Music Major, Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
The Bachelor of Music program is designed for those seeking a degree that offers a more extensive component in performance, history, ethnomusicology, theory, composition, or music education. Students must complete 64 credit hours in music and at least 54 credit hours outside the major.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the music program (B.Mus.), students should be able to:
- Acquire sufficient technical capabilities to be able to perform expressively — on an instrument or the voice — appropriate repertoire for the area in which they are studying
- Show proficiency in the materials and language of music for purposes of analysis and evaluation
- Be aware of the connection between general culture and history and the musical works that come from composers of particular times and places
- Demonstrate the ability to perform successfully in individual, small-, and large-ensemble performance and have a working familiarity with repertoire for solo or ensemble performance
Requirements
In addition to the program requirements, students must
- earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
- complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
- take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
- earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.
For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.
Courses listed more than once can be counted for only one category.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| Foundations: | ||
| MUSC 120 |  Foundations in Music F | 3 |
| Musicianship: | ||
| MUSC 128 | Improvisation Without Borders | 1 |
| Two additional courses (two hours), chosen from: | 2 | |
| Aural-based Musicianship | ||
| Tonal Musicianship Skills I | ||
| Tonal Musicianship Skills II | ||
| Music Theory: | ||
| MUSC 131 | Tonal Theory I (requires a grade of C or better) H | 3 |
| Two courses (six hours), chosen from: | 6 | |
| Tonal Theory II (requires a grade of C or better) H | ||
| Jazz Theory | ||
| Patterns in Music | ||
| Beat Making Lab | ||
| Introduction to Composition | ||
| Theory III H | ||
| World Musics in Theory and Practice | ||
| Inside the Song: Analysis of Songcraft | ||
| Critical Approaches to Music: | ||
| MUSC 270 | Critical Approaches to Music: Object Lessons | 3 |
| MUSC 271 | Critical Approaches to Music: Critical Moves | 3 |
| MUSC 351 | Critical Approaches to Music: Guided Research | 3 |
| Individual Lessons (twelve hours): chosen from MUSC 200–MUSC 207 taken over six semesters (or the equivalent for students whose primary focus is composition). 1 | 12 | |
| Ensemble performance (eight hours) chosen from: | 8 | |
| Ensemble I | ||
| Ensemble II | ||
| Chamber Music 2, H | ||
| Keyboard skills (two hours) chosen from: | 2 | |
| Jazz Theory | ||
| Keyboard Skills I | ||
| Advanced Individual Lessons in Keyboard 3, H | ||
| Keyboard Skills II | ||
| Senior Presentation | 3 | |
| Advanced Keyboard Lessons and Recital | ||
| Advanced Voice Lessons and Recital H | ||
| Advanced String Lessons and Recital H | ||
| Advanced Woodwind Lessons and Recital H | ||
| Advanced Brass Lessons and Recital H | ||
| Advanced Percussion Lessons and Recital H | ||
| Advanced Composition/Recital | ||
| Intermediate Lessons in Conducting | ||
| Advanced Lessons in Conducting | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Music electives (fifteen hours) chosen from MUSC courses: students may count no more than six additional hours from MUSC 211 - MUSC 214 towards their music major. They may count as credit hours for graduation, subject to the overall limit on music hours. | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| F | FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute. |
- 1
Students may petition the director of undergraduate studies to count toward this requirement no more than two hours of MUSC 100–MUSC 107. Students wishing to take a seventh semester of individual lessons may use an additional two hours of MUSC 200–MUSC 207 for elective credit.
- 2
Pursuant to area needs and preferences, or by approval of the director of undergraduate studies.
- 3
With the approval of the director of undergraduate studies.
Students pursuing the B.Mus. must complete at least 64 credit hours in music, which is combined with an additional 56 credit hours for a total of 120 credit hours. Students may receive no more than 66 credit hours in music and must complete a minimum of 54 credit hours of coursework outside music, including all General Education requirements.
Students who wish to gain certification to teach music in public schools may take a prescribed course of study as part of the bachelor of music degree and apply to the music education licensure program offered through the School of Education. Admission to the music education licensure program requires a separate application to the School of Education (usually submitted during the spring of the first year), and candidates must meet North Carolina Department of Public Instruction licensure standards and be able to complete the course of study prior to spring of their senior year. Students who complete the program are eligible for North Carolina initial-level licensure.
Optional Pathways within the Bachelor of Music Degree
Students working toward the bachelor of music degree have the option to pursue one or more pathways in their musical studies. These pathways identify recommended course selections for students who have interests in one or more areas. We suggest 12 credit hours of study; students are free to take additional credits. Some of these courses also satisfy core requirements. Please note that enrollment in individual lessons (MUSC 100–MUSC 107 and MUSC 200–MUSC 207) requires an audition.
Composition
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 307 |
Advanced Composition/Recital | 3 |
| Plus nine hours taken from: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Music Technology | ||
|
Composition (repeated) | ||
| Musical Form and Analysis | ||
| Counterpoint | ||
| Analysis of Music since 1900 | ||
|
History and Culture of Music (in an appropriate topic) H | ||
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Ethnomusicology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 234 |
World Musics in Theory and Practice | 3 |
| Plus six hours from: | 6 | |
|
Introduction to World Musics | ||
|
Introduction to the Music of the Américas | ||
|
Introduction to Black Music | ||
|
Music of South Asia | ||
|
Musical Movements: Migration, Exile, and Diaspora | ||
|
Music in the Community | ||
|
Music as Culture (in an appropriate topic) H | ||
|
History and Culture of Music (in an appropriate topic) H | ||
| Plus three hours from: | 3 | |
| Applied Instruction | ||
| Advanced Applied Instruction (in appropriate repertoire) | ||
| Ensemble II (in an appropriate ensemble, including Bluegrass Band, Charanga Carolina, Gamelan, Global Rhythms) | ||
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Instrumental Performance
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Three hours from: | 3 | |
|
Advanced String Lessons and Recital H | ||
|
Advanced Woodwind Lessons and Recital H | ||
|
Advanced Brass Lessons and Recital H | ||
|
Advanced Percussion Lessons and Recital H | ||
| Plus three hours of individual lessons on a second instrument: | 3 | |
| Individual Keyboard Lessons | ||
| Individual Voice Lessons | ||
| Individual String Lessons | ||
| Individual Woodwind Lessons | ||
| Individual Brass Lessons | ||
| Individual Percussion Lessons | ||
| Applied Instruction | ||
| Advanced Individual Lessons in Voice H | ||
| Advanced Individual Lessons in Strings H | ||
| Advanced Individual Lessons in Woodwinds H | ||
| Advanced Individual Lessons in Brass H | ||
| Advanced Individual Lessons in Percussion H | ||
| Advanced Applied Instruction | ||
| Or an additional semester of: | ||
|
Advanced String Lessons and Recital H | ||
|
Advanced Woodwind Lessons and Recital H | ||
|
Advanced Brass Lessons and Recital H | ||
|
Advanced Brass Lessons and Recital H | ||
|
Advanced Percussion Lessons and Recital H | ||
| Plus six hours from: | 6 | |
| Jazz Improvisation I | ||
| Introduction to Composition | ||
| Basic Conducting | ||
| Ensemble I (in an appropriate ensemble) | ||
| Ensemble II (in an appropriate ensemble) | ||
| Ensemble III (in an appropriate ensemble) | ||
| Studies in Performance Practices | ||
|
Music in the Community | ||
|
Music as Culture H | ||
| Musical Form and Analysis | ||
| Analysis of Music since 1900 | ||
|
History and Culture of Music H | ||
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Jazz Studies
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 135 | Jazz Theory | 3 |
| MUSC 163 | Jazz Improvisation I | 3 |
| Plus six hours from: | 6 | |
|
Introduction to Jazz | ||
| Ensemble I (up to three hours in an appropriate ensemble) | ||
| Ensemble II (up to three hours in an appropriate ensemble) | ||
| Ensemble III (up to three hours in an appropriate ensemble) | ||
| Jazz Improvisation II | ||
| Jazz Composition and Arranging | ||
| Jazz Innovators | ||
|
History and Culture of Music (in an appropriate topic) H | ||
| Studies in Jazz | ||
|
UNC Summer Jazz Workshop | ||
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Music Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 168 | Basic Conducting | 3 |
| MUSC 226 | Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, and Strings Techniques | 3 |
| MUSC 227 | Keyboard, Vocal, and Elementary Music Techniques | 3 |
| MUSC 228 | Principles of Teaching Music | 3 |
Music History
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 355 |
History and Culture of Music (in an appropriate topic) H | 3 |
| Plus nine hours taken from: | 9 | |
| Studies in Performance Practices | ||
|
Musical Movements: Migration, Exile, and Diaspora | ||
|
Music and Politics | ||
| Musical Form and Analysis | ||
| Counterpoint | ||
| Analysis of Popular Music | ||
| Analysis of Music since 1900 | ||
|
History and Culture of Music (repeated; in an appropriate topic) H | ||
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Music Theory
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Twelve hours taken from: | 12 | |
| Introduction to Composition | ||
| Introduction to Music Technology | ||
| Musical Form and Analysis | ||
| Counterpoint | ||
| Analysis of Popular Music | ||
| Analysis of Music since 1900 | ||
|
History and Culture of Music (in an appropriate topic) H | ||
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Musicology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 355 |
History and Culture of Music H | 3 |
| Plus three hours taken from: | 3 | |
| Musical Form and Analysis | ||
| Counterpoint | ||
| Analysis of Popular Music | ||
| Analysis of Music since 1900 | ||
|
History and Culture of Music (repeated) H | ||
| Plus three hours taken from: | 3 | |
|
World Musics in Theory and Practice | ||
|
Musical Movements: Migration, Exile, and Diaspora | ||
| Plus three hours from any additional course listed in this category or from: | 3 | |
| Studies in Performance Practices | ||
| Jazz Improvisation II | ||
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Piano Performance
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Three hours of: | ||
| MUSC 300 |
Advanced Keyboard Lessons and Recital | 3 |
| Plus nine hours from: | 9 | |
| Individual Keyboard Lessons (up to three hours on organ or harpsichord) | ||
| Jazz Improvisation I | ||
| Basic Conducting | ||
| Piano Literature | ||
| Piano Pedagogy | ||
| Studies in Performance Practices | ||
|
Advanced Keyboard Lessons and Recital (repeated) | ||
Popular Music
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Six hours taken from: | 6 | |
|
Introduction to Rock Music | ||
|
Introduction to Country Music | ||
|
Introduction to Black Music | ||
| The Art and Culture of the DJ | ||
| Beat Making Lab | ||
| Rap Lab | ||
| Rock Lab | ||
| Popular Song in American Culture | ||
| Analysis of Popular Music | ||
| Plus six hours from any additional courses listed in this category or from: | 6 | |
|
Introduction to Jazz | ||
|
Introduction to the Music of the Américas | ||
| Introduction to Music Technology | ||
| Jazz Innovators | ||
|
Music as Culture (in an appropriate topic) H | ||
|
History and Culture of Music (in an appropriate topic) H | ||
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Classical Voice Performance
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 123 | Diction for Singers I (English/Italian) | 1 |
| MUSC 124 | Diction for Singers II (French) | 1 |
| MUSC 125 | Diction for Singers III (German) | 1 |
| MUSC 302 |
Advanced Voice Lessons and Recital H | 3 |
| Plus six hours from: | 6 | |
| Basic Conducting | ||
| Vocal Pedagogy | ||
| Studies in Performance Practices | ||
|
Gender on the Musical Stage | ||
|
Advanced Voice Lessons and Recital (repeated) H | ||
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans can be used as a guide to identify the courses required to complete the major and other requirements needed for degree completion within the expected eight semesters. The actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Students should meet with their academic advisor to create a degree plan that is specific and unique to their interests. The sample plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UNC–Chapel Hill in the fall term. Some courses may not be offered every term.
| First Year | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year Foundation Courses | ||
| IDST 101 | College Thriving | 1 |
| ENGL 105 or ENGL 105I | English Composition and Rhetoric or English Composition and Rhetoric (Interdisciplinary) | 3 |
| First-Year Seminar or First-Year Launch 1, F | 3 | |
| Triple-I and Data Literacy | 4 | |
| Global Language through level 3 | varies | |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| MUSC 120 | Foundations in Music 1, F | 3 |
| Keyboard Skills | 1-3 | |
| Jazz Theory | ||
| Keyboard Skills I | ||
| Advanced Individual Lessons in Keyboard H | ||
| Musicianship | 1 | |
| Improvisation Without Borders | ||
| MUSC 20x | Individual Lessons | 2 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Hours | 8-10 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MUSC 131 & MUSC 130 | Tonal Theory I and Tonal Musicianship Skills I H | 4 |
| Keyboard Skills | 1-3 | |
| Jazz Theory | ||
| Keyboard Skills II | ||
| Advanced Individual Lessons in Keyboard H | ||
| MUSC 20x | Individual Lessons | 2 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Hours | 8-10 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Theory | 3 | |
| Tonal Theory II H | ||
| Jazz Theory | ||
| Patterns in Music | ||
| Beat Making Lab | ||
| Introduction to Composition | ||
| Musicianship | 1 | |
| Aural-based Musicianship | ||
| Tonal Musicianship Skills II | ||
| MUSC 270 | Critical Approaches to Music: Object Lessons | 3 |
| MUSC 2xx | Lessons | 2 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Theory | 3 | |
| Theory III H | ||
| World Musics in Theory and Practice | ||
| Inside the Song: Analysis of Songcraft | ||
| MUSC 271 | Critical Approaches to Music: Critical Moves | 3 |
| MUSC 20x | Individual Lessons | 2 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MUSC 351 | Critical Approaches to Music: Guided Research | 3 |
| MUSC 20x | Individual Lessons | 2 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| MUSC --- | Music Elective | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MUSC 20x | Individual Lessons | 2 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| MUSC --- | Music Elective | 6 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MUSC 30x | Senior Presentation (or in spring semester) | 3 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| MUSC --- | Music Elective | 3 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Senior Presentation (if not completed in Fall Semester) | ||
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| MUSC --- | Music Elective | 3 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 75-79 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| F | FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute. |
- 1
Students are strongly encouraged to complete their FY-LAUNCH requirement with MUSC 120. If not, students will need to take another FY-SEMINAR or FY-LAUNCH course to fulfill the IDEAs in Action requirement.
Special Opportunities
Honors in Music
Students interested in becoming candidates for a degree with honors in music should read the regulations governing departmental honors in the College of Arts and Sciences, found in the Degree Requirements section of this catalog, and should consult the honors advisor of the department toward the end of the sophomore year.
Study Abroad
The department actively encourages students to participate in study abroad programs to pursue their musical and other interests in an international context. The department maintains a strong relationship with institutions in Hong Kong, London, and Vienna, and can facilitate connections with programs around the world.
Department Programs
Majors
Minor
Graduate Programs
