The Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.) in Composition offers preparation for both the professional music world and graduate study. Students work to develop individual voices in their chosen styles.
For details about this program, including program description, admission requirements, and contact information, click here.
Degree Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SEEDS General Education Requirements | 24-27 | |
| New Student Seminar | 1 | |
| Major Requirements | 81-86 | |
| Free Electives | 14-6 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| New Student Seminar | ||
| MUGN 199 | Freshman Seminar for Music Majors | 1 |
| Composition | ||
| MUCP 040 | Practicum in Music Theory/Composition (Complete eight times.) | 0 |
| Complete eight times for 2 credits each time: | 16 | |
| Private Study in Composition | ||
| Complete two times for 2 credits each time: | 4 | |
| Musical Composition | ||
| MUPR 495 | Senior Recital | 1 |
| Theory/Aural Skills | ||
| MUCP 101 | Theory I | 3 |
| MUCP 102 | Theory II | 3 |
| MUCP 201 | Theory III | 3 |
| MUCP 202 | Theory IV | 3 |
| MUCP 103 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| MUCP 104 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| MUCP 203 | Aural Skills III | 1 |
| MUCP 204 | Aural Skills IV | 1 |
| MUCP 250 | Jazz Theory I | 2 |
| MUCP 304 | Theory VI-Orchestration | 3 |
| Keyboard Instruction | ||
| Complete 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Keyboard Musicianship I | ||
| Keyboard Musicianship II | ||
| Keyboard Skills for Music Production | ||
| Keyboard Musicianship III | ||
| Keyboard Musicianship IV | ||
| Piano Accompanying | ||
| Jazz Keyboard | ||
| Keyboard Harmony I | ||
| Keyboard Harmony II | ||
| History and Literature | ||
| MUHS 106 | Diverse Worlds of Music | 3 |
| MUHS 307 | Music in Time, Place and Ideas: Up to 1700 | 3 |
| MUHS 308 | Music in Time, Place and Ideas: 1700-1890 | 3 |
| MUHS 407 | Music in Time, Place and Ideas: 1890 to Present | 3 |
| or MUHS 409 | Honors - Music in Time, Place and Ideas: 1890 to Present | |
| Complete two courses from the following: | 4 | |
| Vocal Repertory from Monody to Mozart | ||
| The 19th Century Song: Lied and Melodie | ||
| The 20th Century Art Song | ||
| Instrumental Literature I | ||
| Instrumental Literature II | ||
| Orchestral Literature | ||
| Jazz Literature I | ||
| Jazz Literature II | ||
| Applied Music | ||
| Complete eight semesters at 1 credit each in your primary instrument: | 8 | |
| Applied Music | ||
| Conducting | ||
| MUPR 335 | Elementary Conducting | 2 |
| Music Technology | ||
| Complete two of the following (subject to pre-requisite requirements and/or instructor consent): | 2-6 | |
| Music and Computer Technology I | ||
| Music and Computer Technology II | ||
| Introduction to Audio Technology in the Studio I | ||
| Introduction to Audio Technology in the Studio II | ||
| Physics of Sound | ||
| Basic Electronics for Musicians | ||
| Digital Audio Production | ||
| MIDI and Digital Music Production | ||
| Audio Post: ProTools Workshop | ||
| Introduction to Music Recording | ||
| Sound Analysis and Design | ||
| Basic Sound Technologies for Live Performance | ||
| Theatrical Sound Design | ||
| Music Education or Music Therapy | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 2-3 | |
| Foundations of Music Education | ||
| Introduction to Music Therapy | ||
| Ensemble Requirement | ||
| MUEN 100 | Montclair State University Chorale | 0.5 |
| or MUEN 101 | Montclair State University Singers | |
| Complete 7 courses from the following: | 3.5 | |
| Montclair State University Chorale | ||
| Montclair State University Singers | ||
| Orchestra | ||
| Band | ||
| Opera Production | ||
| Collegium Musicum | ||
| Electronic Music Ensemble | ||
| Popular Music Ensemble | ||
| Chamber Ensemble Performance | ||
| Total Credits | 81-86 | |
New Student Seminar
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students in the Adult Learner program must take GNED 100. | ||
| Complete one course from the following. Some courses may be restricted by major. Consult with an academic advisor. | 1 | |
| Pathways to Success | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Chemistry | ||
| First Year Seminar | ||
| Adult Academic Success Seminar | ||
| New Student Seminar | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Health and Physical Education | ||
| Pathways to Adult Learning | ||
| New Student Seminar | ||
| New Student Experience for Mathematical Sciences | ||
| Freshman Seminar for Music Majors | ||
| Introduction to Nursing | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Political Science and Law | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | ||
| Effective Writing I | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing I course. | 3 | |
| Effective Writing II | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing II course. | 3 | |
| Interactive Communication | ||
| Complete one Interactive Communication course. | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Complete one Quantitative Reasoning course. | 3 | |
| Political and Civic Life | ||
| Complete one Political and Civic Life course. | 3 | |
| World Language | ||
| Complete two sequential classes in one World Language when starting at the Beginner I or Beginner II level. Complete one class when starting at the Intermediate/Advanced Level. | 3-6 | |
| Exploration | ||
| Complete one course from four different Exploration categories: | 6 | |
| Analyzing Cultures and Societies | ||
| Creative Expression | ||
| Ethical Inquiry | ||
| Historical Thinking | ||
| Fulfilled by MUHS 307, MUHS 308, MUHS 407, or MUHS 409 in the major. | ||
| Literary and Artistic Analysis | ||
| Fulfilled by MUHS 106 in the major. | ||
| Scientific Reasoning | ||
| Total Credits | 24-27 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Program of Study Completion
This recommended degree plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their program of study requirements within four years and 120 credits. This plan is a recommendation and must be used in consultation with their academic advisor. Important note: Students should be aware this plan assumes no pre-requisite coursework is required. If pre-requisite coursework is needed, students may have additional requirements to fulfill which do not appear on the plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MUCP 040 | 0 | MUCP 040 | 0 |
| MUCP 241 | 2 | MUCP 498 | 2 |
| MUCP 498 | 2 | MUCP 102 | 3 |
| MUCP 101 | 3 | MUCP 104 | 1 |
| MUCP 103 | 1 | MUHS 106 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration 1 - Literary and Artistic Analysis) | 3 |
| MUGN 199 | 1 | MSSN 102 | 1 |
| MSSN 101 | 1 | MUEN Ensemble course | 0.5 |
| MSU Chorale or University Singers | 0.5 | MUSI 499 | 1 |
| MUSI 499 | 1 | SEEDS: Interactive Communication | 3 |
| SEEDS: Effective Writing I | 3 | ||
| 14.5 | 14.5 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MUCP 040 | 0 | MUCP 040 | 0 |
| MUCP 241 | 2 | MUCP 498 | 2 |
| MUCP 498 | 2 | MUCP 201 | 3 |
| MUCP 201 | 3 | MUCP 203 | 1 |
| MUCP 203 | 1 | MUCP 304 | 3 |
| MUHS 307 | 3 | MUHS 308 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration 2 - Historical Thinking) | 3 |
| Music Technology elective | 3 | Music Technology elective | 1-3 |
| MUSI 499 | 1 | MUSI 499 | 1 |
| MUEN Ensemble course | 0.5 | MUEN Ensemble Course | 0.5 |
| 15.5 | 14.5-16.5 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MUCP 040 | 0 | MUCP 040 | 0 |
| MUCP 498 | 2 | MUCP 498 | 2 |
| MUHS 407 | 3 | MUSI 499 | 1 |
| MUSI 499 | 1 | MUPR 210 | 2 |
| MUCP 250 | 2 | MUEN Ensemble Course | 0.5 |
| MUPR 335 | 2 | SEEDS: World Language 2 or Free Elective | 3 |
| MUEN Ensemble Course | 0.5 | SEEDS: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| SEEDS: World Language 1 | 3 | SEEDS: Exploration 3 (Choose from Analyzing Cultures and Societies, Creative Expression, Ethical Inquiry, or Scientific Reasoning) | 3 |
| SEEDS: Effective Writing II | 3 | ||
| 16.5 | 14.5 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MUCP 040 | 0 | MUCP 040 | 0 |
| MUCP 498 | 3 | MUCP 498 | 3 |
| MULT Music Literature course | 2 | MULT Music Literature course | 2 |
| MUSI 499 | 1 | MUSI 499 | 1 |
| MUED 203 or MUTH 100 | 3 | MUPR 495 | 1 |
| MUEN Ensemble Course | 0.5 | MUEN Ensemble Course | 0.5 |
| SEEDS: Exploration 4 (Choose from Analyzing Cultures and Societies, Creative Expression, Ethical Inquiry, or Scientific Reasoning) | SEEDS: Political and Civic Life | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 2 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ||
| Free Elective | 2 | ||
| 17.5 | 12.5 | ||
| Total Credits 120-122 | |||