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**Review** Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

Music B.M. – Composition Concentration

Program Overview

College of Performing and Visual Arts

Contact: Paul Elwood, Ph.D. and Ludek Drizhal, M.M., Co-Directors, Composition

Location: Frasier Hall 108

Telephone: 970-351-2993

Fax: 970-351-1923

Website: arts.unco.edu/music/music-composition/

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

The Bachelor of Music in Composition is designed to support development of skills, concepts, and sensitivity essential to a professional composer. It also prepares students for graduate study in music.

Program Admission Requirements:

  • Students planning to major in composition are required to audition for admission to the School of Music. Current School of Music admission guidelines and audition requirements are available at: arts.unco.edu/music/apply/.

Program Requirements:

  • In all MUS courses, a student must receive C- or better to fulfill degree requirements.
  • Any student receiving lower than a C- in a MUS prefix class for the second time in the same class will be placed on probation. If the student receives lower than a C- a third time in the same class, the student will be removed from the major.
  • Any student receiving a grade below a C- in applied lessons will be placed on probation. A second semester of a grade below a C- in applied lessons will result, upon consent from the area, in removal from the major.
  • A half Junior Recital and full Senior Recital are required.
  • A minimum of 30 non-MUS prefix credits must be taken for the degree.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits

To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 82 required major credits.

Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.

Written Communication — 6 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Written Communication courses

Mathematics — 3 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Mathematics courses

Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits

To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.

MUS 143 and MUS 243 are recommended to fulfill Arts & Humanities requirements and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses

Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 82 credits

Take all of the following (75 credits — Includes the MMO):

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 113Music Theory I

3

MUS 114Aural Skills and Sight Singing I

1

MUS 115Music Theory II

3

MUS 116Aural Skills and Sight Singing II

1

MUS 143Musical Styles and ContextLAA1

3

MUS 160Class Piano I

1

MUS 161Class Piano II

1

MUS 209Introduction to Music Technology

2

MUS 213Music Theory III

3

MUS 214Aural Skills and Sight Singing III

1

MUS 215Music Theory IV

3

MUS 216Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV

1

MUS 231Music Lessons

1

MUS 243History of Music ILAA1

3

MUS 244History of Music II

3

MUS 260Class Piano III

1

MUS 261Class Piano IV

1

MUS 277Individual Instruction in Composition

2

MUS 30118th Century Counterpoint

3

MUS 302Form and Analysis

3

MUS 303Instrumentation

2

MUS 313Digital Composition

2

MUS 319Instrumental Techniques and Conducting

2

MUS 323Choral Techniques and Conducting

2

MUS 403Acoustics of Music

2

MUS 477Individual Instruction in Composition

2

MUS 100 - take 8 semesters

MUS 143: Satisfies LAC Arts & Humanities

MUS 231: Take 6 credits on your designated instrument.

MUS 243: Satisfies LAC Arts & Humanities

MUS 277: Take 4 credits

MUS 477: Take 12 credits

Ensembles — MMO (6 credits)

MUS 225/425 and MUS 224/424 count as MMOs for students whose secondary instrument is jazz.

Choose one of the following music technology or music business courses:

MUS 251Survey of the Music Business

2

MUS 343Recording Techniques

2

Music Electives — 5 credits

Take 5 credits from MUS-prefix coursework.

3. University-Wide Credits — 7 credits*

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 7 credits.

*Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.

Year 1 – 29 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 113Music Theory I

3

MUS 114Aural Skills and Sight Singing I

1

MUS 160Class Piano I

1

MUS 209Introduction to Music Technology

2

MUS 231Music Lessons

1

MUS 277Individual Instruction in Composition

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 115Music Theory II

3

MUS 116Aural Skills and Sight Singing II

1

MUS 143Musical Styles and ContextLAA1

3

MUS 161Class Piano II

1

MUS 231Music Lessons

1

MUS 277Individual Instruction in Composition

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 2 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 213Music Theory III

3

MUS 214Aural Skills and Sight Singing III

1

MUS 231Music Lessons

1

MUS 243History of Music ILAA1

3

MUS 260Class Piano III

1

MUS 477Individual Instruction in Composition

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 215Music Theory IV

3

MUS 216Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV

1

MUS 231Music Lessons

1

MUS 244History of Music II

3

MUS 261Class Piano IV

1

MUS 477Individual Instruction in Composition

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 3 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 231Music Lessons

1

MUS 302Form and Analysis

3

MUS 313Digital Composition

2

MUS 477Individual Instruction in Composition

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Major Elective

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

4

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 231Music Lessons

1

MUS 30118th Century Counterpoint

3

MUS 303Instrumentation

2

MUS 477Individual Instruction in Composition

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Major Elective

2

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Year 4 – 30-31 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 319Instrumental Techniques and Conducting

2

MUS 323Choral Techniques and Conducting

2

MUS 403Acoustics of Music

2

MUS 477Individual Instruction in Composition

2

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 343Recording Techniques

2

or

MUS 360Voice Class

1

MUS 477Individual Instruction in Composition

2

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

4

Total Credit Hours:13-14

Advising Notes –

  • This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete your bachelor’s degree in 4 years. You will meet with the School of Music Retention Coordinator and your faculty advisor every semester to track your progress.

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