Hours required and general/college requirements

A minimum of 129 hours, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Music degree as specified in the “University Core Curriculum ” in the Academics section of this catalog and the College of Music  requirements.

Major requirements

34-37 hours, including:

• MUCP 1180 - Contemporary Materials and Techniques I
• MUCP 1190 - Contemporary Materials and Techniques II
• MUCP 2180 - Intermediate Composition I
• MUCP 2190 - Intermediate Composition II
• MUCP 2200 - Composition Seminar
• MUCP 3180 - Advanced Composition I
• MUCP 3190 - Advanced Composition II
• MUCP 3320 - Instrumentation
• MUCP 3670 - Introduction to Electroacoustic Music
• MUCP 4180 - Advanced Composition III
• MUCP 4195 - Senior Composition Capstone Project

Followed by

• MUAC (1000-level applied concentration) (8)
• MUAC (3000-level applied concentration; any one instrument or voice) (4)

•  

• MUAG 1013 - Keyboard Skills for Music Majors

• and/or

• MUAG 1014 - Keyboard Skills for Music Majors (may be waived by successful completion of the Piano Proficiency upon entrance to UNT, and replaced by 2 credits of MUAS 1000-level applied secondary)

•  

• MUAG 3800 - Fundamentals of Conducting
• MUET 3030 - Music Cultures of the World  (may be used to satisfy the Language, Philosophy and Culture requirement of the University Core Curriculum)
• MUMH 3500 - Music History and Literature to 1750 (may be used to satisfy a portion of the Component Area Options requirement of the University Core Curriculum)
• MUMH 3510 - Music History and Literature Since 1750 (may be used to satisfy a portion of the Component Area Options requirement of the University Core Curriculum)
• MULB, Music Laboratory (1000 level) (any music laboratory; 4 must be band, orchestra or choir) (each long term/semester; minimum of 8)
• PHYS 1270 - Science and Technology of Musical Sound (may be used to satisfy a portion of the Life and Physical Sciences requirement of the University Core Curriculum)

Theory requirements

21 hours of music theory, including:

• MUTH 1400 - Theory I (or credit by exam)
• MUTH 1410 - Aural Skills I (or credit by exam)
• MUTH 1500 - Theory II (or credit by exam)
• MUTH 1510 - Aural Skills II (or credit by exam)
• MUTH 2400 - Theory III (or credit by exam)
• MUTH 2410 - Aural Skills III (or credit by exam)
• MUTH 2500 - Theory IV (or credit by exam)
• MUTH 2510 - Aural Skills IV (or credit by exam)
• MUTH 3410 - Sixteenth-Century Counterpoint
• MUTH 3420 - Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint
• MUTH 3510 - Form Analysis

Electives

5-8 hours (or as many as needed to complete the requirements for the degree).

Supplemental information

1. Any music major may begin the undergraduate composition program by enrolling in MUCP 1180  - MUCP 1190  (Beginning Composition I and II), which is to be taken either concurrently with or following successful completion of MUTH 1400  - MUTH 1410  or MUTH 1500  - MUTH 1510 . Continuation in the program is contingent upon meeting the following requirements:
   1. Completion of the following with no grade lower than a B
      • MUCP 1180 - Contemporary Materials and Techniques I
          
      • MUCP 1190 - Contemporary Materials and Techniques II
          
   2. Completion of the following with no grade lower than a B
      • MUTH 1400 - Theory I
          
      • MUTH 1410 - Aural Skills I
          
      • MUTH 1500 - Theory II
          
      • MUTH 1510 - Aural Skills II
          
   3. Successful completion of the Freshman Barrier Examination (see Composition Student Handbook composition.music.unt.edu/composition-handbook);
   4. Acceptance at the concentration level on an instrument or voice;
   5. Continuous enrollment in a music laboratory;
   6. Regular attendance at composition division events; and
   7. Consent of the composition faculty.
2. Only those students who have fulfilled the following requirements by the end of the term/semester they are enrolled in MUCP 2190  will be allowed to major in composition:
   1. Completion of following with no grade lower than B
      • MUCP 2180 - Intermediate Composition I
          
      • MUCP 2190 - Intermediate Composition II
          
      • MUTH 2400 - Theory III
          
      • MUTH 2410 - Aural Skills III
          
      • MUTH 2500 - Theory IV
          
      • MUTH 2510 - Aural Skills IV
          
   2. Successful completion of Upper Divisional Examination;
   3. Successful completion of Piano Proficiency Examination;
   4. Continuous enrollment in concentration instrument/voice with no grade lower than B;
   5. Continuous enrollment in a music laboratory;
   6. Regular attendance at composition division events; and
   7. Composition faculty recommendation of continuation in the program following jury review.
3. Composition majors must meet with the degree program advisor each term/semester until the first 60 hours of course work are completed. It is highly recommended that students continue to meet with the advisor on a regular basis throughout the remainder of the degree program.
4. All students enrolled in composition lessons are expected to attend division events, including concerts, reading sessions, seminars and weekly Music Now departmentals. Failure to attend these events may result in a lower composition lesson grade. This requirement is additional to any other attendance and assigned work expectations of the course. Exceptions must be approved in advance by the composition instructor.
5. Composition majors must achieve a grade of B or better in all required theory and composition courses in order to remain in the program.
6. Students may enroll in no more than one composition lesson each term/semester.
7. Composition majors are expected to present at least one public performance and/or reading of an original composition each semester; this may include Spectrum programs, composer forums, concerts, reading sessions, student recitals, or performances at off-campus venues.
8. Composition degree candidates are to maintain a portfolio that includes completed works, recordings and a record of works and performances. This portfolio is submitted to the composition faculty for evaluation at the senior capstone project hearing.
9. During the senior year a Senior Composition Capstone Project of original work will be presented, the content of which will be determined in consultation with the composition instructor and approved by the composition faculty in a hearing at the beginning end of the term/semester in which prior to that when the senior capstone is presented. The fulfillment of this requirement is contingent upon approval of the senior capstone and portfolio by the composition faculty. Students must be enrolled in MUCP 4195  during the term/semester in which the capstone is presented.
10. Candidates must participate in a music laboratory each long term/semester they are enrolled and must complete a minimum of eight terms/semesters of laboratory requirements, four of which must be in band, orchestra or choir. Any deviation from this plan must be approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
11. Candidates must pass the Concentration Proficiency Examination in the principal instrument or voice prior to the senior capstone project hearing.
12. Completion of the University Core Curriculum (42 hours). See “University Core Curriculum  requirements.” Some courses required on degree plans may be used to fulfill requirements under Communication, Mathematics, Life and Physical Sciences, American History, Government/Political Science, Creative Arts, Language, Philosophy and Culture, Social and Behavioral Sciences and Core Option (Component Area Option) categories of the University Core Curriculum. 

• Communication (6) — ENGL 1310  and ENGL 1320  recommended.
• Mathematics (3) — MATH 1580  recommended.
• Life and Physical Sciences (6) — met by PHYS 1270  and an additional laboratory science course.
• Language, Philosophy and Culture (3) — met by MUET 3030 .
• American History (6) — met by HIST 2610  and HIST 2620 .
• Government/Political Science (6) — met by PSCI 2306  and PSCI 2305 .
• Creative Arts (3) — met by MUMH 1610 , MUMH 2050 , MUMH 2060 , MUMH 3100  or MUMH 3200 .
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (3).
• Core Option/Component Area Option Courses (6) — met by MUMH 3500  and MUMH 3510 .

Proficiency examinations 

• Piano Proficiency Examination. 
• Successful completion of the Upper Division Examination in applied lessons (MUAC and MUAM). 

Four-year degree plan (example)

The following four-year plan is one example of a variety of ways in which you can complete your chosen degree in four years, and will serve as a guide for you to design your pathway to degree completion. Variations will depend on whether you need to take prerequisites or have college credit from exams or dual enrollment.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4