The Bachelor of Music (BM) degree in Composition offers composers professional training for a variety of career paths. The composition program is nationally accredited and recognized for its inclusive environment that fosters academic growth and creative development through classes in composition, counterpoint, orchestration, arranging, music technology, and film scoring. We’ll give you the tools you need to experiment and grow!
The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.
Music Composition Major, Bachelor of Music (BM)
This program is designed to prepare students for composing and presenting compositions in a variety of genres including film scoring, orchestral, choral, wind, chamber, mixed media works, commercial music, and theater/dance work. This course of study presupposes that the student will have a strong background in musical performance on one or more instruments or voice. Entry into this degree program is by departmental interview, performance audition, and with the consent of the head of composition studies.
Grade Requirement for all majors offered by the Music Department: the minimum acceptable grade for any music course required for graduation (including transferred music courses) is ≥C.
| Required Non-Credit Music Components | ||
| CONVOCATION AND RECITAL ATTENDANCE (must be repeated each term) | ||
Junior Recital | ||
Piano Proficiency | ||
| Required Music Composition Courses | ||
| MUSC 101 & MUSC 102 & MUSC 103 | MUSIC THEORY I and MUSIC THEORY II and MUSIC THEORY III | 9 |
| MUSC 104 & MUSC 105 & MUSC 106 | SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS and SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS II and SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS III | 3 |
| MUSC 121 & MUSC 122 | PIANO CLASS II FOR MAJORS and PIANO CLASS III FOR MAJORS | 2 |
| MUSC 201 & MUSC 202 & MUSC 203 | MUSIC THEORY IV and MUSIC THEORY V and MUSIC THEORY VI | 9 |
| MUSC 204 & MUSC 205 | SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS IV and SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS V | 2 |
| MUSC 209 | COMPOSITIONAL TECHNIQUES | 2 |
| MUSC 250 & MUSC 251 & MUSC 252 | MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE I and MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE II and MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE III | 12 |
| MUSC 305 | COUNTERPOINT | 2 |
| MUSC 310 | BASIC CONDUCTING | 2 |
| MUSC 388 | PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBAL MUSIC | 4 |
| MUSC 401 | ADVANCED ANALYSIS | 2 |
| MUSC 409 | COMPOSITION | 1-5 |
| MUSC 470 | SENIOR RECITAL | 2 |
| Applied Music Requirements–must be repeated | 12 | |
| INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE | ||
| INSTRUCTION ON VOICE OR INSTRUMENT | ||
| INSTRUCTION ON VOICE OR INSTRUMENT | ||
| INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE | ||
| Major Music Ensemble Requirement Options–must be repeated | 12 | |
| MARCHING BAND | ||
| WIND ENSEMBLE | ||
| SYMPHONIC BAND | ||
| ORCHESTRA | ||
| SYMPHONIC CHOIR | ||
| CONCERT CHOIR | ||
| Minor Music Ensemble Requirements–choose a minimum of two | 2 | |
| CONCERT JAZZ ORCHESTRA | ||
| REPERTORY JAZZ ENSEMBLE | ||
| COLLEGIANS | ||
| OPERA WORKSHOP | ||
| CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLES | ||
| GUITAR ENSEMBLE | ||
| PIANO ENSEMBLE | ||
| POP COMBO | ||
| Music Electives at the 300- or 400-level | 4 | |
| Required Senior Capstone/Thesis | ||
| MUSC 490 | MUSIC SENIOR CAPSTONE | 4 |
| Total Credits | 86-90 | |
The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.
Courses may be offered in different terms and not all courses are offered every term, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. There may be some courses that have required prerequisites not listed in the plan, review the course descriptions for information. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| ENGL 101 | 5 | ENGL 201 | 5 | MATH 107 | 5 |
| MUSC 101 | 3 | MUSC 102 | 3 | MUSC 103 | 3 |
| MUSC 104 | 1 | MUSC 105 | 1 | MUSC 105 | 1 |
| MUSC 108 | 1 | MUSC 108 | 1 | MUSC 108 | 1 |
| MUSC 110 | 0 | MUSC 110 | 0 | MUSC 110 | 0 |
| Major Music Ensemble Elective2 | 1 | MUSC 121 | 1 | MUSC 122 | 1 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 3 | Major Music Ensemble Elective2 | 1 | Major Music Ensemble Elective2 | 1 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 3 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| MUSC 110 | 0 | MUSC 110 | 0 | MUSC 110 | 0 |
| MUSC 201 | 3 | MUSC 202 | 3 | MUSC 203 | 3 |
| MUSC 204 | 1 | MUSC 205 | 1 | MUSC 208 | 1 |
| MUSC 208 | 1 | MUSC 208 | 1 | MUSC 252 | 4 |
| MUSC 244 | 2 | MUSC 209 | 2 | Major Music Ensemble Elective2 | 1 |
| MUSC 250 | 4 | MUSC 251 | 4 | Humanities & Arts BACR 21 | 5 |
| Major Music Ensemble Elective2 | 1 | Major Music Ensemble Elective2 | 1 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 1 |
| Humanities & Arts BACR 11 | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| MUSC 110 | 0 | MUSC 110 | 0 | MUSC 110 | 0 |
| MUSC 308 | 1 | MUSC 308 | 1 | MUSC 305 | 2 |
| MUSC 388 (Global Studies - graduation requirement) | 4 | MUSC 310 | 2 | MUSC 308 | 1 |
| Major Music Ensemble Elective2 | 1 | MUSC 469 | 3 | MUSC 312 | 2 |
| Minor Music Ensemble Elective3 | 1 | Major Music Ensemble Elective2 | 1 | Major Music Ensemble Elective2 | 1 |
| Social Science BACR 11 | 5 | Social Science BACR 21 | 5 | Junior Recital | 0 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 3 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 3 | Natural Science BACR 11 | 5 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 4 | ||||
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| MUSC 110 | 0 | MUSC 110 | 0 | MUSC 110 | 0 |
| MUSC 401 | 2 | MUSC 408 | 1 | MUSC 408 | 1 |
| MUSC 408 | 1 | MUSC 409 | 1 | MUSC 409 | 1 |
| MUSC 409 | 1 | MUSC 490 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement) | 4 | MUSC 470 | 2 |
| Major Music Ensemble Elective2 | 1 | Major Music Ensemble Elective2 | 1 | Major Music Ensemble Elective2 | 1 |
| Minor Music Ensemble Elective3 | 1 | Music Elective4 | 2 | Music Elective4 | 1 |
| Music Elective4 | 1 | Diversity - graduation requirement1 | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| Natural Science BACR 21 | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 1 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 3 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 15 | 14 | |||
| Total Credits 180 | |||||
University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
Major Music Ensemble Requirement Options–must be repeated for 12 credits.
Minor Music Ensemble Requirements–choose a minimum of two.
Music Electives– four credits at the 300- or 400-level.
Notes: may be repeated.
Pre-requisites: MUSC 204; Piano Proficiency Exam clearance.
This course is the practical study of the techniques and devices of composition in the various primary forms.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
This course explores the role music plays in the formation of ethnic and national identities. By closely studying several contrasting music cultures, we see how music shapes attitudes toward self and other, serving to map territories that are both inclusive and exclusive, personal and cross-cultural. Skills developed in the course are analytical, critical thinking, listening, and writing.
Pre-requisites: MUSC 103.
Detailed study and analysis of music in Western civilization from its origin to modern times. The fall quarter covers antiquity through the Renaissance.
Notes: may be repeated.
Pre-requisites: MUSC 209.
Students learn to organize musical ideas into logical forms and apply the skills learned to musical works using a broad variety of media.