Music Composition (BM)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Music with Emphasis in Composition

Unit: Music
Academic Plan Code(s): MUSIBM_COM

Program Information

The Bachelor of Music Composition (BM) degree at UofL is a four-year program of study designed to develop a high level of expertise in music composition and related skills. In addition, the program encourages and promotes the development of each student's individual compositional "voice" or personality.

Degree Summary

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 While not included in the School or Program coursework requirements, students are expected to take MUH 214 and MUH 205 to satisfy some of the General Education requirements.

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Departmental Admission Requirements

Students in this unit are admitted directly into their degree program.

General Education Requirements

All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Program/Major Requirements

Upper Division Assessment

All students enrolled in a music degree program will be reviewed at the approximate midpoint of the selected program in order for students to achieve Upper Division status. Students must meet the standards of this review to register for 400-level courses in music. Both the elements and standards of the review are established by the faculty and include credit for MUS 242 Musicianship IV  or Analysis (MUS 347 for BA General; MUS 349 for BA Jazz Studies; MUS 350 for BA Music & New Media); MUS 361 Music Literature I; 4 semesters of Applied Instrument at the course numbers required for the degree; Piano Proficiency Examination; MUS 97 Recital Attendance, with a grade S for 4 semesters; Ensemble participation; cumulative 2.5 GPA (good standing); minimum of 48 credit hours completed; pass ENGL 101 or ENGL 105; and 3 additional General Education/Cardinal Core courses.

Additional specific elements and standards appropriate to specific degree programs in jazz studies (including jazz performance, music education and music therapy with tracks in jazz studies, and the BA in jazz studies), music composition, music education, music history, instrumental and vocal performance, pedagogy, music theory, and music therapy are required of students in order to achieve Upper Division status and to continue in the degree program.  Specific degree requirements are determined by the concentration and area faculties and are outlined in the Undergraduate Student Handbook.

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Students are required to take MUH 214 African-American Music - AH, P1  and MUH 205 Music in World Cultures - P2, SB.

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Students majoring in music may take MUH courses as music electives with the exception of the cardinal core courses  MUH 205 / MUH 214 and MUH 204.

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Students who do not pass the computer-based Fundamentals Test prior to the beginning of the fall semester are required to enroll in MUS 91 Fundamentals of Music I for 0 credit concurrently with MUS 141 Theory I .  Students who do not pass MUS 141, and students who enter the School of Music in January and do not place into MUS 142 Theory II , must enroll in MUS 92 for the spring semester.  Credits for MUS 92 do not count toward the degree.

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Strings take section 01, others solely dependent on the ensemble audition.

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If applied principal is piano, Piano Class is replaced with 3 hours of electives. For students with a piano background, three semesters of MUSA 121-MUSA 221 (Secondary Piano) may be substituted.

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Students will take the Piano Proficiency Examination at the end of MUS 231.  Any student not completing the Piano Proficiency Examination will be required to take MUS 232 until the proficiency exam requirement is complete.
 

Students must be enrolled continuously in Piano Class until their requirement has been completed.  Those who pass the Piano Proficiency Examination before the end of the third semester of Piano Class may replace the requirement with electives or with secondary piano if faculty load permits.  Entering students who have a background in piano may register for Piano Proficiency MUS 297 for one semester with approval of the Keyboard Area.

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Students may choose either the applied principal (non-jazz) lesson sequence (MUSA 111, MUSA 112, MUSA 211, MUSA 212, MUSA 325, MUSA 326, MUSA 425, MUSA 426) or applied jazz lesson sequence (MUSA 105, MUSA 106, MUSA 205, MUSA 206, MUSA 325, MUSA 326, MUSA 425, MUSA 426). Except upon petition and approval, students will be locked in to the entire sequence of either applied principal (non-jazz) or applied jazz lessons. Only instrumentalists with corresponding jazz instructors at UofL may opt for the applied jazz lesson sequence.

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Undergraduate composition majors enrolled in MUSA 243–MUSA 444 are required to present public performances of their original works to average at least eight minutes of music per semester. The senior recital does not count toward these averages, but does fulfill the requirement for the semester in which it is given.

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Students must present a recital of original works.

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Music electives in any Bachelor of Music degree should be chosen from courses in Music History, Music Theory/Composition, Music Education, Music Literature, Music Pedagogy, Music Therapy, Jazz, a secondary applied area, or a non-required ensemble. Courses beyond the degree requirement in the student’s major applied area or in the required major ensemble(s) are not appropriate. MUH courses will not be accepted as music electives. School of Music students may count up to two one-hour Physical Education courses toward the general elective requirement.

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Students must complete a 1-credit hour module in Term 1 and a 1-credit hour module in Term 2 the same semester that they are registered for MUS 241 Musicianship 3.

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Students must complete a 1-credit hour module in Term 1 and a 1-credit hour module in Term 2 the same semester that they are registered for MUS 242 Musicianship 4.

Flight Plan

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Select the appropriate report.
   1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
   2. To create a What-if report, click on "What-if Advisement Report."
   3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.