UTexas

Music, Composition (BAMusic)

Total Hours Required: 120

Plan of Study

The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Semester 1Hours
MUS 201M Beginning Music Performance: Class Piano 2
RHE 306 Rhetoric and Writing 3
Hours chosen from: 3
Musicianship  
Hours chosen from: Ensemble 1
First-Year Signature Course (090) 3
F A 101F Steer Your Future in the Arts 1
Free Elective 2
 Hours15
Semester 2
MUS 201N Beginning Music Performance: Second-Semester Class Piano 2
MUS 312C Music and Culture 3
Hours chosen from: 3
Musicianship  
Hours chosen from: Ensemble 1
Mathematics (020) 3
Humanities (040) 3
Free Elective 2
 Hours17
Year 2
Semester 1
MUS 214C Beginning Composition 2
Music Literature 3
Hours chosen from: Ensemble 1
Hours chosen from: 2
Ear Training and Sight-Singing (Part A)  
Hours chosen from: 3
Structure of Tonal Music (Part A)  
Natural Science and Technology, Part I (030) 3
U.S. History (060) 3
 Hours17
Semester 2
Music Literature 3
Hours chosen from: Ensemble 1
Additional Humanities (040) 3
Natural Science and Technology, Part I (030) 3
U.S. History (060) 3
Free Elective 2
 Hours15
Year 3
Semester 1
MUS 224G Intermediate Composition 2
Upper-divsion MUS course 3
Foreign Language - Fine Arts 6
Natural Science and Technology, Part II (093) 3
 Hours14
Semester 2
MUS 224G Intermediate Composition 2
Upper-division MUS course 3
Additional Visual and Performing Arts (050) 3
Additional Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours14
Year 4
Semester 1
MUS 224L Advanced Composition 2
Upper-division MUS course 3
Humanities (040) 3
American and Texas Government (070) 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours14
Semester 2
MUS 224L Advanced Composition 2
Upper-division MUS course 3
American and Texas Government (070) 3
Communication (010) 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours14
 Total Hours120

Requirements

All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.

Concentration: Composition
Hours chosen from:4
Intermediate Composition (taken twice)
Hours chosen from:4
Advanced Composition (taken twice)
Approval of the music theory and composition faculty
Subtotal8
Major (see details below)51
Degree (see details below)16
Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required.6
Subtotal73
General Education
Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total)39
Foreign Language - Fine Arts (Note: this requirement may already be fulfilled by high school coursework)
Subtotal39
College Requirements - Fine Arts
General University Requirements
Total Hours120

Major - Music (BAMusic)

Major
Performance (as described in College Requirements - Fine Arts ) 8
MUS 201MBeginning Music Performance: Class Piano2
MUS 201NBeginning Music Performance: Second-Semester Class Piano (Completed to the satisfaction of faculty for students whose principal instrument is not piano)2
Music Literature and Music Theory
MUS 605Musicianship6
MUS 411Ear Training and Sight-Singing4
MUS 612Structure of Tonal Music6
MUS 312CMusic and Culture3
Hours chosen from:6
Introduction to Music in World Cultures
Introduction to Popular Music in World Cultures
Topics in Music of World Cultures
History of Music I
History of Music II
History of Music III
Topics in The Music of the Americas
Topics in Ethnomusicology Areas
Other courses from a list approved by the Musicology/Ethnomusicology Division
Music Elective
Hours chosen from: upper-division coursework in Music. A list of courses recommended by the faculty advisor toward various academic and professional pursuits can be found on the Butler School of Music website.12
Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. (Same as with music may not be counted toward this requirement)2
Total Hours51

Additional Requirements and Policies

Advancement to Upper-Division Standing

To advance to upper-division standing in the program, the student must meet the following requirements:

  1. Upper-division standing at the University
  2. A grade point average of at least 2.50 for all coursework taken in residence at the University
  3. Completion of the following or their equivalents with a grade point average of at least 2.50: 
    MUS 201MBeginning Music Performance: Class Piano2
    MUS 201NBeginning Music Performance: Second-Semester Class Piano (required only for students whose principal instrument is not piano )2
    MUS 605Musicianship6
    MUS 411Ear Training and Sight-Singing4
    MUS 612Structure of Tonal Music6
    MUS 312CMusic and Culture3
    Hours chosen from: music literature chosen to complete major requirement3

 Degree-Bachelor of Arts in Music (BAMusic)

F A 101FSteer Your Future in the Arts1
Foreign Language - Fine Arts6
Humanities Hours chosen from: AFR, AMS, AHC, AAS, ANS, C C, C L, E, EUS, HIS, J S, LAS, MAS, MES, PHL, R S, REE, RHE, WGS, or three hours of additional foreign language3
Social and Behavioral Sciences Hours chosen from: ANT, CIV, CMS, ECO, EDP, GRG, GOV, HDF, LIN, PSY, SOC3
Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts HR ADV, ARI, ARC, ARH, AET, CRW, DES, ENS, F A, ITD, LAR, RTF, ART, T D 3
Total Hours16