ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ University | Music Composition

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Music Composition

In the Bachelor of Music Composition degree, students develop knowledge, skills, and insight into writing single line melodies, counterpoint, traditional and contemporary harmony, various notational methods, form, the compositional process, orchestration, and develop an understanding of musical development throughout history.

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Music in Composition program will be able to compose idiomatically for voice and all orchestral instruments and/or be proficient in sequencing, recording, and scoring for media. All will be prepared to conduct, rehearse, and present their music, expressing their authentic selves through original compositions. They will be prepared to enter a top graduate program in composition and/or secure work as a composer/musician.

Please check out Project 21, our composers concert series.

The degree plan below shows the courses required for completion of a Bachelor of Music in Composition. The course sequence is a suggestion only, and each student will meet with his or her advisor to discuss the most appropriate sequence for that student.

All degrees require a minimum of 124 earned credit hours. Students must be enrolled in 12 credit hours to be considered a full-time student. Students must receive credit for six semesters of Music Assembly. Students must attain the required proficiency and performance levels as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog.

  • Freshman Year
  • Sophomore Year
  • Junior Year
  • Senior Year

*All courses listed on this degree plan are required for the completion of this degree. The course sequence is a suggestion only, and each student will meet with his or her advisor to discuss the most appropriate sequence for that student.

All degrees require a minimum of 124 earned credit hours. Students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours to be considered a full-time student. Students must receive credit for six semesters of Music Assembly in their first six semesters at OKCU. Students must attain the required performance levels as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog.

FRESHMAN YEAR

First Semester

COURSE NUMBERCOURSE TITLECREDIT HOURS
MUS 1112Theory I2
MUS 1122Aural Skills I2
AM 1371Major Instrument1
AMA 1571Class Piano I1
MUS 1211Freshman Composition A1
MUENMajor Ensemble1
 Gen Ed3
 Gen Ed3
 Total Credits14

Second Semester

COURSE NUMBERCOURSE TITLECREDIT HOURS
MUS 1212Theory II2
MUS 1222Aural Skills II2
AM 1471Major Instrument1
AMA 1671Class Piano II1
MUS 1311Freshman Composition B1
MUENMajor Ensemble1
AM 1471Minor Instrument1
 Gen Ed3
 Gen Ed3
 Total Credits15

SOPHOMORE YEAR

First Semester

COURSE NUMBERCOURSE TITLECREDIT HOURS
MUS 2112Theory III2
MUS 2122Aural Skills III2
AM 1371Major Instrument1
AMA 1771Class Piano III1
MUS 2312Sophomore Composition A2
MUENMajor Ensemble1
MUS 1123Music and the Human Experience3
AM 1371Minor Instrument1
 Gen Ed3
 Total Credits16

Second Semester

COURSE NUMBERCOURSE TITLECREDIT HOURS
MUS 35XXTheory Topical Course2
MUS 35XXTheory Topical Course2
MUS 3133Writing About Music3
MUS 3142Conducting Fundamentals2
MUS 2412Sophomore Composition B2
AM 471Major Instrument1
AMA 1871Class Piano IV1
MUENMajor Ensemble1
 Gen Ed3
 Total Credits17

JUNIOR YEAR

First Semester

COURSE NUMBERCOURSE TITLECREDIT HOURS
MUS 3113Orchestration3
MUS 3313Junior Composition A3
AM 1371Major Instrument1
AMA 1371Applied Piano1
MUENMajor Ensemble1
 Gen Ed & Lab4
 Gen Ed3
 Total Credits16

Second Semester

COURSE NUMBERCOURSE TITLECREDIT HOURS
MUS 4233Musicology Seminar3
MUS 3242Conducting—Instrumental or Vocal (Fall)2
MUS 3413Junior Composition B3
AM 1471Major Instrument1
MUS 441218th Cent. Counterpoint2
AMA 1471Applied Piano1
MUENMajor Ensemble1
 Gen Ed3
 Total Credits16

SENIOR YEAR 

First Semester

COURSE NUMBERCOURSE TITLECREDIT HOURS
MUS 4112Forms & Analysis2
MUS 4513Senior Composition A3
AM 1371Major Instrument1
AMA 1371Applied Piano1
MUENMajor Ensemble1
AM 4341Recital on Major Instrument1
 Gen Ed3
 Gen Ed3
 Total Credits15

Second Semester

COURSE NUMBERCOURSE TITLECREDIT HOURS
MUSMusic Literature Elective3
MUS 4613Senior Composition B3
AM 1471Major Instrument1
AMA 1471Applied Piano1
MUENMajor Ensemble1
MUS 4441Composition Recital1
 Gen Ed3
 Gen Ed3
 Total Credits16
  • Required Courses: 22 Hours
  • Philosophy/Ethics: 3 Credit Hours
  • Literature: 3 Credit Hours
  • Mathematics: 3 Credit Hours
  • Social Science: 3 Credit Hours
  • Modern Language: 6 Credit Hours
  • Service Learning
  • The Arts and Cross-Cultural Study
  • After beginning coursework at OKCU, students may transfer up to 12 credit hours of general education courses from another institution.
  • All degrees require a minimum of 124 earned credit hours.


    Required Courses: 22 Hours

  • ENGL 1113 Composition I
  • ENGL 1213 Composition II
  • POLS 1113 Governance in America
  • LAS 1063 Liberal Arts Seminar**
  • HIST 1003/1103 US History to/Since 1876
  • REL 1003/2513 The Bible & Culture/Intro to World Religions
  • SCI 1003 & 1041 Methods of Science Inquiry & Integrated Science Lab
  • **Transfer students with at least 29 transferable hours (excluding CLEP, AP and IB credit) may substitute a single course of three or more credit hours for the LAS requirement. This course may be from the OKCU curriculum or transferred from another university. It may not meet any other degree requirement.


    Philosophy/Ethics: 3 Credit Hours

  • PHIL/REL 2163 Moral Issues In Contemporary Culture
  • PHIL/REL 2213 Moral And Social Philosophy
  • MGMT 2223/PHIL 2203 Business Ethics And Leadership
  • PHIL/PHRH 2513 Ethics Of Communication,
  • -or-
  • PHIL/REL 2703 Christian Ethics


    Literature: 3 Credit Hours

  • ENGL 2103 Western Literature
  • ENGL 2603 World Literature
  • ENGL 2403/2413/2703 Survey of British Literature
  • ENGL 2713/2813 Survey of American Literature


    Mathematics: 3 Credit Hours

  • MATH 1503 College Algebra
  • PSYC 2303/POLS 2303/SOC 2303 Statistics For Behavioral Sciences
  • Econ 2123 Business Statistics
  • -or-
  • a higher level math course


    Social Science: 3 Credit Hours

  • PSYC 1113 Intro to Psychology
  • SOC 2013 Intro to Sociology
  • -or-
  • ECON 2113 Principles of Microeconomics


    Modern Language: 6 Credit Hours

  • Six Hours (Through Beginner II Level) in A Single Language;
  • -or-
  • Four Years (Eight Semesters) of A Single Language in High School;
  • -or-
  • Equivalent Competency as Determined by the Department of Modern Language;
  • -or-
  • For international students whose first language is other than English, a TOEFL score of 550 or above (equivalent score on the IBT is 80 or above). Online coursework will not be accepted.


    Service Learning

  • See course schedule each semester for courses approved as service learning courses.


    The Arts and Cross-Cultural Study

  • The arts study requirement is satisfied by any course beginning with the prefix MUS. The cross-cultural study requirement is fulfilled by:
  • REL 2513 Introduction to World Religions
  • ENGL 2603 World Literature
  • -or-
  • MUS 1123 Music and the Human Experience.

QUICK LINKS

Edward Knight, DMA
Professor of Music & Composer in Residence
Edward Knight, DMA
Professor of Music & Composer in Residence
[email protected] · BC A328 · 405.208.5274
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