Degree Programs

The School of Music awards the Bachelor of Music degree. Majors are offered in performance, composition, composition & theory, music education, and musicology.

The Bachelor of Arts in Music is offered through the College of Arts & Sciences.

Degree Requirements

To attain the MusB, each student must meet the following requirements:

1. Satisfactory completion of all courses in the chosen program of study as prescribed by the School of Music
2. Completion of at least 132 semester credits
3. Registration for eight semesters as a full-time student or the equivalent
4. Demonstration of proficiency in all technical or professional courses, including a satisfactory recital at the senior level for performance majors and a recital of original compositions for composition majors.

Performance Requirement (Applied Music)

Programs of study within the School of Music vary according to degree sought, area of specialization, and major instrument. Every undergraduate degree candidate in music must study a major instrument. Instruction is offered in the following areas: Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Double Bass, Euphonium, Flute, Harp, Horn, Oboe, Percussion, Piano, Saxophone, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Viola, Violin, and  Voice.

Each student taking applied music is assigned to a member of the faculty for private instruction. Individual instruction is given in half-hour or hour lessons. An effort is made to consider the student’s preference in studio assignment. Students prepare and present recitals under the tutelage of a School of Music faculty member. Recital Permission Examinations must be passed before the scheduled recital.

Proficiency Levels

The School of Music employs the following system of levels to assess a student’s preparation or attainment in music performance.

Undergraduate Levels 1–8

These levels measure the student’s progress through the undergraduate program. Normally students progress one level each semester. Level 1 is the lowest level permitted for credit on the student’s major instrument. Level 6 is the minimum level required for graduation of students not majoring in performance. Level 8 is the minimum level required for graduation of performance majors.

Musical Organizations

Every full-time undergraduate student is required to perform in a musical organization for credit every semester in residence, up to a maximum of eight semesters. Music education students are exempt from musical organization during their semester of full-time student teaching practicum. In the junior and senior years, piano majors may enroll in Accompaniment Lab (MU 656) as an alternate activity that fulfills the requirement of participation in musical organizations.

Choral Requirements (CFA MU 653 and CFA MU 654)

For students who are not concentrating in an orchestral instrument, these organizations include the following:

Students must register for two ensembles each semester including CFA MU 653 Symphonic Chorus, and one of the CFA MU 654 sections to be determined by audition. All undergraduate voice, keyboard, and musicology majors must audition for placement in one of the ensembles with a CFA MU 654 number. Freshman vocal performance majors must also attend the Movement Lab.

Registration

1. The student’s registration must be Symphonic Chorus (CFA MU 653) for .5 credit and one of the ensembles under the MU 654 number for .5 credit.
2. Because placement cannot be determined until an audition is completed, the 654 section for purposes of preregistration is X1. Once assignment has been made, the School of Music administration will substitute the appropriate section for X1.

All incoming and returning students must sign up electronically for an audition during the first days of the fall term. Those undergraduate students selected by the faculty for Opera Workshop should combine that registration (CFA MU 651) with one of the 654 sections, each for .5 credit.

Orchestra/Wind Ensemble—CFA MU 650

Students concentrating in an orchestral instrument are placed in Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and/or Wind Ensemble.

Auditions

Initial assignments to large instrumental ensembles, and seating within them, will be made on the basis of auditions held during the first week of school.

Each new and returning instrumentalist planning to participate in CFA MU 650 must audition. The audition will last approximately ten minutes. Sign up for auditions as well as audition repertoire is available online through the Music Student Resources link on our website. We advise students not to delay signing up before available times fill up quickly.

Music History Requirement

All undergraduate music majors are required to take four semesters of music history. MU 221/223 History and Literature of Music I and MU 222/224 History and Literature of Music II are required. The remaining music history requirements may be taken from a selection of elective offerings.

The list of electives is broken down into Series A and Series B. In order to take any course in Series A (up to MU 329/339), which includes all of the period courses along with Opera and Performance Practice, the prerequisites are MU 221/223 and MU 222/224.

Courses in Series B (beginning with MU 340/350), comprising non-Western, jazz, and popular repertories, as well as interdisciplinary topics, are open to all students and do not require a prerequisite.

Musicology Program Outline

Candidates for the MusM may concentrate in composition, conducting, historical performance, music education, music theory, musicology, or performance.

Applying

Applicants must apply online at www.bu.edu/cfa. Two recommendations, normally from teachers, official transcripts from all colleges attended, a two-page statement of purpose explaining why the candidate is applying and his/her career goals, and a non-refundable application fee are required of all applicants. Performance programs require a complete repertory list; some departments have additional requirements. Check online for the full list of departmental application requirements. Please note: performance applicants must audition in person if residing within 300 miles of Boston.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must have: (1) a bachelor’s degree from a school or college with a major in the subject in which the degree is sought, or with credits equivalent to the corresponding curriculum at Boston University, and (2) demonstrated talent and ability in performance, scholarship, or composition sufficient to promise superior accomplishment at the graduate level.

Applicants in musicology are required to submit (1) an example of a term paper in music history from undergraduate work or a special paper prepared on a musical topic; and (2) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) verbal, quantitative, and analytical scores.

Program of Study

General Degree Requirements

The MusM is granted upon successful completion of a program of study and terminal projects appropriate to the student’s field of specialization. Students must complete a minimum of 32 semester credits with grades no lower than B– in graduate-level coursework. All degree requirements must be completed within five years from the date of matriculation. Students may also be required to take prerequisite courses based on the result of the required proficiency examination.

Master of Music Comprehensive Reviews

A satisfactory comprehensive review or examination is required for graduation. The faculty in each major area determines standards for this review and its format, and conducts the evaluation. In each case, the comprehensive review concentrates on the major area and other related fields. Unsatisfactory performance on this review may require remedial work and/or a repetition of the review after counseling with the student’s advisor. Descriptions of the departmental comprehensive reviews or examinations are found in the School of Music Graduate Handbook, available to enrolled students on the School of Music website.