Program Overview

Performance: Composition Emphasis

Overview

The Bachelor of Music in Performance major with a Composition emphasis prepares student composers to meet the challenges and opportunities of an ever-changing profession. The Fred Fox School of Music offers coursework in which students receive intensive private instruction in music composition in traditional and electro-acoustic media from award-winning faculty members. In addition, students take classes in music theory, improvisation, music history, orchestration, and conducting. The faculty strives to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the aesthetics of musical design and the operations of creators, performers, and listeners as they use music to shape their world.

Program Details

Sample Courses

• MUS 110A: Piano Class I
• MUS 240: Introduction to Music Composition
• MUS 422: Jazz Arranging

Career Fields

• Artistic direction
• Composition
• Education
• Film and television
• Media

Level of Math

• General Knowledge: This strand involves the general understanding and appreciation of how mathematics is used to solve problems in everyday life. The G-strand does not prepare a student for any further work grounded in mathematics and assumes the student will not proceed beyond the basic Foundations level noted above. Thus, only those students whose major requires the most general knowledge of mathematics should take this strand.

Level of Second Language

• 2nd Semester Proficiency: Second-semester skill level in a second language is required. Non-B.A. degree students may fulfill this requirement with one of the following options:
  • Scoring the equivalent of second-semester skill level on an entrance or placement examination administered by The University of Arizona.
  • Completion with a C or better of a second semester course at the post-secondary level.
  • An AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate), or CLEP (College Level Entrance Program) language score determined by the individual language department.
  • In the College of Engineering by a method determined within the College; however, all students in the college must also take a language placement examination on entrance to the University.

Pre-major Required?

• No

This Major's College

• College of Fine Arts

Degree

• Bachelor of Music

Sample Plans

2025, Performance: Composition Emphasis

• 4-Year Sample Plan
• Map Transfer Coursework

First Year

1st Semester

• ENGL 101 First-Year Composition (3 credits)
• MUS 110A Piano Class (1 credit)
• MUS 120A Musical Skills and Structure I (3 credits)
• MUS 130A Introduction to Music Literature (2 credits)
• MUS 200/400 Large Ensemble (1 credit)
• MUSI 182 or MUSI 185 Individual Studies (2 credits)
• Introduction to the General Education Experience (Entry Course) (1 credit)
• MUS 240 Introduction to Music Composition (3 credits)

2nd Semester

• ENGL 102 First-Year Composition (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• MUS 110B Piano Class (1 credit)
• MUS 120B Musical Skills and Structure I (3 credits)
• MUS 130B Introduction to Music Literature (2 credits)
• MUS 200/400 Large Ensemble (1 credit)
• MUSI 182 or MUSI 185 Individual Studies (2 credits)
• MUS 240 Introduction to Music Composition (3 credits)

Second Year

3rd Semester

• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• MUS 210A Piano Class (1 credit)
• MUS 220A Musical Skills and Structure II (3 credits)
• Music Individual Studies (Composition) (2 credits)
• MUS 200/400 Large Ensemble (1 credit)
• Music Individual Studies (2 credits)
• Music Elective (2 credits)

4th Semester

• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• MUS 210B Piano Class (1 credit)
• MUS 220B Musical Skills and Structure II (3 credits)
• Music Individual Studies (Composition) (2 credits)
• MUS 200/400 Large Ensemble (1 credit)
• Music Individual Studies (2 credits)

Third Year

5th Semester

• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• MUS 330A History of Western Music (3 credits)
• Music Individual Studies (Composition) (2 credits)
• MUS 370 Introduction to Conducting (2 credits)
• MUS 427A Careers in Music (2 credits)
• MUS 200/400 Large Ensemble (1 credit)
• Music Individual Studies (2 credits)
• Math (3 credits)

6th Semester

• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• General Education Portfolio (Exit Course) (1 credit)
• MUS 330B History of Western Music (3 credits)
• Music Individual Studies (Composition) (2 credits)
• MUS 427B Careers in Music (2 credits)
• MUS 200/400 Large Ensemble (1 credit)
• MUSI 382 or MUSI 385 Individual Studies (2 credits)

Fourth Year

7th Semester

• MUS 420A Counterpoint (3 credits)
• Music Individual Studies (Composition) (2 credits)
• MUS 441 Electro-Acoustic Music (3 credits)
• MUS 200/400 Large Ensemble (1 credit)
• MUSI 382 or MUSI 385 Individual Studies (2 credits)
• Second Language (4 credits)

8th Semester

• MUS 420B Counterpoint (3 credits)
• MUS 421 Orchestration (3 credits)
• Music Individual Studies (Composition) (2 credits)
• MUS 442 Electro-Acoustic Studio Resources (3 credits)
• MUS 498 Senior Capstone: Recital (1 credit)
• Music Individual Studies (recommended) (2 credits)
• Second Language (4 credits)