Program Overview

Music Major (BMus)

Program Overview

The Music Major (BMus) at Washington University in St. Louis offers students the opportunity to pursue a degree in music with concentrations in performance, composition, music theory, or music history and culture. The program requires a total of 51-79 units and includes a senior capstone project.

Program Requirements

• Total Units Required: 51-79
• Grade Requirement: C- or better; Pass/No Pass grades do not count for the major.
• Declaration of this major must be approved by the department before the end of a student's sophomore year.
• In addition to the required courses, majors must complete a minimum of 12 to 30 units in advanced courses, depending on the area of concentration.
• Students may earn the BMus degree with concentration in performance, composition, music theory, or music history and culture, or they may pursue a general program that combines two or more of these areas.
• Each concentration requires a major senior capstone, such as a thesis, recital, lecture-demonstration, or composition portfolio.
• All majors must also pass a keyboard proficiency examination.

Required Courses

• MUSIC 1240 Classical Theory I & MUSIC 1241 Classical Theory II or MUSIC 1260 Jazz Theory I & MUSIC 1261 Jazz Theory II: 6 units
• MUSIC 2070 Classical Theory III: 3 units
• MUSIC 3291 Music Theory IV: Topics in Music Theory: 3 units
• MUSIC 1270 Musicianship I: 1 unit
• MUSIC 1290 Musicianship II: 1 unit
• MUSIC 3014 Ethnomusicology: 3 units
• MUSIC 3015 American Popular Music & Media: 3 units
• MUSIC 3016 Topics in Music History & Culture: 3 units
• MUSIC 3019 The Invention of Classical Music: 3 units
• MUSIC 4141 Analysis II: 3 units
• 1 unit of keyboard skills per semester as necessary to complete MUSIC 2081: 1-4 units
• MUSIC 4971 Senior Project: Musicology or Analysis or MUSIC 4972 Senior Capstone: Performance, Composition, or Theory or MUSIC 4973 Senior Honors Capstone: Musicology or Analysis or MUSIC 4974 Honors Project: Performance, Composition, or Theory: 3 units

Lesson and Ensemble Requirements

• In addition to the courses listed above, BMus students must also register for music lessons (1-2 units) and at least one ensemble (1 unit) every semester once the major has been declared (no later than the second semester of their sophomore year).
• Note: Students with a performance emphasis must take at least 2 units of music lessons per semester; all other students must take at least 1 unit per semester.

Elective Courses

Each of the five BMus concentrations includes additional requirements, as follows:

Performance Emphasis

• MUSIC 4390 Diction I (vocal performance majors only): 3 units
• 4000-level music theory elective: 3 units
• Junior half-recital: 0 units
• Total Units: 3-6 units

Theory Emphasis

• MUSIC 4001 Elementary Techniques in Electronic Music & MUSIC 4002 Advanced Techniques of Electronic Music or Composition Lessons: 6 units
• 4000-level electives: 12 units
• Total Units: 18 units

Composition Emphasis

• MUSIC 4001 Elementary Techniques in Electronic Music: 3 units
• MUSIC 4002 Advanced Techniques in Electronic Music: 3 units
• Upper-level music composition (MUSIC 4108, MUSIC 4109; repeatable): 12 units
• 4000-level music theory electives: 6 units
• Total Units: 24 units

History and Culture Emphasis

• Upper-level music history electives (other than MUSIC 3014, MUSIC 3015, MUSIC 3016, and MUSIC 3019): 12 units
• 4000-level music theory electives: 6 units
• Total Units: 18 units

General Emphasis

• Upper-level music history electives (other than MUSIC 3014, MUSIC 3015, MUSIC 3016, and MUSIC 3019): 3 units
• 4000-level music theory electives: 6 units
• Elective units: 9 units
• Total Units: 18 units

Additional Information

• Courses taken Pass/No Pass and courses in which a student earns less than a C- do not fulfill the major requirements.
• A maximum of 6 credits earned via study abroad and/or transfer are allowed upon department approval.
• Music majors may take advantage of music-focused study abroad programs in Italy, Ireland, France, South Africa, or other countries upon request and approval.

Becoming a Music Major

Students who plan to declare a major in music should consult with the department as early as possible. Students interested in pursuing a Music major should begin the appropriate course sequences in music theory, music history, keyboard skills, and musicianship. All Music majors must complete a senior capstone, which could take the form of a thesis, recital, lecture-demonstration, composition portfolio, or 4000-level course.

Senior Honors

Music majors are encouraged to work toward Latin Honors. To qualify, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.65 at the end of the sixth semester, complete all core Music requirements by the end of the junior year, and satisfactorily complete a senior honors capstone project, including an oral examination with a faculty committee. Project proposals are due at the end of the junior year.