Northwestern University Bienen School of Music 26 courses
Bachelor of Music degrees in composition require a minimum of 48 units, and include core music requirements (15 units), major requirements (19 units), Foundational Disciplines (6 units), and elective requirements (8 units). A minimum of six courses outside of Bienen are required to graduate. Dual Degree students disregard this section and follow the Foundational Discipline requirements of their other school.
| One MUSICOL elective | credits |
| One 20th/21st century Music Studies elective | credits |
| Three quarters ensemble | credits |
| Empirical and Deductive Reasoning | credits |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | credits |
| Historical Studies | credits |
| Ethical and Evaluative Thinking | credits |
| Literature and Arts | credits |
| English Composition | credits |
| Electives (8 units, either music or non-music courses) | credits |
| Business/Finance Overlay course (may double count with any other requirement) | credits |
| Note: The six units of required Foundational Discipline courses must represent six of the seven categories. Foundational Disciplines may double count with any major or minor requirements other than the primary music major. There is no limit on the nu | credits |
Music Core Requirements
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUSIC 111-1 | Music Theory I | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 111-2 | Music Theory II | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 111-3 | Music Theory III | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 211-1 | Music Theory IV | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 211-2 | Music Theory V | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 211-3 | Music Theory VI | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 126-1 | Aural Skills I | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 126-2 | Aural Skills II | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 126-3 | Aural Skills III | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 226-1 | Aural Skills IV | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 226-2 | Aural Skills V | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 226-3 | Aural Skills VI | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 127-1 | Keyboard Skills 1 | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 127-2 | Keyboard Skills 2 | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 127-3 | Keyboard Skills 3 | 0.5 |
| MUSIC 214-0 | The Classical Canon | 1 |
| MUSIC 215-0 | Performers and Performance | 1 |
| MUSIC 216-0 | Music in the Present | 1 |
| CONDUCT 326-0 | Foundations of Conducting | 1 |
| Total Music Core Requirements | 15 credits | |
Composition Major Requirements
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS_COMP 112-0 | Applied Composition for Music Majors | 1 |
| MUS_COMP 212-0 | Applied Composition for Music Majors | 1 |
| MUS_COMP 312-0 | Applied Composition for Music Majors | 1 |
| MUS_COMP 314-1 | Instrumentation | 1 |
| MUS_COMP 314-2 | Orchestration | 1 |
| MUS_THRY 316-0 | 16th Century Counterpoint | 1 |
| Total Composition Major Requirements | 19 credits | |
Composition Major Requirements
One elective course in MUS_TECH
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS_COMP 380-0 | Senior Recital | 0 |
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