Music Department Undergraduate Program
Wesleyan undergraduate and graduate students enjoy the benefits of a rigorous and creative liberal arts university experience, marked by intimate individual and small group study, along with diverse offerings in musics from around the world found in very few of even the largest universities in the country. Numerous centers and programs at Wesleyan enrich the university's intellectual and cultural experience. Undergraduate and graduate alumni have attained international recognition as recording and concert artists, television film music producers, print and radio journalists, and music scholars and composers.
Bachelor of Arts in Music
Degree RequirementsIn the Spring of their sophomore year, most Wesleyan undergraduates declare their majors. Candidates for the music major design their own program in consultation with an advisor on the Music faculty. In their senior year all music majors complete a Senior Project; some elect to do an Honors Thesis of larger scope. A total of 32 credits (most courses equal one credit) are required for the Bachelor's degree. Majors may count 16 Music credits towards the 32 credits required for a Wesleyan degree.
To enter the Music major, a student must have taken one semester of Music Theory (one of MUSC 103, 201, 202, or 210), one semester of historical or cultural study of Music (one of MUSC102, 106, 109, 110, 111 or 115), and one semester of music performance. Music majors complete a total of four courses in each of these three capabilities: Theory/Composition, History/Culture and Performance. Two additional seminars (numbered 300 or above) bring the total number of course credits required for the major to 16. The required Senior Project or Honors Thesis bring the total credit count for the major to 15 or 16.
Diversity of musical experience is a core value of the Music Department and is expected of all music majors. Towards that goal, the department requires that each major’s program of study include at least two Music credits out of that student’s main area of interest.
4 credits in Theory/Composition: 1 of MUSC 103, 201, 202, and 210, plus 3 electives.
An AP theory credit on a student’s transcript reduces this requirement to 3 credits.
A Major’s program of study consists of four courses in each of the three capabilities (Theory/Composition, History/Culture, and Performance), two seminars for majors, and a capstone project taking the form of a senior project or honors thesis.
Prerequisites: 3 (These courses are required to be accepted into the major)
• Theory/Composition: one of MUSC 103, 201, 202, 210
(MUSC 103 or passing the equivalent by exam is required of all majors.)
• History/Culture: one of MUSC102, 106, 109, 110, 111, 115
• Performance: any course in the performance of music with the exception of private lessons
Major electives: 9
• Theory/Composition: 3 courses (numbered 201 - 240)
• History/Culture: 3 (at least 2 numbered 241-299 and the last elective may be a Freshman Year Seminar (F suffix on the course number) or another 100 or 200 numbered course
• Performance: 4 (numbered 406 - 499, at least 2 in ensemble performance)
Major Seminars
• Seminar for Majors (numbered 300 or above): 2
Capstone:
• Senior Project (1 or 2 semester) or Honors Thesis ( 2 semesters)