Overview

The Bachelor of Music in Composition, offered by the Department of Music Studies, covers courses in composition for various media, including electronic music. Creativity, the development of personal expression through music, and the assessment of music's role in the 21st-century societal context are the focal points for composition majors.

Special Admissions Requirements

See Music Admissions information on the Boyer College of Music and Dance page.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: BC-COMP-BMUS

Contact Information

Edward Latham, Music Studies Department Chair
215-204-8498
elatham@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Music in Composition.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Requirements

The Bachelor of Music in Composition is conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 credits. 

University Requirements

  • All students are required to complete the university's General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
  • All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses. The specific writing-intensive courses required for the major are MUST 3696 and MUST 3896.

Program Requirements

General Education courses32
Music Theory
MUST 1711Theory I4
or MUST 1911 Honors Theory I
MUST 1712Theory II4
or MUST 1912 Honors Theory II
MUST 2711Theory III4
or MUST 2911 Honors Theory III
MUST 2712Theory IV4
or MUST 2912 Honors Theory IV
MUST 3896Theory Seminar II3
Music History
MUST 2703Music in History3
MUST 2704Music in History3
MUST 3696Music in History3
Counterpoint
MUST 4717Counterpoint3
Orchestration
MUST 3713Orchestration3
Composition
MUST 1758Composition Lesson I3
MUST 1759Composition Lesson II3
MUST 2758Composition Lesson III3
MUST 2759Composition Lesson IV3
MUST 3758Composition Lesson V3
MUST 3759Composition Lesson VI3
MUST 4758Composition Lesson VII3
MUST 4759Composition Lesson VIII3
Intermediate Conducting
MUSC 2323Basic Conducting1
MUSC 2324Conducting Intermediate1
Secondary Piano
MUSC 1405Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
MUSC 1406Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
MUSC 2405Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
MUSC 2406Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
Music Technology
MUST 4712Computer Synthesis of Music3
MUST 4723Score Reading3
MUST 4724Printing Music Scores and Parts3
MUST 4727Electronic Music Composition: Practice, History, Theory3
MUST 4730Electronic Music Ensemble1
Ensembles
MUST 4710Early Music Ensemble1
Take any combination of the following eight courses for a total of 2 credits:2
Accompanying and Piano Ensemble
Accompanying and Piano Ensemble
Choral Ensemble
Concert Choir
Graduate Conductors Choir
Instrumental Ensemble
Instrumental Ensemble
Ensemble
Electives
Take a total of three Music Studies elective credits from MUST 1000-49993
Take a total of three Music Elective credits within the following subject areas:3
MUED 1000-4999
MUST 1000-4999
Free Electives6
Total Credit Hours124

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Music in Composition

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
MUST 1758 Composition Lesson I 3
MUSC 1405 Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1
MUSC 2323 Basic Conducting 1
MUST 1711
Theory I
or Honors Theory I
4
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW]
or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
MUST 1759 Composition Lesson II 3
MUSC 1406 Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1
MUSC 2324 Conducting Intermediate 1
MUST 1712
Theory II
or Honors Theory II
4
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ 4
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
3
 Credit Hours16
Year 2
Fall
MUST 2758 Composition Lesson III 3
MUSC 2405 Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1
MUST 2711
Theory III
or Honors Theory III
4
MUST 2703 Music in History 3
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring
MUST 2759 Composition Lesson IV 3
MUSC 2406 Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1
MUST 2712
Theory IV
or Honors Theory IV
4
MUST 2704 Music in History 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours17
Year 3
Fall
MUST 3758 Composition Lesson V 3
MUST 3696 Music in History [WI] 3
MUST 4717 Counterpoint 3
Ensemble 1
MUST 4727 Electronic Music Composition: Practice, History, Theory 3
Music Elective (select from MUSC, MUED and MUST 1000-4999) 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
MUST 3759 Composition Lesson VI 3
MUST 4712 Computer Synthesis of Music 3
Ensemble 1
MUST 4723 Score Reading 3
MUST 3713 Orchestration 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Year 4
Fall
MUST 4758 Composition Lesson VII 3
MUST 4724 Printing Music Scores and Parts 3
MUST 4730 Electronic Music Ensemble 1
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours13
Spring
MUST 4759 Composition Lesson VIII 3
MUST 3896 Theory Seminar II [WI] 3
MUST 4710 Early Music Ensemble 1
Music Studies Elective (select from MUST 1000-4999) 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours13
 Total Credit Hours124