Theory BM

Overview

The Bachelor of Music in Theory is offered by the Department of Music Studies.

The Bachelor in Music in Theory program prepares its majors to be well-rounded practical musicians able to apply skills and knowledge to performance, composition, analysis, research and teaching.

Students must select one of the following concentrations:

  • Bassoon
  • Cello
  • Clarinet
  • Classical Guitar
  • Double Bass
  • Euphonium
  • Flute
  • French Horn
  • Harp
  • Harpsichord
  • Oboe
  • Percussion
  • Piano
  • Saxophone
  • Trombone
  • Trumpet
  • Tuba
  • Viola
  • Violin
  • Voice

Special Admissions Requirements

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

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: BC-THRY-BMUS

Contact Information

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

Learn more about the Bachelor of Music in Theory.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2025-2026. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2025 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Requirements

The Bachelor of Music in Theory is conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 123 credits. This major requires a concentration; the available concentrations are Instrumental (options include Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Classical Guitar, Double Bass, Euphonium, Flute, French Horn, Harp, Harpsichord, Oboe, Percussion, Saxophone, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Viola, and Violin), Piano, and Voice.

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 (Instrumental Concentration)

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 II (Take two times for six total credits)6
Music History
MUST 2703Music in History3
MUST 2704Music in History3
MUST 3696Music in History3
Counterpoint
MUST 4717Counterpoint3
Orchestration
MUST 3713Orchestration3
Keyboard Harmony
MUST 3741Keyboard Harmony3
Analysis
MUST 4718Analysis3
Basic Conducting
MUSC 2323Basic Conducting1
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
MUSC 3405Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
MUSC 3406Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
Composition
MUST 2748Composition I2
Voice
MUSC 1211Voice Class1
MUSC 1212Voice Class1
Foreign Language 1
Foreign Language I4
Foreign Language II4
Foreign Language I4
Foreign Language II4
Instrumental Concentration
MUSC 1501Instrumental Concentration2
MUSC 1502Instrumental Concentration2
MUSC 2501Instrumental Concentration2
MUSC 2502Instrumental Concentration2
MUSC 3501Instrumental Concentration2
MUSC 3502Instrumental Concentration2
Ensembles
Take any combination of the following eight courses for a total of 5 credits:5
MUSC 1428
Accompanying and Piano Ensemble (Take any one five times)
MUSC 1429
Accompanying and Piano Ensemble
MUSC 3300
Choral Ensemble
MUSC 4300
Concert Choir
MUSC 4310
Graduate Conductors Choir
MUSC 4500
Instrumental Ensemble
MUSC 4510
Instrumental Ensemble
MUSC 4520
Ensemble
Electives
Free Electives4
Total Credit Hours123
1

Two foreign languages, through level II, are required.

Program Requirements (Piano Concentration)

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 II (Take two times for six total credits)6
Music History
MUST 2703Music in History3
MUST 2704Music in History3
MUST 3696Music in History3
Counterpoint
MUST 4717Counterpoint3
Orchestration
MUST 3713Orchestration3
Keyboard Harmony
MUST 3741Keyboard Harmony3
Analysis
MUST 4718Analysis3
Basic Conducting
MUSC 2323Basic Conducting1
Composition
MUST 2748Composition I2
Voice
MUSC 1211Voice Class1
MUSC 1212Voice Class1
Foreign Language 1
Foreign Language I4
Foreign Language II4
Foreign Language I4
Foreign Language II4
Piano Concentration
MUSC 1401Piano Concentration2
MUSC 1402Piano Concentration2
MUSC 2401Piano Concentration2
MUSC 2402Piano Concentration2
MUSC 3401Piano Concentration2
MUSC 3402Piano Concentration2
Ensembles
Take any combination of the following eight courses for a total of 5 credits:5
MUSC 1428
Accompanying and Piano Ensemble
MUSC 1429
Accompanying and Piano Ensemble
MUSC 3300
Choral Ensemble
MUSC 4300
Concert Choir
MUSC 4310
Graduate Conductors Choir
MUSC 4500
Instrumental Ensemble
MUSC 4510
Instrumental Ensemble
MUSC 4520
Ensemble
Electives
Free Electives10
Total Credit Hours123
1

Two foreign languages, through level II, are required.

Program Requirements (Voice Concentration)

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 II (Take two times for six total credits)6
Music History
MUST 2703Music in History3
MUST 2704Music in History3
MUST 3696Music in History3
Counterpoint
MUST 4717Counterpoint3
Orchestration
MUST 3713Orchestration3
Keyboard Harmony
MUST 3741Keyboard Harmony3
Analysis
MUST 4718Analysis3
Basic Conducting
MUSC 2323Basic Conducting1
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
MUSC 3405Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
MUSC 3406Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
Composition
MUST 2748Composition I2
Voice
MUSC 1211Voice Class1
MUSC 1212Voice Class1
Foreign Language 1
Foreign Language I4
Foreign Language II4
Foreign Language I4
Foreign Language II4
Voice Concentration
MUSC 1201Voice Concentration2
MUSC 1202Voice Concentration2
MUSC 2201Voice Concentration2
MUSC 2202Voice Concentration2
MUSC 3201Voice Concentration2
MUSC 3202Voice Concentration2
Ensembles
Take any combination of the following eight courses for a total of 5 credits:5
MUSC 1428
Accompanying and Piano Ensemble
MUSC 1429
Accompanying and Piano Ensemble
MUSC 3300
Choral Ensemble
MUSC 4300
Concert Choir
MUSC 4310
Graduate Conductors Choir
MUSC 4500
Instrumental Ensemble
MUSC 4510
Instrumental Ensemble
MUSC 4520
Ensemble
Electives
Free Electives4
Total Credit Hours123
1

Two foreign languages, through level II, are required.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Music in Theory

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2025-2026 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
MUSC 1211 Voice Class 1
MUSC 1405 Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1 1
Choral/Instrumental Ensemble 1
MUST 1711
or MUST 1911
 Theory I
or Honors Theory I
 4
ENG 0802
or ENG 0812
or ENG 0902
 Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW]
or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
 4
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] 4
Select one of the following: 2
MUSC 1201
 Voice Concentration  
MUSC 1401
 Piano Concentration  
MUSC 1501
 Instrumental Concentration  
 Credit Hours17
Spring
MUSC 1212 Voice Class 1
MUSC 1406 Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1 1
Choral/Instrumental Ensemble 1
MUST 1712
or MUST 1912
 Theory II
or Honors Theory II
 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Select one of the following: 2
MUSC 1202
 Voice Concentration  
MUSC 1402
 Piano Concentration  
MUSC 1502
 Instrumental Concentration  
 Credit Hours15
Year 2
Fall
MUSC 2405 Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1 1
Choral/Instrumental Ensemble 1
MUST 2703 Music in History 3
MUST 2711
or MUST 2911
 Theory III
or Honors Theory III
 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
IH 0851
or IH 0951
 Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
 3
Select one of the following: 2
MUSC 2201
 Voice Concentration  
MUSC 2401
 Piano Concentration  
MUSC 2501
 Instrumental Concentration  
 Credit Hours17
Spring
MUSC 2406 Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1 1
Choral/Instrumental Ensemble 1
MUST 2704 Music in History 3
MUST 2712
or MUST 2912
 Theory IV
or Honors Theory IV
 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
IH 0852
or IH 0952
 Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
 3
Select one of the following: 2
MUSC 2202
 Voice Concentration  
MUSC 2402
 Piano Concentration  
MUSC 2502
 Instrumental Concentration  
 Credit Hours17
Year 3
Fall
MUSC 3405 Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1 1
Choral/Instrumental Ensemble 1
MUST 3696 Music in History [WI] 3
MUST 4717 Counterpoint 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Foreign Language Course # 1 2 4
Select one of the following: 2
MUSC 3201
 Voice Concentration  
MUSC 3401
 Piano Concentration  
MUSC 3501
 Instrumental Concentration  
 Credit Hours17
Spring
MUSC 3406 Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1 1
MUST 3896 Theory Seminar II [WI] 3
MUST 4718 Analysis 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Foreign Language Course # 2 2 4
Select one of the following: 2
MUSC 3202
 Voice Concentration  
MUSC 3402
 Piano Concentration  
MUSC 3502
 Instrumental Concentration  
 Credit Hours16
Year 4
Fall
MUSC 2323 Basic Conducting 1
MUST 3713 Orchestration 3
MUST 3741 Keyboard Harmony 3
MUST 2748 Composition I 2
Foreign Language Course # 3 2 4
 Credit Hours13
Spring
MUST 3896 Theory Seminar II [WI] 3
Foreign Language Course # 4 2 4
Free Elective 4
 Credit Hours11
 Total Credit Hours123
1

Students in the Piano Concentration are not required to take Secondary Piano Courses and may select a Free Elective instead.

2

Two foreign languages, through level II, are required.