Portland-State-University 2024-2025 Bulletin

Music: Theory B.A./B.S.

Program Coordinator: A. Boyle

Serving students who seek a broad liberal arts degree with a major in music, the B.A./B.S. in Music: Theory provides a music foundation with an emphasis in theory within a broad liberal arts framework. Students take advanced coursework in music theory and receive direct mentorship from faculty as they complete a final analytical or creative project. Students successfully completing the B.A. or B.S. in Music: Theory will have gained the necessary skills in music theory and supportive curriculum to prepare them for continued academic study in the discipline, along with the breadth of knowledge, critical thinking and expressive skills that can be translated to a wide variety of music-related fields and occupations.

Requirements

In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, music majors seeking the B.A. or B.S. in Music Theory must complete the following courses:

Courses

Mup 190Applied Music

3
Mup 290Applied Music

3
Mus 046Piano Proficiency Exam

0
Mus 047Final Project

0
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 194Small Ensemble

1
Mus 195, 196, 197, or 198 Large Ensemble: Band, Orchestra, Choir, or Jazz Lab Band

5
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 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 401Research (Two terms of guided research, 1 credit each, to support final project)

2
Upper-division music electives to be chosen by student in consultation with an advisor

2

Choose 4 credits from the following:

Mus 374UWorld Music: Africa and the Middle East

4
Mus 375UWorld Music: Asia

4
Mus 376UAmerican Musical Traditions

4
Mus 377UWorld Music: Latin America and the Caribbean

4
Mus 378UWorld Music: Native American Traditions

4
Mus 470Topics in Music History

2
Mus 482Topics in Music of the African Diaspora

2

Upper-level theory electives

Select 12 credits from the following:
Mus 311Formal Analysis

3
Mus 312Orchestration

3
Mus 313Counterpoint

3
Mus 421Analysis of Contemporary Music

3
Mus 422Analytical Techniques

3
Mus 424Instrumental Jazz Arranging I

2
Mus 425Instrumental Jazz Arranging II

2
Mus 426Instrumental Jazz Arranging III

2

Total Credit Hours: 69

Mus 114 - Mus 116: (concurrent enrollment with Mus 111, Mus 112, Mus 113 required)

Mus 214 - Mus 216: (concurrently enrollment with Mus 211, Mus 212, Mus 213 required)

Music majors must enroll in Applied Music and the appropriate Large Ensemble each term until requirements are met.

Interested students will submit a sample of their analytical work for admittance to the major after completing Music Theory II or upon transferring to PSU. Students must meet GPA requirement of 3.0 and minimum grades of B in all theory and sight singing/ear training classes.

All candidates for this degree must complete a final project approved by the Theory Program Coordinator. The project may be one of the following: 1) Extensive analysis of a composition or 2) Performance of a composition transcribed from one medium to another.