8 |
| MUP 443 | Choral Ensembles | |
| MUP 444 | Maroon and Gold Concert Band | |
| MUP 450 | Choral Union | |
| MUP 455 | Canticum Bassum | |
| MUP 457 | Sol Singers | |
| MUP 458 | ASU Gospel Choir | |
| MUP 476 | New Music Ensemble | |
| MUP 479 | Chamber Music Ensembles | 8 |
| MUP 485 | Percussion Ensemble | 4 |
| MUP 486 | Jazz Band | 4 |
| MUP 489 | Ethnomusicology Ensembles | 4 |
| Total | 6 credits | |
Program Requirements
Music Elective MHL Elective MTC Elective MUP Elective MUE Elective MDC Elective MSC Elective 6 credit hours Upper Division Music Elective MHL Elective MTC Elective MUP Elective MUE Elective MDC Elective MSC Elective 3 credit hours
ASU 101 or College-Specific First-Year Seminar
ASU 101 or college-specific equivalent First-Year Seminar required of all first-year students.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUP 101 | The ASU School of Music Experience | 1 |
| Total ASU 101 or College-Specific First-Year Seminar | 1 credits | |
First-Year Composition
All baccalaureate degree students must fulfill university graduation requirements, including a minimum of 120 credit hours, with at least 45 credit hours in upper-division courses. https://catalog.asu.edu/undergraduatereq All undergraduate students must complete General Studies requirements. https://catalog.asu.edu/ug_gsr Mathematics Placement Assessment score determines placement in first mathematics course. Students should work with their academic advisor, and consider course prerequisites, in order to complete all degree requirements in four years.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 101 | First-Year Composition | |
| ENG 102 | First-Year Composition | |
| ENG 105 | Advanced First-Year Composition | |
| ENG 107 | First-Year Composition | |
| ENG 108 | First-Year Composition | |
| Total First-Year Composition | 6 credits | |
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