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. 

Core Requirements
Foundations:
MUSC 120IDEAs in Action General Education logo Foundations in Music F3
Musicianship:
MUSC 128Improvisation Without Borders1
Two additional courses (two hours), chosen from:2
Aural-based Musicianship
Tonal Musicianship Skills I
Tonal Musicianship Skills II
Music Theory:
MUSC 131Tonal Theory I (requires a grade of C or better) H3
Two courses (six hours), chosen from:6
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Tonal Theory II (requires a grade of C or better) H
Jazz Theory
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Patterns in Music
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Beat Making Lab
Introduction to Composition
Theory III H
IDEAs in Action General Education logo World Musics in Theory and Practice
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Inside the Song: Analysis of Songcraft
Critical Approaches to Music:
MUSC 270IDEAs in Action General Education logo Critical Approaches to Music: Object Lessons3
MUSC 271IDEAs in Action General Education logo Critical Approaches to Music: Critical Moves3
MUSC 351IDEAs in Action General Education logo Critical Approaches to Music: Guided Research3
Individual Lessons (twelve hours): chosen from MUSC 200MUSC 207 taken over six semesters (or the equivalent for students whose primary focus is composition). 112
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 Presentation3
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Advanced Keyboard Lessons and Recital
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Advanced Voice Lessons and Recital H
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Advanced String Lessons and Recital H
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Advanced Woodwind Lessons and Recital H
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Advanced Brass Lessons and Recital H
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Advanced Percussion Lessons and Recital H
IDEAs in Action General Education logo 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 Hours64
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.

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.

Plan of Study Grid
First YearHours
First-Year Foundation Courses
IDST 101 IDEAs in Action General Education logo College Thriving 1
ENGL 105 IDEAs in Action General Education logo English Composition and Rhetoric 3
First-Year Seminar or First-Year Launch 1, F 3
IDST 111L IDEAs in Action General Education logo Data Literacy Lab 1
Global Language through level 3 varies
Hours 8
Fall Semester
MUSC 120 IDEAs in Action General Education logo 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 20xIndividual 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 20xIndividual Lessons 2
Ensemble 1
Hours 8-10
Second Year
Fall Semester
Theory 3
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Tonal Theory II H
Jazz Theory
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Patterns in Music
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Beat Making Lab
Introduction to Composition
Musicianship 1
Aural-based Musicianship
Tonal Musicianship Skills II
MUSC 270 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Critical Approaches to Music: Object Lessons 3
MUSC 2xxLessons 2
Ensemble 1
Hours 10
Spring Semester
Theory 3
Theory III H
IDEAs in Action General Education logo World Musics in Theory and Practice
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Inside the Song: Analysis of Songcraft
MUSC 271 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Critical Approaches to Music: Critical Moves 3
MUSC 20xIndividual Lessons 2
Ensemble 1
Hours 9
Junior Year
Fall Semester
MUSC 351 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Critical Approaches to Music: Guided Research 3
MUSC 20xIndividual Lessons 2
Ensemble 1
MUSC ---Music Elective 3
Hours 9
Spring Semester
MUSC 20xIndividual Lessons 2
Ensemble 1
MUSC ---Music Elective 6
Hours 9
Senior Year
Fall Semester
MUSC 30xSenior 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 72-76
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 of Music

Visit Program Website

Hill Hall, CB# 3320

(919) 962-1039

Chair

Jocelyn Neal

jneal@email.unc.edu

Associate Chair for Performance, Composition, and Music Education

Evan Feldman

evanfeldman@unc.edu

Associate Chair for Academic Studies

Michael Figueroa

mfigueroa@unc.edu

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Lee Weisert

weisert@email.unc.edu

Registrar

Adrian Mendoza

armendoz@unc.edu