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BM in Music with Emphasis in Composition

Degree Program Description

The Bachelor of Music (BM) degree with an emphasis in Composition offers unprecedented opportunities for young composers to discover and craft their musical voices. The program is designed for the student who intends to pursue a career as a composer, performer, or college teacher, as well as the student who plans to enter graduate school to pursue further study in one of these areas. Incoming students may be admitted to the composition program after a review of sample compositions and an interview with the composition faculty (normally on one of the Mizzou Music Days). This is in addition to an audition on the major instrument/voice, which is required of all prospective music majors. Current music majors not previously admitted to composition may apply to enter the composition program by contacting the coordinator of the composition area no later than April 1 and arranging an interview to review previous course work and a composition portfolio. In addition, a grade in the B range must have been achieved in all composition and music theory courses.

Major Program Requirements

The program requires 124 credit hours, including courses in music theory, music history, studio instruction, and ensembles.

In addition to the list of required courses below for the emphasis in Composition, students must complete the Bachelor of MusicUniversity, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.

MUS_GENL 1091Recital Attendance for Undergraduate Music Majors0
MUS_APMS 1435Studio Instruction for Majors (1 semester)1
MUS_APMS 1435Studio Instruction for Majors (2 semesters)2
or MUS_I_VT 4650 Composing for Percussion
MUS_APMS 2455Studio Instruction (2 credits per semester for 4 semesters)8
MUS_APMS 3455Studio Instruction (2 credits per semester for 2 semesters)4
MUS_ENS 1841Instrumental Ensemble (total of 8 credit hours)0-1
or MUS_ENS 1842 Choral Ensemble
MUS_THRY 1220Tonal Music Theory I2
MUS_THRY 1221Tonal Music Theory II2
MUS_THRY 1230Aural Training and Sight Singing I2
MUS_THRY 1231Aural Training and Sight Singing II2
MUS_THRY 2215Composition I2
MUS_THRY 2216Composition II2
MUS_THRY 2220Tonal Music Theory III2
MUS_THRY 2221Tonal Music Theory IV2
MUS_THRY 2230Aural Training and Sight Singing III2
MUS_THRY 2231Aural Training and Sight Singing IV2
MUS_THRY 3215Composition III2
MUS_THRY 3216Composition IV2
MUS_THRY 4215Composition V2
MUS_THRY 4216Composition VI2
MUS_THRY 4220Post-Tonal Music Theory2
MUS_THRY 4224Counterpoint3
MUS_THRY 4227Orchestration2
MUS_THRY 4245Introduction to Electronic Music2
MUS_THRY 4247Introduction to Digital Synthesis2
MUS_THRY 4226Instrumentation2
MUS_THRY 4290Music Composition Seminar (1 credit per semester for 6 semesters)6
MUS_THRY 3xxx/4xxx Music Theory Elective2
MUS_H_LI 1338Music and Culture2
MUS_H_LI 2307History of Western Music I2
MUS_H_LI 2308History of Western Music II2
MUS_H_LI 43xx History Elective3
MUS_I_VT 1610Group Piano for Music Majors I1
MUS_I_VT 1611Group Piano for Music Majors II1
MUS_I_VT 2610Group Piano for Music Majors III1
MUS_I_VT 2611Group Piano for Music Majors IV1
MUS_I_VT 2631Basic Conducting and Score Reading2
Total Credits79-80

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Semester Plan

Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MUS_APMS 24552MUS_APMS 24552
MUS_ENS 1841 or 18421MUS_ENS 1841 or 18421
MUS_THRY 12202MUS_THRY 12212
MUS_THRY 12302MUS_THRY 12312
MUS_I_VT 16101MUS_I_VT 16111
MUS_GENL 1091Section 30MUS_H_LI 13382
Non-Music Courses6MUS_GENL 10910
 Non-Music Courses6
 14 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MUS_APMS 24552MUS_APMS 24552
MUS_APMS 1435 (Secondary Instrument)1MUS_APMS 1435 (Secondary Instrument)1
MUS_ENS 1841 or 18421MUS_ENS 1841 or 18421
MUS_THRY 22202MUS_I_VT 26312
MUS_THRY 22302MUS_THRY 22212
MUS_I_VT 26101MUS_THRY 22312
MUS_H_LI 23072MUS_I_VT 26111
MUS_THRY 22152MUS_H_LI 23082
MUS_THRY 42901MUS_THRY 22162
MUS_GENL 10910MUS_THRY 42901
Non-Music Courses3MUS_GENL 10910
 17 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MUS_APMS 34552MUS_APMS 34552
MUS_APMS 1435 (Secondary Instrument)1MUS_ENS 1841 or 18421
MUS_ENS 1841 or 18421MUS_THRY 32162
MUS_THRY 32152MUS_THRY 42901
MUS_THRY 42901MUS_THRY 42272
MUS_THRY 42262MUS_THRY 42202
MUS_THRY 4224W3MUS_GENL 10910
MUS_GENL 10910Non-Music Courses3-6
Non-Music Courses3-6 
 15-18 13-16
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MUS_ENS 1841 or 18421MUS_ENS 1841 or 18421
MUS_THRY 42152MUS_THRY 4216 (Capstone)2
MUS_THRY 42901MUS_THRY 42901
MUS_THRY 42452MUS_THRY 42472
MUS_THRY 3xxx/4xxx Elective2MUS_HIST 43xx Elective3
MUS_GENL 10910Non-Music Courses3-6
Non-Music Courses6-9 
 14-17 12-15
Total Credits: 117-129

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Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

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Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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