Bachelor of Arts in Music
The Bachelor of Arts in Music is for students who desire a liberal arts education in music without a strict focus in performance. Students in the BA can pursue a general route as well as pivot toward three concentrations, as follows:
- BA in Music (General): Offers breadth and depth in a liberal arts music degree and provides students with a large selection of courses within the major and the most flexibility of all the routes in choosing music electives. The General BA route contains sufficient elective credits to be used for those students seeking Music Education licensure.
- BA in Music with concentration in Musicology & Ethnomusicology: Provides students the opportunity to explore the large-scale relationships between culture, politics, and musical repertories of the Western and non-Western world, from the past to the present. Faculty expertise runs the gamut from the Middle Ages to popular music, from Indonesia to Japan, Africa, and the Americas, and from manuscript studies to oral traditions and technology.
- BA in Music with concentration in Music Theory: Provides students the opportunity to explore the inner workings of music from all styles and periods in depth, utilizing theoretical, analytical, historical, and cultural perspectives.
- BA in Music with concentration in Global Music Studies: Provides students with opportunities to study music in a global context from a variety of disciplinary approaches, including performance, ethnomusicology, and music theory and analysis.
Since all three routes have a common first year, BA Music students will normally choose a concentration, if they wish, by the sophomore or junior year. Please note: current CFA Bachelor of Music (BM) students seeking to transfer into the BA in Music may require additional time to complete the program and should consult with their academic advisor.
The BA prepares students for graduate work and academic careers in musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, and composition, and through a choice of electives provides a base to pursue professional careers in music journalism, music librarianship, music publishing, arts management/leadership, and other wide-ranging areas of the music and arts industry.
Unique Opportunities
- Students may take up to 6 credits of private instrumental or vocal instruction and/or participate in music ensembles toward the degree. Eligibility is determined by audition and faculty availability. BA students who choose private instrumental and vocal instruction will be charged an Applied Music Fee.
- Cross-curricular experiences in the College of Fine Arts, including the popular Art Leadership Minor.
- Flexibility through electives to customize the degree toward making interdisciplinary connections between music and related fields, and toward academic or professional outcomes.
- The option of pursuing Music Education licensure through the General BA route.
Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a BA in Music are expected to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of music history, theory, and analysis, including formal and compositional idioms from the Middle Ages to the present.
- Demonstrate familiarity with world music and culture and systems of non-Western music making, including popular music.
- Understand the relationship between music and social justice, race and politics, gender, cultural contexts, and analogous artistic movements.
- Be able to connect music in a relevant, disciplinary, and interdisciplinary fashion to the effects of shifting practices of listening (societal, personal, digital) and the new modes of transmission.
Degree Requirements
The BA in Music requires a minimum total of 128 credits.
Hub Requirements
All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students pursuing the BA in Music will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Philosophical, Aesthetic, and Historical Interpretation; Quantitative Reasoning; and some requirements in the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.
Major Requirements
Students in the major take a combination of core courses in music history, music theory, and musicianship—the amount depending on the concentration—as well as a choice of required electives within the major, and a choice of non-music electives, as outlined below.
Music Theory and Aural Skills
All entering undergraduate music majors are required to take placement examinations in both music theory and aural skills. Exams are given during the Summer Orientation and at the start of each semester. Based on the results of these placement exams, students may test out of some, but not all, of the required theory and aural skills courses. Any external transfer courses in aural skills and/or music theory will be reviewed for elective credit only, and the placement exam results will supersede any transfer course equivalents.
Group Piano
All undergraduate music majors have a two-semester Group Piano requirement. A non-mandatory Keyboard Proficiency Exam is offered for students wishing to test out of this requirement.
Required courses for the major—General BA in Music (60 credits)
Complete the minimum number of credits in each category and complete a total of 60 credits in music by completing additional courses in any category, up to the listed maximums. If credit minimums in subcategories add up to less than the minimum in the larger category, then the additional credits can be satisfied by any course in the larger category.
MUSIC HISTORY AND ETHNOMUSICOLOGY (16–36 credits)
- MH 211–212 or MH 436 (4–8 credits)
- Music History (4–20 credits): MH 405, 406, 408, 409, 412, 413, 421–7, 432, 433
- Ethnomusicology (4–20 credits): MH 400, 403, 404, 407, 410, 411, 420, 430, 431, 435, 436
MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSITION (9–32 credits)
- Introductory Music Theory (6 credits): MT 101–102
- Music Theory (0–19 credits): MT 201–202, 301–302, 411, 472
- Composition (0–12 credits): MT 121–2, 341, 431, 435–436, 442
PERFORMANCE AND AURAL SKILLS (6–12 credits)
- Aural Skills (2–5 credits): MT 111–112, 211–212, 311
- Group Piano (2–3 credits): MP 111–113
- Lessons and Ensembles (2–6 credits): ML XXX, MH 561–3, MP XXX, MU 091–99, or MU 185–199
ADDITIONAL MUSIC ELECTIVES (0–23 credits)
- ME 203, 261, 306–7, 330–1, 344, 374, 382, 411–3, 430–1, 460, MP 551, AR 586, 510, 520, 530, 550
- Music courses outside of CFA: CAS HI 426, LX 120, PY 231, MET IS 419
- For other possible courses not included in the categories above, consult with advisor.
CFA EXPERIENCE (2 credits)
- FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience, to be taken in the fall semester of first year.
Students transferring into CFA will elect a substitute course in consultation with their advisor.
CAPSTONE PROJECT (4 credits)
- MU 495–496, to be completed in the spring semester of junior year and fall semester of senior year.
Other electives (68 cr)
- Per consultation with advisor, from subjects such as American studies, anthropology, communications, computer science, hearing sciences, history, Latin American studies, languages, linguistics, mathematics, management, neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, religion.
- Students are expected to fulfill most of their Hub requirements in their elective classes. Students should expect to devote about nine classes (36 credits) out of the total 68 credits of electives toward satisfying the requirements of the Hub.
- Students pursuing Music Education licensure may use these credits to fulfill additional requirements in music education and psychology beyond those included in the music electives. This typically requires an additional 7–9 credits beyond the 23 credits that count toward music electives.
- Students are strongly recommended to include at least 8 credits of language classes.
BA General suggested curriculum by semester
| First Year |
1st |
2nd |
| MT 101, 102 Music Theory 1, 2 |
3 |
3 |
| MT 111, 112 Aural Skills 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| MP 111, 112 Group Piano 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| Lesson/Ensemble |
1 |
1 |
| First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 120) |
4 |
– |
| Writing, Research, and Inquiry (e.g., WR 151/152/153) |
– |
4 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
4 |
4 |
| FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience |
2 |
– |
| Total credits |
16 |
14 |
| Second Year |
| MH 211, 212 or MH 436, 4XX |
4 |
4 |
| MT XXX |
3 |
– |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
7 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
4 |
4 |
| Total credits |
15 |
15 |
| Third Year |
| MH XXX Musicology electives |
4 |
4 |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
4 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
4 |
4 |
| Electives |
4 |
4 |
| MU 495 Capstone Project Development |
– |
2 |
| Total credits |
16 |
18 |
| Fourth Year |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
0 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
– |
4 |
| Electives |
12 |
12 |
| MU 496 Capstone Project |
2 |
– |
| Total credits |
18 |
16 |
Required courses for the major—BA in Music with a Concentration in Musicology & Ethnomusicology (60 credits)
Complete the minimum number of credits in each large and small category and complete a total of 60 credits in music by completing additional courses in any category, up to the listed maximums.
MUSIC HISTORY AND ETHNOMUSICOLOGY (24–36 credits)
- MH 211–212 or MH 436 (4–8 credits)
- Music History (4–20 credits): MH 405, 406, 408, 409, 412, 413, 421–7, 432, 433
- Ethnomusicology (4–20 credits): MH 400, 403, 404, 407, 410, 411, 420, 430, 431, 435, 436
MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSITION (9–20 credits)
- Introductory Music Theory (6 credits): MT 101–102
- Music Theory (3–14 credits): MT 201–202, 301–302, 411, 472
- Composition (0–8 credits): MT 121–2, 341–2, 431, 435–436
PERFORMANCE AND AURAL SKILLS (6–12 credits)
- Aural Skills (2–5 credits): MT 111–112, 211–212, 311
- Group Piano (2–3 credits): MP 111–113
- Lessons and Ensembles (2–6 credits): ML XXX, MH 561–3, MP XXX, MU 091–99, or MU 185–199
ADDITIONAL MUSIC ELECTIVES (0–15 credits)
- ME 203, 261, 306–7, 330–1, 344, 374, 382, 411–3, 430–1, 460, MP 551, AR 586, 510, 520, 530, 550
- Music courses outside of CFA: CAS HI 426, LX 120, PY 231, MET IS 419
- For other possible courses not included in the categories above, consult with advisor.
CFA EXPERIENCE (2 credits)
- FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience, to be taken in the fall semester of first year. Students transferring into CFA will elect a substitute course in consultation with their advisor.
CAPSTONE PROJECT (4 credits)
- MU 495–496, to be completed in the spring semester of junior year and fall semester of senior year.
Language (8 cr)
- At least two courses in a language other than English, including American Sign Language (ASL). This requirement may be satisfied with appropriate transfer credits or AP credits, or a proficiency exam administered by the CAS Romance Studies or World Languages & Literatures department (for ASL proficiency assessment, please contact the Deaf Studies program). Students whose first language is not English may satisfy this requirement with a TOEFL score of 90 or above.
Other electives (60 cr)
- Per consultation with advisor, from subjects such as American studies, anthropology, communications, computer science, hearing sciences, history, Latin American studies, languages, linguistics, mathematics, management, neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, religion.
- Students are expected to fulfill most of their Hub requirements in their elective classes. Students should expect to devote about nine classes (36 credits) out of the total 60 credits of electives toward satisfying the requirements of the Hub.
BA in Music with concentration in Musicology & Ethnomusicology sample suggested curriculum
| First Year |
1st |
2nd |
| MT 101, 102 Music Theory 1, 2 |
3 |
3 |
| MT 111, 112 Aural Skills 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| MP 111, 112 Group Piano 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| Lesson/Ensemble |
1 |
1 |
| First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 120) |
4 |
– |
| Writing, Research, and Inquiry (e.g., WR 151/152/153) |
– |
4 |
| Language |
4 |
4 |
| FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience |
2 |
– |
| Total credits |
16 |
14 |
| Second Year |
| MH 211, 212 or MH 436, 4XX |
4 |
4 |
| MH XXX Musicology electives |
4 |
4 |
| MT XXX |
3 |
– |
| Additional music courses |
– |
3 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
4 |
4 |
| Total credits |
15 |
15 |
| Third Year |
| MH XXX Musicology electives |
4 |
4 |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
4 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
8 |
8 |
| MU 495 Capstone Project Development |
– |
2 |
| Total credits |
16 |
18 |
| Fourth Year |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
0 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
– |
4 |
| Electives |
12 |
12 |
| MU 496 Capstone Project |
2 |
– |
| Total credits |
18 |
16 |
Required courses for the major—BA in Music with a Concentration in Music Theory (60 credits)
Complete the minimum number of credits in each category and complete a total of 60 credits in music by completing additional courses in any category, up to the listed maximums.
MUSIC HISTORY AND ETHNOMUSICOLOGY (16–24 credits)
- MH 211–212 or MH 436 (4–8 credits)
- Music History (4–20 credits): MH 405, 406, 408, 409, 412, 413, 421–7, 432, 433
- Ethnomusicology (4–20 credits): MH 400, 403, 404, 407, 410, 411, 420, 430, 431, 435, 436
MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSITION (20–28 credits)
- Music Theory (14 credits): MT 101–102, MT 201–202, 301
- Music Theory Topics (2–9 credits): MT 302, 411, 472
- Composition (4–12 credits): MT 121–2, 341–2, 431, 435–436
PERFORMANCE AND AURAL SKILLS (10–14 credits)
- Aural Skills (5 credits): MT 111–112, 211–212, 311
- Piano (3 credits): MP 111–113 or MP 115 or ML 501
- Lessons and Ensembles (2–6 credits): ML XXX, MH 561–563, MP XXX, MU 091–99, or MU 185–199
ADDITIONAL MUSIC ELECTIVES (0–8 credits)
- ME 203, 261, 306–7, 330–1, 344, 374, 382, 411–3, 430–1, 460, MP 551, AR 586, 510, 520, 530, 550
- Music courses outside of CFA: CAS HI 426, LX 120, PY 231, MET IS 419
- For other possible courses not included in the categories above, consult with advisor.
CFA EXPERIENCE (2 credits)
- FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience, to be taken in the fall semester of first year. Students transferring into CFA will elect a substitute course in consultation with their advisor.
CAPSTONE PROJECT (4 credits)
- MU 495–496, to be completed in the spring semester of junior year and fall semester of senior year.
Language (8 cr)
- At least two courses in a language other than English, including American Sign Language (ASL). This requirement may be satisfied with appropriate transfer credits or AP credits, or a proficiency exam administered by the CAS Romance Studies or World Languages & Literatures department (for ASL, proficiency assessment, please contact the Deaf Studies program). Students whose first language is not English may satisfy this requirement with a TOEFL score of 90 or above.
Other electives (60 cr)
- Per consultation with advisor, from subjects such as American studies, anthropology, communications, computer science, hearing sciences, history, Latin American studies, languages, linguistics, mathematics, management, neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, religion.
- Students are expected to fulfill most of their Hub requirements in their elective classes. Students should expect to devote about nine classes (36 credits) out of the total 60 credits of electives toward satisfying the requirements of the Hub.
BA in Music with concentration in Music Theory sample suggested curriculum
| First Year |
1st |
2nd |
| MT 101, 102 Music Theory 1, 2 |
3 |
3 |
| MT 111, 112 Aural Skills 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| MP 111, 112 Group Piano 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| Lesson/Ensemble |
1 |
1 |
| First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 120) |
4 |
– |
| Writing, Research, and Inquiry (e.g., WR 151/152/153) |
– |
4 |
| Language |
4 |
4 |
| FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience |
2 |
– |
| Total credits |
16 |
14 |
| Second Year |
| MH 211, 212 or MH 436, 4XX |
4 |
4 |
| MT 201, 202 |
3 |
3 |
| MT XXX Composition |
2 |
2 |
| MT 211, 212 |
1 |
1 |
| MP 113 |
1 |
– |
| Additional music courses |
1 |
1 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
4 |
4 |
| Total credits |
16 |
15 |
| Third Year |
| MH XXX Musicology electives |
4 |
4 |
| MT 301, MT XXX |
2 |
2 |
| MT 311 |
1 |
– |
| Additional music courses |
1 |
1 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
8 |
8 |
| MU 495 Capstone Project Development |
– |
2 |
| Total credits |
16 |
17 |
| Fourth Year |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
– |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
– |
4 |
| Electives |
12 |
12 |
| MU 496 Capstone Project |
2 |
– |
| Total credits |
18 |
16 |
Required courses for the major—BA in Music with a Concentration in Global Music Studies (60 credits)
Complete the minimum number of credits in each category and complete a total of 60 credits in music by completing additional courses in any category, up to the listed maximums.
MUSIC HISTORY AND ETHNOMUSICOLOGY (20–36 credits)
- MH 436 (4 credits)
- Music History (4–20 credits): MH 211–12, 405, 406, 408, 409, 412, 413, 421–7, 432, 433
- Ethnomusicology (12–20 credits): MH 400, 403, 404, 407, 410, 411, 420, 430, 431, 435, 436
MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSITION (9–26 credits)
- Introductory Music Theory (6 credits): MT 101–102
- Music Theories of the World (3 credits): MT 411
- Music Theory (0–12 credits): MT 201–202, 301–302, 472
- Composition (0–12 credits): MT 121–2, 341, 431, 435–436, 442
PERFORMANCE AND AURAL SKILLS (8–12 credits)
- Aural Skills (2–5 credits): MT 111–112, 211–212, 311
- Global Music Ensemble (6 credits): MH 561–3
- Lessons and Ensembles (0–4 credits): ML XXX, MP XXX, MU 091–99, or MU 185–199
ADDITIONAL MUSIC ELECTIVES (0–17 credits)
- ME 203, 261, 306–7, 330–1, 344, 374, 382, 411–3, 430–1, 460, MP 551, AR 586, 510, 520, 530, 550
- Music courses outside of CFA: CAS HI 426, LX 120, PY 231, MET IS 419
- For other possible courses not included in the categories above, consult with advisor.
CFA EXPERIENCE (2 credits)
- FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience, to be taken in the fall semester of first year. Students transferring into CFA will elect a substitute course in consultation with their advisor.
CAPSTONE PROJECT (4 credits)
- MU 495–496, to be completed in the spring semester of junior year and fall semester of senior year.
Language (8 cr)
- At least two courses in a language other than English, including American Sign Language (ASL). This requirement may be satisfied with appropriate transfer credits or AP credits, or a proficiency exam administered by the CAS Romance Studies or World Languages & Literatures department (for ASL proficiency assessment, please contact the Deaf Studies program). Students whose first language is not English may satisfy this requirement with a TOEFL score of 90 or above.
Other electives (60 cr)
- Per consultation with advisor, from subjects such as American studies, anthropology, communications, computer science, hearing sciences, history, Latin American studies, languages, linguistics, mathematics, management, neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, religion.
- Students are expected to fulfill most of their Hub requirements in their elective classes. Students should expect to devote about nine classes (36 credits) out of the total 60 credits of electives toward satisfying the requirements of the Hub.
BA in Music with concentration in Global Music Studies sample suggested curriculum
| First Year |
1st |
2nd |
| MT 101, 102 Music Theory 1, 2 |
3 |
3 |
| MT 111, 112 Aural Skills 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| MH 561 Global Music Ensemble |
1 |
1 |
| First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 120) |
4 |
– |
| Writing, Research, and Inquiry (e.g., WR 151/152/153) |
– |
4 |
| Language |
4 |
4 |
| FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience |
2 |
– |
| Total credits |
15 |
13 |
| Second Year |
| MH 436, 4XX Ethnomusicology |
8 |
8 |
| MT 411 Music Theories of the World |
– |
3 |
| MH 561 Global Music Ensemble |
1 |
1 |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
– |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
4 |
4 |
| Total credits |
17 |
16 |
| Third Year |
| MH XXX Musicology electives |
4 |
4 |
| MH 561 Global Music Ensemble |
1 |
1 |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
– |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
8 |
8 |
| MU 495 Capstone Project Development |
– |
2 |
| Total credits |
17 |
15 |
| Fourth Year |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
– |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
– |
4 |
| Electives |
12 |
12 |
| MU 496 Capstone Project |
2 |
– |
| Total credits |
18 |
16 |
