Music Theory and Composition

The BA in Music curriculum is for students who want a liberal arts education with an emphasis in music. Students can minor in other subject areas such as English, psychology, or history.

About this Program

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

School Information

Recognizing the value of music to our culture, society, and individual experience, the School of Music at the University of Florida is committed to the teaching and development of musicians, music educators, and scholars. As a vital component of one of the leading AAU research universities in the nation, the School of Music fully encourages scholarly research, creative activity, and interdisciplinary studies across all undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Website

CONTACT

Email |352.392.0224

MUSIC BUILDING
GAINESVILLE FL 32611
Map

 Curriculum

Programs are available in Entrepreneurship, Event Management, Music, Music History and Literature, Music History and Literature with emphasis in Ethnomusicology, and Music Theory and Composition. The University of Florida is accredited by NASM and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Foreign Language

Students must take 10 credits of foreign language or show a minimum proficiency in a single language by taking a placement test. If the proficiency is met, it does not reduce the 120 credits required for the degree. Foreign language courses can be taken S/U or for a letter grade, and the minimum grade is a C. Foreign language credit cannot be obtained through CLEP examinations.

All students pursuing the BA must consult a department advisor and get approval before attempting the elective portion of this program.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

  • Complete MUN 1000 with a minimum grade of C (keyboard emphasis must take MVK 3702 instead)
  • Complete MUS 1010 with a grade of S
  • Complete MUT 1111 and MUT 1241L with minimum grades of C
  • Complete MVK 1111 with a minimum grade of C (keyboard emphasis students exempt)
  • Complete MUC 1211 with a minimum grade of C (theory majors should take a one-credit MUT elective)
  • Complete 2 credits of (MV_ 141_) Performance Principal with a minimum grade of C
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

  • Complete MUC 1212 with a minimum grade of C (theory majors should take an additional one-credit MUT elective)
  • Complete MUN 1000 with a minimum grade of C (keyboard emphasis must take MVK 3702 instead)
  • Complete MUS 1010 with a grade of S
  • Complete MUS 1360 and  MUT 1112 and MUT 1242L with minimum grades of C
  • Complete MVK 1112 with a minimum grade of C (keyboard emphasis students exempt)
  • Complete 2 additional credits of (MV_ 141_) Performance Principal with minimum grade of C
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

  • Complete MUC 2101 with a minimum grade of C (theory majors should take an additional one-credit MUT elective)
  • Complete MUS 1010 with a grade of S
  • Complete MUT 2116 and MUT 2246L with minimum grades of C
  • Complete MVK 2221 with a minimum grade of C (keyboard emphasis students exempt)
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

  • Complete MUC 2102 with a minimum grade of C (theory majors should take an additional one-credit MUT elective)
  • Complete MUT 2117 and MUT 2247L with minimum grades of C
  • Complete MVK 2222 with a minimum grade of C (keyboard emphasis students exempt)
  • Comprehensive Musicianship Jury
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

  • Complete MUC/MUT 3000/4000, MUH 3211, and MUG 4104 with minimum grades of C
  • Complete MUS 1010 with a grade of S
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 6

  • Complete MUC/MUT 3000/4000 and MUH 3212 with minimum grades of C
  • Complete MUS 1010 with a grade of S
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 7

  • Complete MUC/MUT 3000/4000 with a minimum grade of C
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 8

  • Complete MUS 4905 with a minimum grade of C
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) 3
MUC 1211 Composition Skills 1 (Critical Tracking) 1 1
MUN Ensemble (Critical Tracking; 1000 level) 2 1
MUS 1010 Recital Attendance (Critical Tracking) 0
MUT 1111 Music Theory 1 and MUT 1241L Aural Skills 1 (Critical Tracking) 3 3
MVK 1111 Secondary Piano 1 (Critical Tracking; keyboard emphasis exempt) 1
MV_ 141_Performance Principal (Critical Tracking) 2
Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement 3
Gen Ed Mathematics 3
 Credits17
Semester Two
MUC 1212 Composition Skills 2 (Critical Tracking) 1 1
MUN Ensemble (Critical Tracking; 1000 level) 2 1
MUS 1010 Recital Attendance (Critical Tracking) 0
MUS 1360 Digital Musicianship and Production (Critical Tracking) 3
MUT 1112 Music Theory 2 and MUT 1242L Aural Skills 2 (Critical Tracking) 3 3
MVK 1112 Secondary Piano 2 (Critical Tracking; keyboard emphasis exempt) 1
MV_ 141_Performance Principal (Critical Tracking) 2
State Core Gen Ed Composition 3
State Core Gen Ed Mathematics 3
 Credits17
Semester Three
MUC 2101 Composition Skills 3 (Critical Tracking) 1 1
MUT 2116 Music Theory 3 (Critical Tracking) 2
MUT 2246L Aural Skills 3 (Critical Tracking) 1
MVK 2221 Secondary Piano 3 (Critical Tracking; keyboard emphasis exempt) 1
MUS 1010 Recital Attendance (Critical Tracking) 0
State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences 4 3
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Foreign language 5
 Credits16
Semester Four
MUC 2102 Composition Skills 4 (Critical Tracking) 1 1
MUS 1010 Recital Attendance (Critical Tracking) 0
MUT 2117 Music Theory 4 (Critical Tracking) 2
MUT 2247L Aural Skills 4 (Critical Tracking) 1
MVK 2222 Secondary Piano 4 (Critical Tracking; keyboard emphasis exempt) 1
MUH elective 5 3
State Core Gen Ed Humanities 3
Foreign language 5
 Credits16
Semester Five
Quest 2 (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) 3
MUC or MUT course (3000/4000 level; Critical Tracking) 3
MUG 4104 Conducting 1 (Critical Tracking) 2
MUH 3211 Music History Survey 1 (Gen Ed Humanities and International; Critical Tracking) 3
MUS 1010 Recital Attendance (Critical Tracking) 0
Elective 3
 Credits14
Semester Six
MUC or MUT course (3000/4000 level; Critical Tracking) 3
MUH 3212 Music History Survey 2 (Gen Ed Humanities; Critical Tracking) 3
MUS 1010 Recital Attendance (Critical Tracking) 0
Gen Ed Biological Sciences 3
Electives 5
 Credits14
Semester Seven
MUC or MUT course (3000/4000 level; Critical Tracking) 3
Gen Ed Biological Sciences 3
Science laboratory (Gen Ed Physical or Biological Sciences) 1
Electives 7
 Credits14
Semester Eight
MUS 4905 Projects and Problems in Music (Critical Tracking) 3
Gen Ed Physical Sciences 3
Electives 6
 Credits12
 Total Credits120
1

Theory majors do not take composition skills and should add four credits of MUT electives. 

2

Keyboard emphasis must take MVK 3702. 

3

Students who place into MUT 1001 take MUT 1111 and MUT 1241L in the Spring, followed by MUT 1112 and MUT 1242L in the Summer.

4

Bachelor of Arts degrees require 2 courses in physical sciences and 2 courses in biological sciences. 

5

Students can either complete MUH 2501 or any MUH 3000/4000 level course.

For the BA with concentration in Theory and Composition, students must complete at least 35 major and elective credits at the 3000/4000 levels.

The Bachelor of Arts in Music provides a liberal arts education with an emphasis in Ethnomusicology, Music History and Literature, Music Theory and Composition, or Performance. Studies in music theory, applied performance, music literature, music history, and piano, provide knowledge of the structure and expression of music within the historical context of musical genres. Students will also be able to apply their knowledge through singing or performing a musical instrument and they will be able to apply critical thinking skills when hearing musical sounds.

Before Graduating Students Must

  • Satisfactory faculty evaluation of a student portfolio.
  • Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

  1. Perform at a preprofessional level on an instrument or voice.

Critical Thinking

  1. Utilize theoretical analysis of music.

Communication

  1. Write about music within different historical and cultural contexts.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Courses SLO 1 SLO 2 SLO 3
MV_ 141_ I
MV_ 242_ R
MUH 3211 I
MUH 3212 R
MUT 1111 I
MUT 1112 R
MUT 2116 R
MUT 2117 A
MUH 3213 A
2000-Level Performance & Comprehensive Musicianship Juries A

Assessment Types

  • Rubric from the preprofessional jury
  • Final exams