College: Music
Degree: Bachelor of Music
Specialized Admission: Yes
Address: 202-D Housewright Music Bldg, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1180
Phone: (850) 644-6105
Email: jchunt@fsu.edu
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
The program in Music Composition prepares students to become professional composers, performers, and scholars. Entering students audition to determine placement in applied music classes. Students choose as a principal instrument the piano, organ, voice, harp, guitar, a string, woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. A complete recital of original works during the senior year (MUS 4970) is required to assess competency. Graduates receive the Bachelor of Music (B.M.).
Students should complete the following courses in preparation for placement in upper division status:
MUT X111, X112 (3, 3) Basic Theory I, II
MUT X116, X117 (3, 3) Basic Theory III, IV
MUT X241, X242 (1, 1) Sight singing I, II
MUT X246, X247 (1, 1) Sight singing III, IV
MUN XXXX (4) Courses in Ensemble
MVX XX1X (2-4) Applied Music
MVX XX2X (2-4) Applied Music
Secondary Piano--proficiency by examination
(or MVK X111 & MVK X112 & MVK X121 & MVK X122 as needed to achieve piano proficiency)
Additional recommended courses: MUH 2512, MUL 2110, MUS 1010, MUC 1211 and 2221.
Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of http://www.flvc.org .
Admission Requirements to the Major
All entering students must meet appropriate minimum standards through a placement audition (heard by a faculty jury) in applied music before being granted admission to the College of Music.
Additional requirements, including submission of a portfolio of compositions, must be met for admission to the Composition major. Contact the College of Music for details.
Major Program of Studies: (89-91 hours required)
Applied Music (16 hours)
MV_ 1311-1316 (2, 2) Applied Music Principal
MV_ 2321-2326 (2, 2) Applied Music Principal
MV_ 3331-3336 (2, 2) Applied Music Principal
MV_ 4341-4346 (2, 2) Applied Music Principal
Composition majors must pursue study of a principal instrument through (and complete by jury) the MV_ 4341-4346 series.
Applied Secondary (6 hours)
Non-keyboard principals complete the following courses:
MVK 1111, 1111 (1, 1) Class Piano
MVK 2121, 2121 (1, 1) Class Piano
MVK 3131, 3131 (1, 1) Class Piano
Keyboard principals complete 6 hours in music electives instead of these Class Piano credits.
Basic Music Theory (16 hours)
MUT 1111, 1112 (3, 3) Basic Theory I, II
MUT 1241L, 1242L (1, 1) Sight singing I, II
MUT 2116, 2117 (3, 3) Basic Theory III, IV
MUT 2246L, 2247L (1, 1) Sight singing III, IV
Advanced Music Theory (14-16 hours)
MUT 3280 (2) Post Tonal Aural Skills
MUT 3421 (3) Eighteenth Century Counterpoint
MUT 4411 (3) 16th Century Counterpoint
MUT 3541 (3) Form and Style: Classic OR MUT3551 (3) 19th Century Styles OR MUT 3574 (3) Popular Music Analysis OR MUT 3577 (3) The American Musical
MUT 3571 (3) Twentieth Century Styles OR MUT 4572 (3) Music Since WWII
MUT 4311 (2) Orchestration OR MUT 4321 (3) Wind Band Arranging
Composition (19 hours)
(Students must successfully complete MUT 1111, Music Theory, and 1241L, Sight singing, prior to enrolling in Composition).
MUC 2221 (2, 2) Composition
MUC 3231 (3, 3) Composition
MUS 3541 (3) Digital Music Synthesis
MUC 4241 (3, 3) Composition
Ensemble (6 hours)
Woodwind and brass freshmen and freshmen transfers register for MUN 2460 (Chamber Music) during the first Spring and second Fall terms. (String freshmen and freshmen transfers must register during the first two Fall terms.) Woodwind, brass, or orchestral string sophomores and other transfers register for MUN 2460 or 4463 during the Fall semester of the first year of residence. At least 3 hours of ensemble credit must be earned at the 3000-4000 level.
Student Recital Attendance (0 hours)
MUS 1010 (0) Entering freshmen must register for this course for six semesters. Transfer students, consult advisor.
Senior Composition Recital (0 hours)
MUS 4970 (0) A recital of compositions by the composition major is required during the senior year.
Music History/Lit. (10 hours)
MUL 2110 (2) Survey of Music Literature
MUH 2512 (2) Music Cultures of the World
MUH 2111 (3) Survey of Music History I
MUH 3212 (3) Survey of Music History II
Other Music (2 hours)
MUS 2360 (1) Introduction to Technology in Music
MUG 3104 (1) Conducting
Digital Literacy: (3 hours)
One of: CGS 2060 (3), CGS 2100 (3), CGS 3406 (3), EME 2040 (3) or other University approved course that meets this requirement.
Oral Communication Competency: (1-3 hours)
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met with a University approved course.
Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hrs. Required 120
General Education 36*
Major Coursework 89-91
Minor Coursework 0
Digital Literacy 3
Oral Competency 0-3
Other Coursework 0
Electives to bring total hours to 120
*NOTE: Up to Nine (9) hours from Music History, Music Literature and Music Theory may be used to partially fulfill requirements in General Education.
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at www.academic-guide.fsu.edu/.
1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
Salary Information: For more information go to: National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.naceweb.org) or the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Composer, Conductor, Performer, Choir or Choral Director, Instructor.
Representative Employers: Junior Colleges, Conservatories, Colleges, Entertainment Centers, Universities, Recording Studios, Publishers, Record/Music Companies, Private Clubs.
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Summer 2025 and after)
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area and diversity requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses. Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.
Admission to this program of study requires a successful audition on an appropriate instrument or voice.
SIP = Scholarship in Practice, OCCR = Oral Communication Competency (speech); Div = Diversity course
Mapping Coordinator: Dr. Joanna Hunt
Email: jchunt@fsu.edu
Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term
| Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs |
| ENC1101 Freshman Composition3 |
| 1st GE Core Mathematics3 |
| MUN2XXX Ensemble course1 |
| MUS1010 Student Recital Attendance0 |
| MUT1111 Basic Theory I3 |
| MUT1241L Sight Singing I1 |
| MV_131X Applied Music Principal2 |
| MVK1111A Class Piano 1 |
| Required Milestones: Term 1 |
| Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
| ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3 |
| 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics3 |
| MUS1010 Student Recital Attendance0 |
| MUT1112 Basic Theory II3 |
| MUT1242L Sight Singing II1 |
| MV_131X Applied Music Principal2 |
| MUN2XXX Ensemble course1 |
| MVK1111B Class Piano 1 |
| Required Milestones: Term 2 |
| Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 1st GE Mathematics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| MUC2221 Composition2 |
| MUL2110 Survey of Music Literature or MUH2512 Music Cultures of the World2 |
| MUN2XXX Ensemble course1 |
| MUS1010 Student Recital Attendance0 |
| MUT2116 Basic Theory III3 |
| MUT2246L Sight Singing III1 |
| MV_232X Applied Music Principal2 |
| MVK2121A Class Piano 1 |
| Required Milestones: Term 3 |
| Complete 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete MUT1111 |
| Complete MUT1241L |
| Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
| MUC2221 Composition2 |
| MUL2110 Survey of Music Literature or MUH2512 Music Cultures of the World2 |
| MUS1010 Student Recital Attendance0 |
| MUT2117 Basic Theory IV3 |
| MUT2247L Sight Singing IV1 |
| MV_232X Applied Music Principal2 |
| MUS2360 Introduction to Technology in Music1 |
| MVK2121B Class Piano 1 |
| GE Social Science (Writing/E-Series/SIP/Div)3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 4 |
| Complete MUT1112 |
| Complete MUT1242L |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| MUC3231 Composition3 |
| MUH2111 Survey of Music History I3 |
| MUN4XXX Ensemble course1 |
| MUS1010 Student Recital Attendance0 |
| MUT3421 Eighteenth Century Counterpoint3 |
| MVK3131A Class Piano 1 |
| MV_333X Applied Music Principal 2 |
| MUS3541 Digital Music Synthesis3 |
| MUG3104 Conducting1 |
| Required Milestones: Term 5 |
| Complete MUL2110 |
| Civic Literacy requirement |
| Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
| MUC3231 Composition3 |
| MUH3212 Survey of Music History II3 |
| MUN4XXX Ensemble course1 |
| MUS1010 Student Recital Attendance0 |
| MUTXXXX3 |
| MUT3280 Post Tonal Aural Skills2 |
| MVK3131B Class Piano 1 |
| MV_333X Applied Music Principal 2 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| Request progress check in the College of Music |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| GE Natural Science w/Lab4 |
| MUC4241 Composition3 |
| MUN4XXX Ensemble course1 |
| MUTXXXX3 |
| MUTXXXX2 |
| MV_434X Applied Music Principal 2 |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| (no milestones) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs |
| GE Natural Science3 |
| MUC4241 Composition3 |
| MUC4950 Composition Senior Recital 0 |
| MUTXXXX2 |
| MV_434X Applied Music Principal 2 |
| GE Requirements (SIP/OCCR)6 |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Apply for Graduation in 1st two weeks |