Information and Departmental Plan of Study
The Department of Music(link is external) aims to give students a broad foundation for making, performing, studying, and writing about music. As part of the major, students pursue work in two loosely defined areas: Culture and Criticism (C&C) and Materials and Making (M&M). M&M encompasses topics usually explored in hands-on, exploratory ways, such as composition, improvisation, theory, analysis, and electronic music. The C&C area focuses on the scholarly study of music, from historical and formalist analysis to cognitive science and ethnography. Whether our concentrators ultimately choose to make music, to research and write about it, or do both, they are encouraged to develop independent work that moves across traditional disciplinary or methodological boundaries.
Advanced Placement
The Department of Music does not grant advanced placement exam credit.
Prerequisites
Students interested in the music concentration are required to gain exposure to coursework in both the Culture and Criticism and Materials and Making areas before entering the department. The prerequisites are satisfied through the completion of MUS 105, one M&M course, and one C&C course. Under special circumstances, students may be able to place out of MUS 105 by demonstrating equivalent knowledge in an exam given by the music faculty or scoring a 5 on the AP Music exam. Students who place out of MUS 105 will be required to take an additional elective to meet the minimum requirement of 11 courses in the major.
Program of Study
Classes of 2023 and 2024: Concentrators are strongly encouraged to complete the requirements below, and are required to take the credit-bearing Junior Seminar. Students should consult the archived Undergraduate Announcement for details of the previous requirements.
Class of 2025 and beyond: Students majoring in music take a total of 11 courses in the major: three prerequisite courses (MUS 105, one M&M course, one C&C course); two additional courses in Culture and Criticism; two courses in Materials and Making (one of the three total M&M courses, including the M&M prerequisite, must include a significant musicianship/ear-training component; current eligible courses are MUS 106, MUS 245, MUS 261, MUS 316, and MUS 319, or an alternative approved by the DUS); three additional electives, two of which should be at the 300-level or higher; and a credit-bearing Junior Seminar (MUS 300). Music majors in the Program in Music Performance certificate may use one performance course (such as MPP 213, 214, 216, 219, 251, 252, MUS 340) as a departmental. Concentrators design their program of study in close consultation with the director of undergraduate studies and are strongly encouraged to meet with the DUS in their first year to plan potential paths through the curriculum, as some upper-level courses have their own prerequisites. In general, we encourage students to lead with their strengths but also to take risks and step out of their comfort zones, principles that should guide their course choices.