Portland-State-University 2024-2025 Bulletin

Composition B.M.

Program Coordinator: B. Miksch

Serving students who seek a professional degree in music with an emphasis in music composition, the B.M. in Composition provides a thorough music foundation with specialized coursework in composition, analysis, orchestration, counterpoint, and computer music. Students receive individualized instruction in composition lessons and prepare live performances of their music in concerts and recitals. Students successfully completing the B.M. in Composition will have gained the necessary skills in composition and supporting curriculum to prepare them for continued academic study or to pursue professional work in composition, generally with teaching or performing as a secondary area.

Requirements

In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, music majors seeking the professional music degree (Bachelor of Music in Composition) must complete the following courses:

Courses

Mup 190Applied Music Performance

6
Mup 290Applied Music Performance

6
Mup 390Applied Music Composition

6
Mup 490Applied Music Composition

6
Mus 046Piano Proficiency Exam

0
Mus 048Junior Recital

0
(30 minutes minimum)
Mus 049Senior Recital

0
(30 minutes minimum)
Mus 111Music Theory I

3
Mus 112Music Theory II

3
Mus 113Music Theory III

3
Mus 114Sight Singing/Ear Training I

1
Mus 115Sight Singing/Ear Training II

1
Mus 116Sight Singing/Ear Training III

1
Mus 188Performance Attendance

0
(9 terms required)
Mus 195, 196, 197, or 198 Large Ensemble: Band, Orchestra, Choir, or Jazz Lab Band

6
Mus 205Listening

1
Mus 211Music Theory IV

3
Mus 212Music Theory V

3
Mus 213Music Theory VI

3
Mus 214Sight Singing/Ear Training IV

1
Mus 215Sight Singing/ Ear Training V

1
Mus 216Sight Singing/Ear Training VI

1
Mus 240Composition I

2
Mus 241Composition II

2
Mus 242Composition III

2
Mus 243Digital Technology for Musicians

2
Mus 291Advanced Class Piano I

2
Mus 292Advanced Class Piano II

2
Mus 293Advanced Class Piano III

2
Mus 304Music History: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque

4
Mus 305Music History: Classical and Romantic

4
Mus 306Music History: 20th Century

2
Mus 307Music History: The Delta and Deep South Blues

2
Mus 311Formal Analysis

3
Mus 312Orchestration

3
Mus 313Counterpoint

3
Mus 320Fundamentals of Conducting

2
Mus 394, 395, 396, 397, or 398 Large or Small Ensemble

2
Mus 394Small Ensemble

1
Mus 421Analysis of Contemporary Music

3
Mus 470Topics in Music History

2
Mus 476Computer Music Composition

3
Mus 482Topics in Music of the African Diaspora

2
Music electives to be chosen by student in consultation with an advisor

17

Mus 470 may be substituted with Mus 482. If Mus 482 is taken twice it must be taken with different topics.

One of the following:

Mus 374UWorld Music: Africa and the Middle East

4
Mus 375UWorld Music: Asia

4
Mus 377UWorld Music: Latin America and the Caribbean

4
Mus 378UWorld Music: Native American Traditions

4

 

Mus 114 – Mus 116: concurrent enrollment with Mus 111, 112, 113 required

Mus 214 - Mus 216: concurrent enrollment with Mus 211, 212, 213 required

Music majors must enroll in Applied Music and the related Large Ensemble each term. Students must earn 6 credits at each level of Applied Music. With School approval, the distribution of Applied Music credits may be altered; however, a minimum of 12 of the 24 credits must be completed at the upper-division level. A minimum of 3 of the 9 Ensemble credits must be completed at the upper-division level.

Music majors must enroll in the related Chamber Music Ensemble.

NOTE: Applied Music performance (instrumental or vocal) through Mus 290 with 12 accumulated credits is required. Interested students will submit a portfolio of compositions for acceptance as a Composition Major after the Mus 240, Mus 241, Mus 242 sequence. Transfer students may be admitted on the basis of their portfolio of compositions and their transcript. Portfolio review begins in the Spring for the following academic year.

Total Credit Hours: 126