Music Composition

The Bachelor of Music curriculum is intended for students who plan to enter professional music careers, graduate study in music, or private studio teaching.

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.

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CONTACT

Email |352.392.0224

MUSIC BUILDING
GAINESVILLE FL 32611
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 Curriculum

Music programs are available in music in combination with an outside field, music composition, music theory, music performance: instrumental (brass, keyboard, percussion, strings, winds) and music performance: vocal. The University of Florida is accredited by NASM and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward 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 MUC 1211, MUT 1111, and MUT 1241L with minimum grades of C
  • Complete MUN 1000 with a minimum grade of C (piano emphasis must take MVK 3702)
  • Complete MUS 1010 with a grade of S
  • Complete MVK 1111 with a minimum grade of C (keyboard emphasis students exempt)
  • Complete 2 credits of (MV_ 141_) Performance Principal with a minimum grade of C
  • Voice emphasis only must complete MUS 2211 and MUS 2241
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

  • Complete MUC 1212, MUS 1360,  MUT 1112, and MUT 1242L with minimum grades of C
  • Complete MUN 1000 with a minimum grade of C (piano emphasis must take MVK 3702)
  • Complete MUS 1010 with a grade of S
  • 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
  • Voice emphasis only must complete MUS 2221 and MUS 2231
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

  • Complete MUC 2101,  MUT 2116, MUT 2246L, and MUN 1000 with minimum grades of C
  • Complete MVK 2221 with a minimum grade of C (keyboard emphasis students exempt)
  • Complete 2 credits of (MV_ 242_) Performance Principal with a minimum grade of C
  • Complete MUS 1010 with a grade of S
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

  • Complete MUC 2102,  MUT 2117, MUT 2247L, and MUN 1000 with minimum grades of C
  • Complete MUS 1010 with a grade of S
  • Complete MVK 2222 with a minimum grade of C (keyboard emphasis students exempt)
  • Complete 2 additional credits of (MV_ 242_) Performance Principal with minimum grade of C
  • 2000-level Performance Jury
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

Semester 6

Semester 7

Semester 8

  • Complete MUN 3000 Level Ensemble, MUT 4601, Senior Composition Project, Senior Composition Recital with minimum grades 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
MUN Ensemble (Critical Tracking; 1000 level) 1 1
MUS 1010 Recital Attendance (Critical Tracking) 0
MUT 1111 Music Theory 1 and MUT 1241L Aural Skills (Critical Tracking) 2 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
 Credits14
Semester Two
MUC 1212 Composition Skills 2 (Critical Tracking) 1
MUN Ensemble (Critical Tracking; 1000 level) 1 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) 2 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
Gen Ed Mathematics 3
 Credits17
Semester Three
Quest 2 (Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences) 3
MUC 2101 Composition Skills 3 (Critical Tracking) 1
MUN Ensemble (Critical Tracking; 1000 level) 1
MUS 1010 Recital Attendance (Critical Tracking) 0
MUT 2116
& MUT 2246L		 Music Theory 3
and Aural Skills 3 (Critical Tracking)		 3
MVK 2221 Secondary Piano 3 (Critical Tracking; keyboard emphasis exempt) 1
MV_ 242_Performance Principal (Critical Tracking) 2
State Core Gen Ed Mathematics 3
 Credits14
Semester Four
MUC 2102 Composition Skills 4 (Critical Tracking) 1
MUN Ensemble (Critical Tracking; 1000 level) 1
MUS 1010 Recital Attendance (Critical Tracking) 0
MUT 2117
& MUT 2247L		 Music Theory 4
and Aural Skills 4 (Critical Tracking)		 3
MVK 2222 Secondary Piano 4 (Critical Tracking; keyboard emphasis exempt) 1
MV_ 242_Performance Principal (Critical Tracking) 2
MUH elective 3 3
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 3 3
 Credits14
Semester Five
MUC 3231 Composition 1 (Critical Tracking) 3
MUC 4313 Introduction to Electroacoustic Music (Critical Tracking) 3
MUH 3211 Music History Survey 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities and International) 3
MUN Ensemble (Critical Tracking; 3000 level) 1
MUS 1010 Recital Attendance (Critical Tracking) 0
MUT 3321 Arranging for Voices and Instruments 3
Select one: 3
MUT 3611
 Form and Analysis 1 (Critical Tracking; odd years only)
MUT 4401
 Counterpoint 1 (Critical Tracking; even years only)
MV_ 343_Performance Principal (Critical Tracking) 2
 Credits18
Semester Six
MUC 3232 Composition 2 (Critical Tracking) 3
MUH 3212 Music History Survey 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities and International) 3
MUN Ensemble (Critical Tracking; 3000 level) 1
MUS 1010 Recital Attendance (Critical Tracking) 0
MUT 3322 Scoring for Band and Orchestra 3
Select one: 3
MUT 3612
 Form and Analysis 2 (Critical Tracking; even years only)
MUT 4402
 Counterpoint 2 (Critical Tracking; odd years only)
MV_ 343_Performance Principal (Critical Tracking) 2
MV_ 3970Junior Recital (Critical Tracking) 1
 Credits16
Semester Seven
MUC 4241 Composition 3 (Critical Tracking) 3
MUG 4104 Conducting 1 (Critical Tracking) 2
MUN Ensemble (Critical Tracking; 3000 level) 1
Select one: 3
MUT 3611
 Form and Analysis 1 (Critical Tracking; odd years only)
MUT 4401
 Counterpoint 1 (Critical Tracking; even years only)
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Elective 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
Students whose Semester Six falls in an odd year must take MUT 3322 during Semester Eight.
Select one: 3
MUT 3612
 Form and Analysis 2 (Critical Tracking; even years only)
MUT 4402
 Counterpoint 2 (Critical Tracking; odd years only)
Senior composition project (Critical Tracking) 2
Senior composition recital (Critical Tracking) 1
State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences 3
State Core Gen Ed Humanities 4 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits120
1

Piano emphasis must take MVK 3702. 

2

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.

3

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

4

Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences or State Core Humanities course should also include a Gen Ed Diversity component.

For the BMus in Music Composition, students must complete at least 54 major and elective credits at the 3000/4000 levels.

The Bachelor of Music enables students to enter a professional career in music, to teach music privately and to achieve proficiency in a performance area such as composition, instrumental or voice. With study in theory, music literature, music history, piano and applied instruction, students learn the structure and expression of music and the historical context of musical genres. Through applied study, students develop advanced skills and can apply this knowledge through singing, performing on a musical instrument or composing a musical work and they can apply advanced 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.