Bachelor of Music in Theory

Learn more about the Bachelor of Music in Theory.

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
MUST 1712Theory II4
MUST 2711Theory III4
MUST 2712Theory IV4
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
German
GER 1001Introduction to German I4
GER 1002Introduction to German II4
GER 1003Introduction to German III3
GER 2001Intermediate3
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 Electives6
Total Credit Hours123

Program Requirements (Piano Concentration)

General Education courses32
Music Theory
MUST 1711Theory I4
MUST 1712Theory II4
MUST 2711Theory III4
MUST 2712Theory IV4
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
German
GER 1001Introduction to German I4
GER 1002Introduction to German II4
GER 1003Introduction to German III3
GER 2001Intermediate3
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 Electives6
Total Credit Hours123

Program Requirements (Voice Concentration)

General Education courses32
Music Theory
MUST 1711Theory I4
MUST 1712Theory II4
MUST 2711Theory III4
MUST 2712Theory IV4
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
German
GER 1001Introduction to German I4
GER 1002Introduction to German II4
GER 1003Introduction to German III3
GER 2001Intermediate3
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 Electives6
Total Credit Hours123

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Music in Theory

Requirements for New Students starting in the 2019-2020 Academic Year

Year 1
FallCredit Hours
MUSC 1211Voice Class1
MUSC 1405Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
Choral/Instrumental Ensemble1
MUST 1711Theory I4
ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]4
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ]4
Select one of the following:2
Voice Concentration 
Piano Concentration 
Instrumental Concentration 
 Term Credit Hours17
Spring
MUSC 1212Voice Class1
MUSC 1406Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
Choral/Instrumental Ensemble1
MUST 1712Theory II4
GenEd Breadth Course3
GenEd Breadth Course3
Select one of the following:2
Voice Concentration 
Piano Concentration 
Instrumental Concentration 
 Term Credit Hours15
Year 2
Fall
MUSC 2405Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
Choral/Instrumental Ensemble1
MUST 2703Music in History3
MUST 2711Theory III4
GenEd Breadth Course3
IH 0851 or 0951Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]3
Select one of the following:2
Voice Concentration 
Piano Concentration 
Instrumental Concentration 
 Term Credit Hours17
Spring
MUSC 2406Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
Choral/Instrumental Ensemble1
MUST 2704Music in History3
MUST 2712Theory IV4
GenEd Breadth Course3
IH 0852 or 0952Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]3
Select one of the following:2
Voice Concentration 
Piano Concentration 
Instrumental Concentration 
 Term Credit Hours17
Year 3
Fall
MUSC 3405Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
Choral/Instrumental Ensemble1
MUST 3696Music in History [WI]3
MUST 4717Counterpoint3
GenEd Breadth Course3
GER 1001Introduction to German I [LA]4
Select one of the following:2
Voice Concentration 
Piano Concentration 
Instrumental Concentration 
 Term Credit Hours17
Spring
MUSC 3406Secondary Piano for Music Majors1
MUST 3896Theory Seminar II [WI]3
MUST 4718Analysis3
GER 1002Introduction to German II [LA]4
GenEd Breadth Course3
Select one of the following:2
Voice Concentration 
Piano Concentration 
Instrumental Concentration 
 Term Credit Hours16
Year 4
Fall
MUSC 2323Basic Conducting1
MUST 3713Orchestration3
MUST 3741Keyboard Harmony3
MUST 2748Composition I2
GER 1003Introduction to German III [LB]3
 Term Credit Hours12
Spring
MUST 3896Theory Seminar II [WI]3
GER 2001Intermediate3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
 Term Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours: 123