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 Theory prepares students to become music scholars, authors and teachers of Music Theory. Entering students have auditions to determine placement in appropriate applied music classes. Graduates of this program receive the Bachelor of Music (BM) degree.
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 placement
(or MVK X111 & MVK X112 & MVK X121 & MVK X122 to achieve piano proficiency)
Additional recommended courses: MUH 2512; MUL 2110; MUS 1010; MUL 2111; foreign language proficiency through the intermediate (2XXX) level.
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. Students may enter this program as freshmen. Approval by the Music Theory faculty is required for admission.
Major Program of Studies at FSU: (75-78 hours)
All music majors are required to register for and attend Student Recital (MUS 1010) for six semesters. Jury examinations are given at the end of each applied music series.
Applied Music (16 hours)
MV_ 1311-1316r (2, 2) Applied Music Principal
MV_ 2321-2326r (2, 2) Applied Music Principal
MV_ 3331-3336r (2, 2) Applied Music Principal
MV_ 4341-4346r (2, 2) Applied Music Principal
Theory majors must study a principal instrument through (and complete by jury) the MV_ 4341-4346 series.
Applied Secondary (6 hours)
MVK 1111r (1, 1) Class Piano
MVK 2121r (1, 1) Class Piano
MVK 3131r (1, 1) Class Piano
(Required of non-keyboard principals only). Keyboard principals will choose 6 credits of music electives to satisfy the minimum requirement for the major.
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 Theory (14-16 hours)
MUT 3421 (3) 18th Century Counterpoint
MUT 4411 (3) 16th Century Counterpoint OR MUT 3934 (3) Intro to Schenkerian Analysis
MUT 3541 (3) Form and Style: Classic OR MUT 3551 (3) 19th Century Styles
MUT 3280 (2) Post Tonal Aural Skills
MUT 3571 (3) 20th Century Styles OR MUL 4572 (3) Music Since WW II
Choose 2 courses from:
MUC 4103r (2) Composition
MUS 3541 (3) Digital Synthesis
MUT 4311 (2) Orchestration
MUT 4221 (3) Wind Band Arranging
MUT 3577 (3) American Musical
MUS 3934 (3) Analyzing Video Game Music
MUS 3934 (3) Cognition in Music Theory
MUS 3934 (2) Intro to Composition
MUT 3574 (3) Popular Music Analysis
Music History/Literature (10 hours)
MUL 2110 (2) Survey of Music Literature
MUH 2512 (2) Music Cultures of the World I
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 (meets digital literacy requirement)
MUG 3104 (1) Conducting
Ensemble (6 hours)
2 hours of accompanying (MUN 2510/4513) are suggested of all piano principals in partial fulfillment of this requirement. All woodwind and brass freshmen and freshmen transfers must 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.) All woodwind, brass, or orchestral string sophomores and other transfers must register for MUN 2460 or 4463-01 during the Fall semester of the first year of residence. At least 3 hours of ensemble credit must be earned at the upper division level.
Student Recital Attendance (0 hours)
MUS 1010 (0) Transfer students must consult advisor regarding completion of this requirement.
Senior Thesis (2 hours)
MUS 4970r (2) Senior Thesis (Music Theory)
Academic Collateral (12 hours or proficiency)
Foreign Language 1120, 1121 (4, 4) Elementary level
Foreign Language 2XXX (4) Intermediate level
Digital Literacy: (0 hours beyond major)
MUS 2360 (1) Introduction to Technology in Music meets this requirement.
Oral Communication Competency: (0-3 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
Min. Hrs. Required 120
General Education 36*
Major Coursework 75-78
Academic Collateral 12
Minor Coursework 0
Digital Literacy 0
Oral Competency 0-3
Electives to bring total hours to 120
*NOTE: Up to nine (9) hours from the required Music History, Music Literature and Music Theory courses may apply to 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.
4. Music Theory majors must pursue a study of a principal instrument through the senior level series. If piano or organ is not chosen as the principal instrument, the candidate must complete the requirements of 6 hours of Class Piano.
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: Researcher, Scholarly Author, Teacher of Music Theory.
Representative Employers: Junior Colleges, Some Historical Societies, Colleges, Universities, Conservatories.
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.
Formal admission to the BM Theory major is contingent upon:
1) completion of lower division theory requirements with a B average or higher,
2) submission of a writing sample (short paper on a music history, literature, or analysis topic) prior to end of junior year, and
3) majority approval of the theory faculty.
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 |
| MVK1111A Class Piano 1 |
| MUN2XXX Ensemble1 |
| MUS1010 Student Recital Attendance0 |
| MUT1111 Basic Theory I3 |
| MUT1241L Sight Singing I1 |
| MV_131X Applied Music 2 |
| Required Milestones: Term 1 |
| Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
| ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3 |
| 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics3 |
| Ethics Course3 |
| MUS1010 Student Recital Attendance0 |
| MUT1112 Basic Theory II3 |
| MUT1242L Sight Singing II1 |
| MVK1111B Class Piano 1 |
| MV_131X Applied Music 2 |
| Required Milestones: Term 2 |
| Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 1st GE Mathematics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| GE Core Natural Science w/ Lab4 |
| MUL2110 Survey of Music Literature or MUH2512 Music Cultures of the World2 |
| MUN2XXX Ensemble1 |
| MUS1010 Student Recital Attendance0 |
| MUT2116 Basic Theory III3 |
| MUT2246L Sight Singing III1 |
| MVK2121A Class Piano 1 |
| MV_232X Applied Music 2 |
| Required Milestones: Term 3 |
| Complete 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete MUT1111 |
| Complete MUT1241L |
| Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
| Foreign Language (1120)4 |
| MUL2110 Survey of Music Literature or MUH2512 Music Cultures of the World2 |
| MUN2XXX Ensemble1 |
| MUS2360 Introduction to Music Technology1 |
| MUS1010 Student Recital Attendance0 |
| MUT2117 Basic Theory IV3 |
| MUT2247L Sight Singing IV1 |
| MVK2121B Class Piano 1 |
| MV_232X Applied Music 2 |
| Required Milestones: Term 4 |
| Complete MUT1112 |
| Complete MUT1242L |
| Complete at least second semester of MUS1010 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| Foreign Language (1121)4 |
| GE Natural Science course3 |
| MUH2111 Survey of Music History I3 |
| MUN4XXX Ensemble1 |
| MUS1010 Student Recital Attendance0 |
| MUT3421 18th-Century Counterpoint 2 |
| MVK3131A Class Piano 1 |
| MV_333X Applied Music 2 |
| Required Milestones: Term 5 |
| Complete MUL2110 |
| Civic Literacy requirement |
| Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
| Foreign Language (2000 level)4 |
| MUH3212 Survey of Music History II3 |
| MUS1010 Student Recital Attendance0 |
| MUG3104 Conducting1 |
| MUT3280 Post Tonal Aural Skills2 |
| MVK3131B Class Piano 1 |
| MV_333_ Applied Music 2 |
| MUN4XXX Ensemble1 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| Request progress check in the College of Music |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| MUN4XXX Ensemble1 |
| MUTXXXX3 |
| MUTXXXX3 |
| MV_434_ Applied Music 2 |
| GE Elective3 |
| GE Social Science (SIP)3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| (no milestones) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs |
| MUTXXXX3 |
| MUC4103 Composition or MUS3541 Digital Synthesis2-3 |
| MUS4970 Senior Thesis 2 |
| MUTXXXX3 |
| MV_434_ Applied Music 2 |
| GE Requirement 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Apply for Graduation in 1st two weeks |