Bachelor of Arts in Music
The Bachelor of Arts in Music is for students who desire a liberal arts education in music without a strict focus in performance. Students in the BA can pursue a general route as well as pivot toward three concentrations, as follows:
- BA in Music (General): Offers breadth and depth in a liberal arts music degree and provides students with a large selection of courses within the major and the most flexibility of all the routes in choosing music electives. The General BA route contains sufficient elective units to be used for those students seeking Music Education licensure.
- BA in Music with concentration in Musicology & Ethnomusicology: Provides students the opportunity to explore the large-scale relationships between culture, politics, and musical repertories of the Western and non-Western world, from the past to the present. Faculty expertise runs the gamut from the Middle Ages to popular music, from Indonesia to Japan, Africa, and the Americas, and from manuscript studies to oral traditions and technology.
- BA in Music with concentration in Music Theory: Provides students the opportunity to explore the inner workings of music from all styles and periods in depth, utilizing theoretical, analytical, historical, and cultural perspectives.
- BA in Music with concentration in Global Music Studies: Provides students with opportunities to study music in a global context from a variety of disciplinary approaches, including performance, ethnomusicology, and music theory and analysis.
Since all three routes have a common first year, BA Music students will normally choose a concentration, if they wish, by the sophomore or junior year. Please note: current CFA Bachelor of Music (BM) students seeking to transfer into the BA in Music may require additional time to complete the program and should consult with their academic advisor.
The BA prepares students for graduate work and academic careers in musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, and composition, and through a choice of electives provides a base to pursue professional careers in music journalism, music librarianship, music publishing, arts management/leadership, and other wide-ranging areas of the music and arts industry.
Unique Opportunities
- Students may take up to 6 units of private instrumental or vocal instruction and/or participate in music ensembles toward the degree. Eligibility is determined by audition and faculty availability. BA students who choose private instrumental and vocal instruction will be charged an Applied Music Fee.
- Cross-curricular experiences in the College of Fine Arts, including the popular Arts Leadership Minor.
- Flexibility through electives to customize the degree toward making interdisciplinary connections between music and related fields, and toward academic or professional outcomes.
- The option of pursuing Music Education licensure through the General BA route.
Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a BA in Music are expected to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of music history, theory, and analysis, including formal and compositional idioms from the Middle Ages to the present.
- Demonstrate familiarity with world music and culture and systems of non-Western music making, including popular music.
- Understand the relationship between music and social justice, race and politics, gender, cultural contexts, and analogous artistic movements.
- Be able to connect music in a relevant, disciplinary, and interdisciplinary fashion to the effects of shifting practices of listening (societal, personal, digital) and the new modes of transmission.
Degree Requirements
The BA in Music requires a minimum total of 128 units.
Hub Requirements
All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students pursuing the BA in Music will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Philosophical, Aesthetic, and Historical Interpretation; Quantitative Reasoning; and some requirements in the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.
Major Requirements
Students in the major take a combination of core courses in music history, music theory, and musicianship—the amount depending on the concentration—as well as a choice of required electives within the major, and a choice of non-music electives, as outlined below.
Music Theory and Aural Skills
Entering undergraduate music majors may take placement examinations in both music theory and aural skills. Exams are given during the Summer Orientation and at the start of each term. Based on the results of these placement exams, students may test out of some, but not all, of the required theory and aural skills courses. Students testing into later terms of aural skills are still required to take the minimum two units of aural skills, starting from the term they test into. Any external transfer courses in aural skills and/or music theory will be reviewed for elective units only, and the placement exam results will supersede any transfer course equivalents.
Group Piano
All undergraduate music majors have a two-term Group Piano requirement. A non-mandatory Keyboard Proficiency Exam is offered for students wishing to test out of this requirement.
Required courses for the major—General BA in Music (60 units)
Complete the minimum number of units in each category and complete a total of 60 units in music by completing additional courses in any category, up to the listed maximums. If unit minimums in subcategories add up to less than the minimum in the larger category, then the additional units can be satisfied by any course in the larger category.
MUSIC HISTORY AND ETHNOMUSICOLOGY (16–36 units)
- CFA MH 211–212 or MH 436 (4–8 units)
- Music History (4–20 units): CFA MH 405, 406, 408, 409, 412, 413, 417, 421–7, 432, 433
- Ethnomusicology (4–20 units): CFA MH 400, 403, 404, 407, 409, 410, 411, 415, 420, 429, 430, 431, 435, 436, 480
MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSITION (9–32 units)
- Introductory Music Theory (6 units): CFA MT 101–102
- Music Theory (0–19 units): CFA MT 201–202, 301–302, 411, 472
- Composition (0–12 units): CFA MT 121–2, 341, 431, 435–436, 442
PERFORMANCE AND AURAL SKILLS (6–12 units)
- Aural Skills (2–5 units): CFA MT 111–112, 211–212, 311
- Group Piano (2–3 units): CFA MP 111–113
- Lessons and Ensembles (2–6 units): CFA ML XXX, MH 561–3, MP XXX, MU 091–99, or MU 185–199
ADDITIONAL MUSIC ELECTIVES (0–23 units)
- CFA ME 203, 261, 306–7, 330–1, 344, 374, 382, 411–3, 430–1, 460, MP 551, AR 586, 510, 520, 530, 550
- Music courses outside of CFA: CAS HI 426, LX 120, PY 231; MET IS 419
- For other possible courses not included in the categories above, consult with advisor.
CFA EXPERIENCE (2 units)
- CFA FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience, to be taken in the fall term of first year.
Students transferring into CFA will elect a substitute course in consultation with their advisor.
CAPSTONE PROJECT (4 units)
- CFA MU 495–496, to be completed in the spring term of junior year and fall term of senior year.
Other electives (68 units)
- Per consultation with advisor, from subjects such as American studies, anthropology, communications, computer science, hearing sciences, history, Latin American studies, languages, linguistics, mathematics, management, neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, religion.
- Students are expected to fulfill most of their Hub requirements in their elective classes. Students should expect to devote about nine classes (36 units) out of the total 68 units of electives toward satisfying the requirements of the Hub.
- Students pursuing Music Education licensure may use these units to fulfill additional requirements in music education and psychology beyond those included in the music electives. This typically requires an additional 7–9 units beyond the 23 units that count toward music electives.
- Students are strongly recommended to include at least 8 units of language classes.
BA General suggested curriculum by term
| First Year |
1st |
2nd |
| CFA MT 101, 102 Music Theory 1, 2 |
3 |
3 |
| CFA MT 111, 112 Aural Skills 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| CFA MP 111, 112 Group Piano 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| Lesson/Ensemble |
1 |
1 |
| First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CAS WR 120) |
4 |
– |
| Writing, Research, and Inquiry (e.g., CAS WR 151/152/153) |
– |
4 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
4 |
4 |
| CFA FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience |
2 |
– |
| Total units |
16 |
14 |
| Second Year |
| CFA MH 211, 212 or MH 436, 4XX |
4 |
4 |
| CFA MT XXX |
3 |
– |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
7 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
4 |
4 |
| Total units |
15 |
15 |
| Third Year |
| CFA MH XXX Musicology electives |
4 |
4 |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
4 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
4 |
4 |
| Electives |
4 |
4 |
| CFA MU 495 Capstone Project Development |
– |
2 |
| Total units |
16 |
18 |
| Fourth Year |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
0 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
– |
4 |
| Electives |
12 |
12 |
| CFA MU 496 Capstone Project |
2 |
– |
| Total units |
18 |
16 |
Required courses for the major—BA in Music with a Concentration in Musicology & Ethnomusicology (60 units)
Complete the minimum number of units in each large and small category and complete a total of 60 units in music by completing additional courses in any category, up to the listed maximums.
MUSIC HISTORY AND ETHNOMUSICOLOGY (24–36 units)
- CFA MH 211–212 or MH 436 (4–8 units)
- Music History (4–20 units): CFA MH 405, 406, 408, 409, 412, 413, 417, 421–7, 432, 433
- Ethnomusicology (4–20 units): CFA MH 400, 403, 404, 407, 409, 410, 411, 415, 420, 429, 430, 431, 435, 436, 480
MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSITION (9–20 units)
- Introductory Music Theory (6 units): CFA MT 101–102
- Music Theory (3–14 units): CFA MT 201–202, 301–302, 411, 472
- Composition (0–8 units): CFA MT 121–2, 341–2, 431, 435–436
PERFORMANCE AND AURAL SKILLS (6–12 units)
- Aural Skills (2–5 units): CFA MT 111–112, 211–212, 311
- Group Piano (2–3 units): CFA MP 111–113
- Lessons and Ensembles (2–6 units): CFA ML XXX, MH 561–3, MP XXX, MU 091–99, or MU 185–199
ADDITIONAL MUSIC ELECTIVES (0–15 units)
- CFA ME 203, 261, 306–7, 330–1, 344, 374, 382, 411–3, 430–1, 460, MP 551, AR 586, 510, 520, 530, 550
- Music courses outside of CFA: CAS HI 426, LX 120, PY 231; MET IS 419
- For other possible courses not included in the categories above, consult with advisor.
CFA EXPERIENCE (2 units)
- CFA FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience, to be taken in the fall term of first year. Students transferring into CFA will elect a substitute course in consultation with their advisor.
CAPSTONE PROJECT (4 units)
- CFA MU 495–496, to be completed in the spring term of junior year and fall term of senior year.
Language (8 units)
- At least two courses in a language other than English, including American Sign Language (ASL). This requirement may be satisfied with appropriate transfer units or AP units, or a proficiency exam administered by the CAS Romance Studies or World Languages & Literatures department (for ASL proficiency assessment, please contact the Deaf Studies program). Students whose first language is not English may satisfy this requirement with a TOEFL score of 90 or above.
Other electives (60 units)
- Per consultation with advisor, from subjects such as American studies, anthropology, communications, computer science, hearing sciences, history, Latin American studies, languages, linguistics, mathematics, management, neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, religion.
- Students are expected to fulfill most of their Hub requirements in their elective classes. Students should expect to devote about nine classes (36 units) out of the total 60 units of electives toward satisfying the requirements of the Hub.
BA in Music with concentration in Musicology & Ethnomusicology sample suggested curriculum
| First Year |
1st |
2nd |
| CFA MT 101, 102 Music Theory 1, 2 |
3 |
3 |
| CFA MT 111, 112 Aural Skills 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| CFA MP 111, 112 Group Piano 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| Lesson/Ensemble |
1 |
1 |
| First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CAS WR 120) |
4 |
– |
| Writing, Research, and Inquiry (e.g., CAS WR 151/152/153) |
– |
4 |
| Language |
4 |
4 |
| CFA FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience |
2 |
– |
| Total units |
16 |
14 |
| Second Year |
| CFA MH 211, 212 or MH 436, 4XX |
4 |
4 |
| CFA MH XXX Musicology electives |
4 |
4 |
| CFA MT XXX |
3 |
– |
| Additional music courses |
– |
3 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
4 |
4 |
| Total units |
15 |
15 |
| Third Year |
| CFA MH XXX Musicology electives |
4 |
4 |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
4 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
8 |
8 |
| CFA MU 495 Capstone Project Development |
– |
2 |
| Total units |
16 |
18 |
| Fourth Year |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
0 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
– |
4 |
| Electives |
12 |
12 |
| CFA MU 496 Capstone Project |
2 |
– |
| Total units |
18 |
16 |
Required courses for the major—BA in Music with a Concentration in Music Theory (60 units)
Complete the minimum number of units in each category and complete a total of 60 units in music by completing additional courses in any category, up to the listed maximums.
MUSIC HISTORY AND ETHNOMUSICOLOGY (16–24 units)
- CFA MH 211–212 or MH 436 (4–8 units)
- Music History (4–20 units): CFA MH 405, 406, 408, 409, 412, 413, 417, 421–7, 432, 433
- Ethnomusicology (4–20 units): CFA MH 400, 403, 404, 407, 409, 410, 411, 415, 420, 429, 430, 431, 435, 436, 480
MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSITION (20–28 units)
- Music Theory (14 units): CFA MT 101–102, MT 201–202, 301
- Music Theory Topics (2–9 units): CFA MT 302, 411, 472
- Composition (4–12 units): CFA MT 121–2, 341–2, 431, 435–436
PERFORMANCE AND AURAL SKILLS (10–14 units)
- Aural Skills (5 units): CFA MT 111–112, 211–212, 311
- Piano (3 units): CFA MP 111–113 or MP 115 or ML 501
- Lessons and Ensembles (2–6 units): CFA ML XXX, MH 561–563, MP XXX, MU 091–99, or MU 185–199
ADDITIONAL MUSIC ELECTIVES (0–8 units)
- CFA ME 203, 261, 306–7, 330–1, 344, 374, 382, 411–3, 430–1, 460, MP 551, AR 586, 510, 520, 530, 550
- Music courses outside of CFA: CAS HI 426, LX 120, PY 231; MET IS 419
- For other possible courses not included in the categories above, consult with advisor.
CFA EXPERIENCE (2 units)
- CFA FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience, to be taken in the fall term of first year. Students transferring into CFA will elect a substitute course in consultation with their advisor.
CAPSTONE PROJECT (4 units)
- CFA MU 495–496, to be completed in the spring term of junior year and fall term of senior year.
Language (8 units)
- At least two courses in a language other than English, including American Sign Language (ASL). This requirement may be satisfied with appropriate transfer units or AP units, or a proficiency exam administered by the CAS Romance Studies or World Languages & Literatures department (for ASL, proficiency assessment, please contact the Deaf Studies program). Students whose first language is not English may satisfy this requirement with a TOEFL score of 90 or above.
Other electives (60 units)
- Per consultation with advisor, from subjects such as American studies, anthropology, communications, computer science, hearing sciences, history, Latin American studies, languages, linguistics, mathematics, management, neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, religion.
- Students are expected to fulfill most of their Hub requirements in their elective classes. Students should expect to devote about nine classes (36 units) out of the total 60 units of electives toward satisfying the requirements of the Hub.
BA in Music with concentration in Music Theory sample suggested curriculum
| First Year |
1st |
2nd |
| CFA MT 101, 102 Music Theory 1, 2 |
3 |
3 |
| CFA MT 111, 112 Aural Skills 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| CFA MP 111, 112 Group Piano 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| Lesson/Ensemble |
1 |
1 |
| First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CAS WR 120) |
4 |
– |
| Writing, Research, and Inquiry (e.g., CAS WR 151/152/153) |
– |
4 |
| Language |
4 |
4 |
| CFA FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience |
2 |
– |
| Total units |
16 |
14 |
| Second Year |
| CFA MH 211, 212 or MH 436, 4XX |
4 |
4 |
| CFA MT 201, 202 |
3 |
3 |
| CFA MT XXX Composition |
2 |
2 |
| CFA MT 211, 212 |
1 |
1 |
| CFA MP 113 |
1 |
– |
| Additional music courses |
1 |
1 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
4 |
4 |
| Total units |
16 |
15 |
| Third Year |
| CFA MH XXX Musicology electives |
4 |
4 |
| CFA MT 301, MT XXX |
2 |
2 |
| CFA MT 311 |
1 |
– |
| Additional music courses |
1 |
1 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
8 |
8 |
| CFA MU 495 Capstone Project Development |
– |
2 |
| Total units |
16 |
17 |
| Fourth Year |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
– |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
– |
4 |
| Electives |
12 |
12 |
| CFA MU 496 Capstone Project |
2 |
– |
| Total units |
18 |
16 |
Required courses for the major—BA in Music with a Concentration in Global Music Studies (60 units)
Complete the minimum number of units in each category and complete a total of 60 units in music by completing additional courses in any category, up to the listed maximums.
MUSIC HISTORY AND ETHNOMUSICOLOGY (20–36 units)
- CFA MH 436 (4 units)
- Music History (4–20 units): CFA MH 211–12, 405, 406, 408, 409, 412, 413, 417, 421–7, 432, 433
- Ethnomusicology (12–20 units): CFA MH 400, 403, 404, 407, 409, 410, 411, 415, 420, 429, 430, 431, 435, 436, 480
MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSITION (9–26 units)
- Introductory Music Theory (6 units): CFA MT 101–102
- Music Theories of the World (3 units): CFA MT 411
- Music Theory (0–12 units): CFA MT 201–202, 301–302, 472
- Composition (0–12 units): CFA MT 121–2, 341, 431, 435–436, 442
PERFORMANCE AND AURAL SKILLS (8–12 units)
- Aural Skills (2–5 units): CFA MT 111–112, 211–212, 311
- Global Music Ensemble (6 units): CFA MH 561–3
- Lessons and Ensembles (0–4 units): CFA ML XXX, MP XXX, MU 091–99, or MU 185–199
ADDITIONAL MUSIC ELECTIVES (0–17 units)
- CFA ME 203, 261, 306–7, 330–1, 344, 374, 382, 411–3, 430–1, 460, MP 551, AR 586, 510, 520, 530, 550
- Music courses outside of CFA: CAS HI 426, LX 120, PY 231; MET IS 419
- For other possible courses not included in the categories above, consult with advisor.
CFA EXPERIENCE (2 units)
- CFA FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience, to be taken in the fall term of first year. Students transferring into CFA will elect a substitute course in consultation with their advisor.
CAPSTONE PROJECT (4 units)
- CFA MU 495–496, to be completed in the spring term of junior year and fall term of senior year.
Language (8 units)
- At least two courses in a language other than English, including American Sign Language (ASL). This requirement may be satisfied with appropriate transfer units or AP units, or a proficiency exam administered by the CAS Romance Studies or World Languages & Literatures department (for ASL proficiency assessment, please contact the Deaf Studies program). Students whose first language is not English may satisfy this requirement with a TOEFL score of 90 or above.
Other electives (60 units)
- Per consultation with advisor, from subjects such as American studies, anthropology, communications, computer science, hearing sciences, history, Latin American studies, languages, linguistics, mathematics, management, neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, religion.
- Students are expected to fulfill most of their Hub requirements in their elective classes. Students should expect to devote about nine classes (36 units) out of the total 60 units of electives toward satisfying the requirements of the Hub.
BA in Music with concentration in Global Music Studies sample suggested curriculum
| First Year |
1st |
2nd |
| CFA MT 101, 102 Music Theory 1, 2 |
3 |
3 |
| CFA MT 111, 112 Aural Skills 1, 2 |
1 |
1 |
| CFA MH 561 Global Music Ensemble |
1 |
1 |
| First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CAS WR 120) |
4 |
– |
| Writing, Research, and Inquiry (e.g., CAS WR 151/152/153) |
– |
4 |
| Language |
4 |
4 |
| CFA FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience |
2 |
– |
| Total units |
15 |
13 |
| Second Year |
| CFA MH 436, 4XX Ethnomusicology |
8 |
8 |
| CFA MT 411 Music Theories of the World |
– |
3 |
| CFA MH 561 Global Music Ensemble |
1 |
1 |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
– |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
4 |
4 |
| Total units |
17 |
16 |
| Third Year |
| CFA MH XXX Musicology electives |
4 |
4 |
| CFA MH 561 Global Music Ensemble |
1 |
1 |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
– |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
8 |
8 |
| CFA MU 495 Capstone Project Development |
– |
2 |
| Total units |
17 |
15 |
| Fourth Year |
| Additional music courses |
4 |
– |
| BU Hub requirement(s) or electives |
– |
4 |
| Electives |
12 |
12 |
| CFA MU 496 Capstone Project |
2 |
– |
| Total units |
18 |
16 |
